22 Apr – "Betul, betul, betul!" is what the cheeky twins Upin and Ipin would be saying if anyone asks them if they are headed to China soon. That's because "Upin & Ipin: Keris Siamang Tunggal", the latest movie starring the identical duo, is set to be screened in China next. Cultural Investment Holding Co. Ltd. (China) recently signed an agreement to distribute the Les' Copaque Production animated film in China either this June or July. Approximately RMB10 million (RM6.18 million) will be invested in promoting and marketing the movie in the country. Prior to that, the English-dubbed version of the movie, "Upin & Ipin: The Lone Gibbon Kris", will first be released in Vietnam this Friday and in neighbouring Indonesia this 9 May. The movie to be screened in China will be the Mandarin-dubbed version. While no dates have been set so far, there are also plans to bring the movie to Taiwan and Japan.
The original Malay-language version of the movie was released in Malaysia and Brunei, along with the English version in Singapore, on 21 March. A month after its release, it is still going strong at local cinemas. Made on a budget of RM20 million, making it the most expensive Malaysian animated film to date, the movie took 5 years to complete and now holds the record as the highest-grossing animated film in Malaysia after collecting RM25 million at the local box office within just three weeks of showing. It edged out former record holder, Disney-Pixar's "Incredibles 2", which took over three months to make the same amount.