Malaysian animated comedy series “Kisah Bawah Tanah” has secured a multi-territory launch in Southeast Asia, with Malaysian giant Astro taking rights for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei and Thai youth channel Boom boarding as broadcaster in Thailand.

Produced by Malaysia’s Animasia Studio and Spaceboy Studios, the 26-episode series debuts across Astro platforms in 2026, with Boom planning a Thai premiere in late 2026.

The Astro agreement covers brand extensions and integration with other Astro Originals and in-house IPs.

The Boom deal covers first-run rights in Thailand, where the channel will position the series as part of its youth-skewing animation line-up. 

Targeted at teens and young adults rather than children, “Kisah Bawah Tanah” is a coming-of-age supernatural comedy grounded in Southeast Asian folklore with Gen-Z humour and social satire. 

The series follows skeleton best friends Sam and Zack on episodic misadventures in the world of “Bawah Tanah”, populated by reimagined versions of regional “hantus”  from both documented and undocumented corners of Southeast Asian myths and legends. Each episode uses horror-comedy setups to reflect everyday stresses around work, money, relationships and societal pressure.

“‘Kisah Bawah Tanah’ was created to fill a space that’s been missing, a voice for Southeast Asian animation that speaks to adults,” said Edmund Chan, Animasia Studio’s managing director. 

The project has been in development since 2018 with support from government agency Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). 

Komet Productions, headed by veteran executive Ahmad Izham Omar, is attached as consulting producer, with a brief to help shape franchise and multi-format opportunities for the property beyond television.

Astro’s vice president for Malay, international, kids and on-demand content, Azlin Reza Azmi, said the series fits the company’s strategy of growing locally rooted, youth-skewing IP and strengthening its pipeline of Malaysian animation with regional appeal.

Boom CEO Pornpoj Laohasukkasem said the Thai deal adds a distinctly Southeast Asian voice to the channel’s schedule while supporting its push to work more closely with regional studios and creators.

Co-created by Hendra Wardi and produced under the Animasia–Spaceboy partnership, “Kisah Bawah Tanah” is being seen as a test case for adult-skewing Asian animation able to travel while retaining a strong cultural identity.