Usop Sontorian is Malaysia's first locally-made half-hour-episode animated cartoon

Cartoon

A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...

 series. It aired on RTM1 from 1996 to 1998. It was created by Ujang and Kamn Ismail of Kharisma Pictures (now MOY Publications). Currently Kamn Ismail is the managing director of Quest Animations. Ujang, the creator of the Usop Sontorian characters, has been forbidden to draw any cartoon characters similar in likeness to Usop Sontorian, after a failed legal battle to acquire rights to the character.

Usop Sontorian tells the story of the village life of Malaysian boy Usop b Mat and his friends Abu, Dol, Ah Kim, Vellu, and Singh. Usop is the third child in his family. He has two elder siblings: a sister, Kak Kiah, and a jobless brother named Abang Budin. The story is set in Kampung Parit Sonto, not far from the town of Ayer Hitam

Ayer Hitam

Ayer Hitam is a rest town in Johor, Malaysia. Located just at the junction of route and route , it is known for its many outlets selling pottery and other crafts. It also is one of the interchange for North-South Expressway. It is the border town between Batu Pahat and Kluang district...

, Johor

Johor

Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...

; hence the name '"Sontorian". The theme of the series was to promote unity and harmonious relationships between all races in Malaysia.