Picture Credit: Base Entertainment
Netflix has picked up the licensing rights to Garuda: Dare to Dream (known in Indonesia as Garuda di Dadaku), an animated family film that’s been picking up awards on the festival circuit this year. It’ll arrive on Netflix on October 15th, 2026, in most major regions, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
Here’s how Netflix describes the movie:
A magical bird seeks Indonesia’s next soccer star, but must coach a boy whose skills lag behind his dreams as they chase a tournament victory together.
The film centers on Putra, a 13-year-old boy with asthma who dreams of playing for Indonesia’s national team. After being mocked at trials for the Sanca Perkasa Soccer School, he’s visited by Gaga, a glowing Garuda spirit, who gives him a mystical jersey that unlocks new levels of speed, power, and skill.
Keanu Azka voices Putra, and Kristo Immanuel voices Gaga. The rest of the voice cast includes Quinn Salman, Bimasena, Ibnu Jamil, Revalina S. Temat, Zee JKT48, Sal Priadi, Ringgo Agus Rahman, and Oki Rengga.
A reimagining of a homegrown Indonesian hit
While it may be new to most Netflix subscribers, Garuda di Dadaku is a well-known name in Indonesia. The original live-action film was released in 2009 and was successful enough to spawn a sequel in 2011. This animated take keeps the football theme but introduces a new lead character and adds a layer of fantasy.
Directed by Ronny Gani, who has worked as an animator on Marvel films (and is ex-LucasFilm/ILM alum), and produced by Shanty Harmayn, the film comes from BASE Entertainment in collaboration with KAWI Animation. It’s BASE’s first animated feature and was in development for over three years, with around 550 animators from 17 studios across Indonesia working on it. The studio also noted that no AI was used for any of the film’s visuals.
The movie hit Indonesian cinemas on June 11th, 2026, timed to coincide with school holidays and the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Festival success
Garuda: Dare to Dream has had a strong run on the festival circuit. It competed for the Golden Goblet Award in the Animation Competition at the 2026 Shanghai International Film Festival, and later won the Gryphon Award for Best Film in the Elements +6 competition at the 56th Giffoni Film Festival in Italy, one of the biggest festivals dedicated to children and young audiences. It also took home the LETE Special Award at Giffoni.
Netflix has been steadily building out its library of animated movies from around the world, and with football fever still lingering after the World Cup, this looks like a strong pick for families during the October half-term.
It’s not the first time Netflix has gone shopping for Indonesian animation. Last Christmas, Netflix picked up Panji Tengkorak.
Will you be checking out Garuda: Dare to Dream when it lands on Netflix on October 15th? Let us know in the comments below.