Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Having been translated into various languages and adapted as animation, the well-loved local cartoon strip 'Kampung Boy' is set to scale greater heights.
It will hit the theatre as a musical for a world-class stage in December.
Needless to say, its creator, iconic cartoonist Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, better known as Lat, is in seventh heaven.
While he finds it difficult to believe that his work would be made into a musical, the man views it as an appreciation of his works.
"I am grateful that the Kampung Boy cartoon still continues...even the animation is still around and I have plans with Astro to have an animation series in the future," added Lat.
He advised budding cartoonists interested in animation to be creative and find different ways to feature the Malaysian culture.
"Even on low budget, creative ideas would assure the work reaches the foreign market without the need to imitate Western ways.
Meanwhile, the musical is a joint project between the Malaysian National Institute of Translation (ITNM) and Tall Order Theater Production.
It will not only bring the famous cartoon to the stage, but its delivery will also contain the 1Malaysia concept.
INTM communication, marketing and sales department manager Zinitulniza Abdul Kadir said, Kampung Boy was chosen to be made into a musical, based on its storyline which depicted Malaysian communities and cultures.
"The Kampung Boy books have been translated into 15 languages and we feel it's a good way to promote our culture.
"Upon request from Lat himself, the musical will also include the 1Malaysia concept, not just in terms of its crew but also its actors who will consist of various races.
"This is why, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak agreed to be a patron," she told reporters after launching the Malaysia Book Lovers Seminar 2010 here Tuesday.
To be staged in Bahasa Melayu, Zinitulniza said the musical would include the ups and downs of Lat's life as cartoonist, scenes from his cartoon works and his new ideas, which would be presented in a way to captivate the audience.
Source: http://www.bernama.com
