![\"Characters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/d882b0011294da654d3e5235a72a6a50.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nKUALA LUMPUR, June 5 \u2014 Successful adult animated series have remained popular for decades, with shows such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, and American Dad! among the most notable examples.<\/p>\n
Taking a similar approach while tailoring its humour to local audiences, Kisah Bawah Tanah (KBT) is a 12-minute 2D-animated series by Animasia Studio and Spaceboy Studios that premiered in March.<\/p>\n
Drawing inspiration from ghost myths and horror folklore from Malaysia and across South-east Asia, the series features familiar supernatural figures that many in the region will recognise, including the Pocong, Orang Minyak, and Jiangshi.<\/p>\n
KBT transforms these traditionally frightening legends into a humorous, relatable, adult-animated comedy aimed at Gen Z audiences.<\/p>\n
The tale of \u2018Kisah Bawah Tanah\u2019<\/p>\n
KBT follows Sam and Zack, two teenage living skeletons who leave their hometown, Bone Village, and move to the Underground City in search of work.<\/p>\n
They are initially hired to destroy a grocery store owned by a zombie named Tok Mart.<\/p>\n
However, after having a change of heart and helping save the shop instead, they become his employees.<\/p>\n
Along the way, they encounter strange characters, face unexpected challenges, and take on missions for Tok Mart as they try to build a new life for themselves.<\/p>\n
The series has aired 18 episodes in Part 1 of its first season and continues to grow in popularity, with plans to expand into Thailand, Brunei, and Singapore also underway.<\/p>\n
Part 2 rollout confirmed; Season 2 and film development in discussion<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Characters from \u2018Kisah Bawah Tanah\u2019 set to return in Part 2. \u2014 Screengrab from YouTube<\/p>\n
Characters from \u2018Kisah Bawah Tanah\u2019 set to return in Part 2. \u2014 Screengrab from YouTube<\/p>\n
REXKL was transformed into a hauntingly immersive underworld inspired by the KBT animation for one night yesterday.<\/p>\n
Malay Mail attended the media session that day, where Part 2 of Season 1 was announced at the press conference.<\/p>\n
The creative team behind the series included Astro Head of Group Marketing Benjamin Woo, Astro Prima Channel Manager Idlan Zahari, KBT co-creator Hendra Wardi, and director Wong Kuan Loong, who were part of the session.<\/p>\n
The upcoming instalment will feature eight brand-new episodes packed with more adventures, stranger creatures, and chaotic encounters from the underground world that fans have come to love.<\/p>\n
New voice cast additions include Nadhir Nasar, Auddra Zulkifli, boy band ALPHA, and Qi Razali, who will voice new characters in Part 2.<\/p>\n
When a question about Season 2 was raised, Idlan said discussions are ongoing.<\/p>\n
Hendra noted that, if given the opportunity, the team hopes to introduce a wider range of myths from across South-east Asia into the series.<\/p>\n
Hendra also shared that there are plans for a movie, although nothing has been confirmed at this stage.<\/p>\n
The KBT world continues and could global myths make their way into the series?<\/p>\n
KBT carries a sense of classic nostalgia, reminiscent of local 2D animations that were popular in the past, such as Kampung Boy, Usop Sontorian, and Keluang Man.<\/p>\n
Benjamin Woo, Astro\u2019s Head of Group Marketing, said, \u201cKBT demonstrates the incredible potential of our local creative industry when storytellers, artists, and innovators come together.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we continue to back bold, homegrown intellectual properties, Astro remains committed to elevating Malaysian animation and South-east Asian storytelling to new heights, reaching new audiences and unlocking new forms of expression,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Natasha \u201cTashbunny\u201d Hashim, who voices Ina in the series, described her experience as highly positive.<\/p>\n
Marking her first voice-acting role, she told Malay Mail: \u201cThis is a different ball game.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cExpect more relationship developments for the characters, new challenges for Zack and Sam, a bit of maturity for Ina, and most importantly, the humour will be just as wacky,\u201d when describing what fans can expect from Part 2.<\/p>\n
Loong said, \u201cFor most of my 20 years, my work has been targeted at kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think what\u2019s special about KBT is that it allows me to expand my creative boundaries.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Malay Mail asked whether the series would potentially introduce mythological creatures from other parts of the world, Loong replied, \u201cOf course, we want to cover more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst, we focus back home in Malaysia, then expand across South-east Asia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia share closely related ghost cultures,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
However, he clarified that the team does not want to rely on stereotypes.<\/p>\n
If new creatures are introduced, they will not be portrayed in a clich\u00e9 way \u2014 for example, avoiding typical associations like mummies with Egypt.<\/p>\n
While Season 2 and a potential movie remain under discussion, the story of KBT will continue with Part 2 of Season 1, which is set to air from June 8 to July 27, 2026, on Astro Prima and via streaming on sooka.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 \u2014 Successful adult animated series have remained popular for decades, with shows such as…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":716002,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[259345,49,48,75,259343,259346,259341,259340,238777,337,259344,70359,259342],"class_list":["post-716001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-movies","tag-benjamin-woo","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-entertainment","tag-hendra-wardi","tag-idlan-zahari","tag-kbt","tag-kisah-bawah-tanah","tag-malay-mail","tag-movies","tag-orang-minyak","tag-south-east-asia","tag-wong-kuan-loong"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/716001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=716001"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/716001\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/716002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=716001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=716001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=716001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}