Indonesia’s best known boxer Chris John is branching out into animation. Singaporean company Silver Media Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with former world champion to produce a new animated series, Dragon’s Dojo, according to an exclusive report by Variety. The project will blend Indonesian folklore and martial arts with John’s professional boxing background, with the overall goal of spreading more Southeast Asian stories to the rest of the world.
What’s interesting about Dragon’s Dojo is how it’s being built. Episodes are produced in vertical format for mobile phones and other digital platforms and the series is developed specifically for mobile viewing. Instead of creating a traditional animated show and then adapting it for mobile, the studio is building the project with the way people currently consume short-form content in mind. The idea is to offer short, fast-paced episodes that are easy to consume on mobile devices, especially for younger viewers who spend a lot of time on vertical video platforms.
Dragon’s Dojo is said to be the first flagship project in Silver Media Group’s upcoming Asian Mythology Franchise, ASERYA, and will be inspired by Indonesian folklore and traditional martial art. The organization wants to build a larger universe around Asian mythology and starting with Indonesia gives the project a unique identity. It also allows the studio to showcase Southeast Asian traditions and stories to audiences that might not have encountered them before.
John certainly has a lot to do with that attraction. He was known as “The Dragon” in his boxing career. He was the fourth Indonesian boxer to win a world championship by winning the WBA Featherweight title. Defending his title 18 times, he held it for almost a decade, cementing his place as one of the most successful boxers Indonesia has ever produced. By turning the nickname and fighting background into an animated character, Dragon’s Dojo creates a connection to the real world that most fictional martial arts projects do not have.
It also combines different expertise into one project. Silver Media Group offers its international development and distribution expertise, while Indonesian television executive Harun brings extensive experience in the country’s broadcast industry. In contrast, John’s athletic background and name recognition will give the series a solid foundation. The combination could help build a product that is accessible for an international audience and is strongly linked to Indonesian culture.
Dragon’s Dojo is also a curious next step for John, who’s had a remarkable boxing career. Since animation is already such a big part of his public persona, it’s a chance for him to re-imagine his “Dragon” character in a whole new way. Instead of simply telling the story of his career, the series can feature elements of his fighting legacy in a larger fictional world based on Indonesian mythology.
There is also a broader strategy to support the series. Silver Media Group appears to be looking at Dragon’s Dojo as more than just a short-form animated show. If the project manages to attract viewers, the world may eventually expand into digital comics, mobile games and other entertainment forms related to the ASERYA universe. This gives room for the series to expand beyond its initial mobile-first format.
Right now, Dragon’s Dojo is currently under development, but this project is one to watch, thanks to a mix of Indonesian folklore, Chris John’s legacy in boxing, and a format tailor-made for mobile audiences. It could also be a vehicle for a far wider readership of Southeast Asian mythology, at a time when audiences around the world are more open to stories that eschew the traditional Hollywood and European modes.