Kumang and the Ungrateful Python: The Iban Legend That Won Best Story in Asia

Kumang has been winning hearts in Sarawak for centuries. This year she won something new: Best Story at the 27th DigiCon6 Asia Malaysia Circuit Contest — part of an Asia-wide competition organised by Japan’s Tokyo Broadcasting System.

The film is Kumang and the Ungrateful Python, an animated short made entirely in Kuching.

It was also an Official Selection at the Malaysia Animation Film Festival 2025, and carried a Gold Nominee recognition representing Malaysia on the regional stage.

Celebrating Sarawak Creativity on the Global Stage

At the ASEAN Digital Content Summit 2025 held in Johor Bahru, Motion Foundry — a leading Sarawak animation studio based in Kuching — brought home major recognition for its latest animated short, Kumang and the Ungrateful Python.

The film, inspired by Sarawak’s indigenous folklore, won the Best Story Award at the 27th DigiCon6 Asia Malaysia Circuit Contest, was an Official Selection at the Malaysia Animation Film Festival (MAFF) 2025, and earned a Gold Nominee recognition representing Malaysia on the regional stage.

DigiCon6 Asia is contested across more than a dozen countries and regions each year, with circuit winners advancing toward the grand awards in Japan.

Best Story is the category every writer wants. It is not a prize for budget or polish — it is a jury saying: this tale held us.

Who Is Kumang?

Ask any Iban elder and the name needs no introduction. Kumang is the heroine of Iban legend — wife of the hero Keling of Panggau Libau, the mythical longhouse realm of the Iban pantheon.

She is the patroness of weavers. The finest pua kumbu are said to carry her reflection; Iban chants sing her praises; for generations she has been the measure of grace, skill and cleverness.

Her name never left. Every Gawai season, Sarawak still crowns its Kumang.

That is the weight this title carries. She is not a character we invented — she belongs to Sarawak. Our job was to bring her to a new screen without losing where she comes from.

The Tale of the Ungrateful Python

The film opens deep in the Borneo rainforest, where Kumang — the kind-hearted maiden of the tale — rescues a helpless baby python, Sawa, and raises it as her own.

But as the creature grows, so does its hunger. Until it demands the one thing she cannot give: her heart.

Kindness, greed, and the price of forgetting a kindness — the consequences Iban tales have always trusted their listeners to carry.

Watch Kumang and the Ungrateful Python — the full film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrvSmrjScHM

A Breakthrough for Sarawak’s Creative Industry

This achievement marks a proud moment for the creative economy in East Malaysia. The recognition received at MAFF and DigiCon6 Asia highlights how video production studios in Sarawak are stepping into the global spotlight.

The project was made possible through the strong support of:

1. Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak: mtcp.sarawak.gov.my

2. TVS Entertainment:tvsarawak.my

3. Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC): mdec.my

4. GSC International Screens: www.gsc.com.my

About Motion Foundry — Kuching’s Leading Animation Studio

Founded in 2012, Motion Foundry is a Kuching animation studio and video production company in Sarawak specializing in story-driven visuals for brands, documentaries, and animation projects.

From corporate storytelling to cinematic documentaries, the studio blends creativity, emotion, and cultural authenticity to produce visuals that move people — not just visually, but emotionally.

Explore our animation and motion graphics work: https://www.motionfoundry.com.my/animation

What Comes Next

Kumang is not a one-off. It is proof of an approach: Sarawak stories, made in Sarawak, holding their own internationally.

The next test is bigger. The White Rajah of Sarawak — the state’s first animated musical feature film — is now in production, set for Malaysian cinemas on 22 July 2028: Sarawak Day.

As the team shared: “Every story we tell carries a part of where we come from — Sarawak. These recognitions remind us that local voices can resonate globally when told with authenticity.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kumang in Iban mythology?

Kumang is the celebrated heroine of Iban legend — wife of the cultural hero Keling of Panggau Libau, patroness of weavers, and the traditional measure of grace and skill. Her name is still given today: every Gawai season, Sarawak crowns its Kumang.

What is Kumang and the Ungrateful Python about?

Deep in the Borneo rainforest, the kind-hearted Kumang rescues a helpless baby python and raises it as her own. But as it grows, so does its hunger — until it demands the one thing she cannot give: her heart. A classic Iban tale of kindness, greed and consequence.

What awards did Kumang and the Ungrateful Python win?

Best Story at the 27th DigiCon6 Asia Malaysia Circuit Contest, an Official Selection at the Malaysia Animation Film Festival (MAFF) 2025, and a Gold Nominee recognition representing Malaysia on the regional stage.

Where can I watch Kumang and the Ungrateful Python?

The full film is free to watch on Motion Foundry’s official YouTube channel — and it is embedded above on this page.

Who made Kumang and the Ungrateful Python?

Motion Foundry, an animation studio based in Kuching, Sarawak — directed by Siew Chung Lee — with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak.

What is Motion Foundry making next?

The White Rajah of Sarawak — the state’s first animated musical feature film, adapted from the 2017 stage musical, arriving in Malaysian cinemas on 22 July 2028, Sarawak Day.

Have a Sarawak story that deserves the screen? Talk to us →

Industry Mentions & Festival Context

The recognition for Kumang and the Ungrateful Python was also shared across industry and media platforms, helping place Sarawak animation within a wider Malaysian and regional creative context.

• TVS Sarawak highlighted the Best Story Award at the DigiCon6 Asia Awards and the film's Gold Award finalist recognition.

• TVS Entertainment shared the announcement of the Best Story Award at the 27th DigiCon6 ASIA Malaysia Circuit.

• SeaShorts Film Festival listed Kumang and the Ungrateful Python as part of the MAFF x SeaShorts 2025 screening lineup.

• Muse Visual shared the MAFF 2025 selection, Best Story Award, and Gold Winner nomination announcement.

• MDEC featured MAFF 2025 festival context connected to Malaysia's animation and digital content ecosystem.

Related animation stories:

• The White Rajah of Sarawak animated feature: https://www.motionfoundry.com.my/post/the-white-rajah-of-sarawak-animated-feature

• Motion Foundry recognised as an animation studio in Malaysia: https://www.motionfoundry.com.my/post/motion-foundry-named-one-of-malaysia-s-top-animation-studios-by-show-me-malaysia

• Majau Sarawak animation folklore project: https://www.motionfoundry.com.my/post/majau-sarawak-animation-folklore