Jakarta, en.SERU.co.id – Pelangi di Mars is not just holiday entertainment for Lebaran; it is living proof that the imagination and technology of Indonesia’s young talents can break through the boundaries of the galaxy.
Not Just a Film, But the Dedication of Hundreds of Creators
Behind its stunning visuals lies a story of dedication and a shared dream. Producer Dendi Reynando shared a touching moment at the JAFF Market, where he met one of the 3D animators from a vendor involved in the project.
“He came all the way just to say thank you, because his design became part of this film. That’s when I realized Pelangi di Mars is much bigger than just me and Upie. This film belongs to all of us — to the hundreds of people who have poured their hearts into it,” Dendi said in his official statement to SERU.co.id.
According to Dendi, this project is the largest-budget production Mahakarya Pictures has ever undertaken. The character Pratiwi in the film is inspired by the real-life Indonesian scientist Pratiwi Sudarmono, who was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 1985.
Director Upie Guava echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the film is a collective movement of Indonesian visual artists.
“This film represents the maximum effort and dedication of our editors, animators, VFX artists, and hundreds of other talented people who contributed their skills. This is not just a project — it’s a movement. We dedicate this film to the children of Indonesia and to everyone who still believes in the power of dreams,” Upie stated.
This is Upie Guava’s feature film directorial debut. He was previously known for his documentary works and music videos. Upie began researching the project as early as the beginning of 2020.
The film is produced by Mahakarya Pictures in collaboration with MBK Productions, and supported by Produksi Film Negara (PFN), RANS Entertainment, Guava Film, DossGuavaXR Studio, and A&Z Films. The screenplay was written by Upie Guava together with Alim Sudio.
First-Ever XR Technology: A Major Step for the National Film Industry
This five-year journey involved hundreds of the best talents from across Indonesia, united by one mission: to elevate Indonesian cinema to a world-class level.
Pelangi di Mars marks itself as the first Indonesian film to use Extended Reality (XR) technology on a massive scale — a cutting-edge innovation that is still relatively new even in the global film industry.
This ambitious work from Mahakarya Pictures and director Upie Guava is presented as a work of art with significant impact on the development of children’s imagination. The production utilized Extended Reality (XR) technology and a hybrid production method, combining live-action footage with three-dimensional virtual environments.
Pelangi di Mars takes audiences on an exciting, educational, and highly imaginative visual adventure, inviting Indonesian children to explore the Red Planet with a quality standard never before seen in Indonesian cinema.
The Long Technical Journey and Filming of Pelangi di Mars
The filming of Pelangi di Mars used a hybrid method, blending live-action shoots with virtual environments. Extended Reality (XR) technology was employed to project the Planet Mars background using Unreal Engine software onto large LED screens at DossGuavaXR Studio.
The production process was divided into two main phases:
- Motion-capture: Conducted over 12 days to record basic movements for the robot characters.
- Live-action: Conducted over 14 days for scenes involving human actors.
Lead actress Pelangi (Messi Gusti) went through a long shooting process that began with first-look footage when she was 11 years old, continuing through post-production when she was already in junior high school. She also underwent a special workshop to learn how to walk in a low-gravity environment, just like an astronaut.
Enjoy the Journey of Pelangi di Mars with Family This Lebaran 2026
Pelangi di Mars will be released simultaneously in Indonesian cinemas on March 18, 2026, coinciding with the Idulfitri holiday break.
Pelangi di Mars is an Indonesian family sci-fi film set in the future year 2090. It tells the story of a child who becomes the first human born and raised on Planet Mars.
In 2090, Earth has become uninhabitable due to a clean water crisis monopolized by a company called Nerotex. This forces humanity to establish colonies on Mars.
The story centers on Pelangi (played by Messi Gusti), a 12-year-old girl with a unique status as the first human born and raised on Mars. After her mother, Pratiwi (Lutesha), and the rest of the human colony leave the planet, Pelangi is left behind with a group of abandoned robots. Together with these robots, Pelangi embarks on an adventure to search for a rare mineral called Zeolith Omega, which is believed to be able to purify water on Earth.
National Artists in Front of and Behind the Camera
Human characters are portrayed by:
- Messi Gusti as Pelangi
- Lutesha as Pratiwi
- Rio Dewanto as Banyu
- Livy Renata as Mirna
- Myesha Lin as Young Pelangi
The robot characters are voiced by:
- Bimo Kusumo as Batik
- Dimitri Arditya as Sulil
- Vanya Rivani as Kimchi
- Kristo Immanuel as Yoman
- Gilang Dirga as Petya
(rhd)
