Retelling the Myth of Timun Mas through Aniwayang ‘Ijo dan Emas’

Abstract

This study explores the reinterpretation of the well-known Javanese folktale Timun Mas through the short animation Ijo dan Emas (2023), produced by Aniwayang Studio. Unlike the conventional narrative that highlights Timun Mas as a heroine against the evil ogre Buto Ijo, Ijo dan Emas reimagines the myth from the perspective of Buto Ijo, challenging the binary opposition between good and evil. Written by Andina Subarja and directed by Daud Nugraha, this animation film introduces a novel use of colored wayang puppets, where green and gold motifs are embedded in the carved perforations of the main characters to align with their names and symbolic identities. This creative intervention not only extends the expressive potential of shadow play but also embodies a new aesthetic dialogue between tradition and modern animation practice. Using a semiotic approach, the study analyzes how symbols, colors, and narrative shifts produce fresh layers of meaning and invite viewers to reconsider myths as fluid cultural texts. The paper argues that Ijo dan Emas demonstrates the power of re-narrating folklore in digital forms to sustain cultural memory while fostering new interpretations relevant to contemporary audiences in Indonesia and beyond.