A boy with big dreams, a weak set of lungs and a glowing spirit bird: that’s the heart of Garuda: Dare to Dream. The award-winning Indonesian animated film is joining Netflix on October 15, 2026, and the timing couldn’t be better for football-loving families looking for something uplifting to watch together.
Garuda: Dare to Dream
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Film | Garuda: Dare to Dream (Garuda di Dadaku) |
| Genre | Animated family sports fantasy |
| Netflix Release | October 15, 2026 |
| Availability | Most major regions, including the US and UK |
| Director | Ronny Gani |
| Producer | Shanty Harmayn |
| Studios | BASE Entertainment, KAWI Animation |
| Voice of Putra | Keanu Azka |
| Voice of Gaga | Kristo Immanuel |
| Indonesian Release | June 11, 2026 |
The Story: A Dream Bigger Than His Skills
The film follows Putra, a 13-year-old boy with asthma who dreams of playing for Indonesia’s national football team. His hopes take a hit when he’s mocked at trials for the Sanca Perkasa Soccer School. Then a glowing spirit named Gaga, a Garuda, appears and gives him a mystical jersey that unlocks new levels of speed, power and skill. Netflix describes it as a magical bird searching for Indonesia’s next soccer star, only to find a boy whose abilities lag behind his dreams. Together, they chase tournament glory.
It’s a classic underdog setup with a fantasy twist, and the Garuda itself is a powerful cultural symbol in Indonesia, which gives the story extra meaning.
A Reimagining of a Homegrown Hit
The title will be new to most Netflix viewers, but it’s a big name in Indonesia. The original live-action Garuda di Dadaku arrived in 2009 and did well enough to inspire a sequel in 2011. This animated version keeps the football theme but introduces a new lead character and a fantasy layer.
Director Ronny Gani, who has worked as an animator on Marvel films and is an alum of LucasFilm and ILM, helmed the project, with Shanty Harmayn producing. It’s BASE Entertainment’s first animated feature and took over three years to develop, with around 550 animators from 17 studios across Indonesia contributing. The studio also stated that no AI was used for any of the visuals.
The Voice Cast
Keanu Azka voices Putra and Kristo Immanuel voices Gaga. The rest of the cast includes Quinn Salman, Bimasena, Ibnu Jamil, Revalina S. Temat, Zee JKT48, Sal Priadi, Ringgo Agus Rahman and Oki Rengga.
An Award-Winning Run
The film premiered in Indonesian cinemas on June 11, 2026, timed to school holidays and the start of the FIFA World Cup. It later competed for the Golden Goblet Award in the Animation Competition at the Shanghai International Film Festival. It also won the Gryphon Award for Best Film in the Elements +6 competition at the 56th Giffoni Film Festival in Italy, along with the LETE Special Award there.
Netflix keeps expanding its international animation lineup, having picked up Panji Tengkorak last Christmas, and this feels like a natural fit for family viewing around the October break.
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FAQs
When does Garuda: Dare to Dream release on Netflix?
It arrives on October 15, 2026, in most major regions including the US and UK.
Who directs Garuda: Dare to Dream?
Ronny Gani directs the film, produced by Shanty Harmayn.
