In conversation with Silat Legenda 's director Hassan Muthalib about the making of Malaysia's first animation feature film.

The article focuses on *Silat Legenda*, Malaysia's first Malay-language animated feature film released in 1998, directed by Hassan Muthalib, who is regarded as the "father of Malaysian animation." Despite its cultural significance in blending traditional silat martial arts and Malaysian folklore with superhero mythology, the film faced numerous production challenges including inexperienced animators, problematic collaboration with an Indonesian studio, limited technology, and financial constraints, which contributed to its commercial failure. The film's narrative subtly reflected the 1990s political conflict between Malaysia's prime minister and deputy prime minister, emphasizing a theme of "unity in strength." Although *Silat Legenda* did not achieve box-office success or widespread availability, it remains a pioneering milestone in Malaysian animation history, with potential for renewed interest through modern technology and distribution platforms.