KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Long before Ejen Ali or BoBoiBoy captured global audiences, a different kind of Malaysian animation proved that local talent could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with international productions. That film was War of the Worlds: Goliath.
Released in 2012, the ambitious sci-fi epic was an international collaboration between Malaysia, South Korea, and the United States.
More than a decade later, the film returned to the spotlight at a special screening at Sunway University on May 8, reminding a new generation of its pioneering legacy.
Set in a steampunk 1914, the film serves as a loose sequel to H.G. Wells’ classic novel, following humanity’s resistance against a second Martian invasion using towering battle mechs.
Featuring an international cast that included Malaysian actor Tony Eusoff, the film premiered at San Diego Comic-Con before its Malaysian debut.
Its crowning achievement came when it won Best 3D Animated Feature at the Los Angeles 3D Film Festival, beating mainstream titles like Madagascar 3 and ParaNorman.
Leon Tan speaks during a Q&A session following the screening of ‘War of the Worlds: Goliath’ at Sunway University, alongside Spencer Ooi and Gavin Yap. — Picture courtesy of David Yanez
The sequel that never was
Despite its critical success and a cliffhanger ending, a sequel never materialised.
Producer Leon Tan explained during a Q&A session that the primary obstacle was the business side of filmmaking.
“If a film does really well, everyone talks about a sequel. If it does moderately well, it’s harder to raise money and generate interest,” Tan said.
“Ultimately, that was the problem we faced.”
Part of what makes Goliath so remarkable is what it accomplished when Malaysia’s animation industry was still finding its footing.
The passion behind the project was immense. Production designer Spencer Ooi recalled designing the climactic battle in New York City entirely through Google Earth, having never visited the city.
This dedication paid off in unexpected ways. Datuk Kamil Othman, a veteran of Malaysia’s creative industry who attended the screening, reflected on how Goliath became a crucial “report card” for the nation.
He explained that the film’s quality and ambition helped build international confidence in Malaysian talent, which was instrumental in attracting major post-production work for Hollywood films like Life of Pi to the country.
A legacy of ambition
Today, the team behind Goliath has largely moved on, but the film’s significance endures.
While a sequel remains unlikely, Tan expressed admiration for how far Malaysian animation has come, with local shows now earning global status.
The challenge, he said, remains creating stories that connect with international viewers universally, not just as “Malaysian animation.”
He believes, however, that the gap between Malaysia and the global industry is no longer as wide as it once was.
That could be the lasting legacy of War of the Worlds: Goliath. It may never get a sequel, but its importance lies in proving that Malaysian animators could dream on a global scale, long before the industry was ready for it.
More than a decade later, it remains a powerful story of ambition, perseverance, and a pioneering belief in Malaysian talent.
