The Voices Behind the Villain: Exploring the Indonesian Dub of Despicable Me
Ever wondered how Gru’s iconic, vaguely Eastern European accent translates into Indonesian? While we all love Steve Carell’s performance, the Indonesian dubbing Despicable Me
(2010) has its own charm, bringing the story of the moon-stealing supervillain to life for millions of local viewers. Multiple Versions, Many Voices Interestingly, Despicable Me
hasn't just been dubbed once for Indonesia. Depending on where you watched it—whether on Disney Channel —you likely heard different voice actors.
Here is a breakdown of the key cast members from the most prominent versions: Disney Channel Dub Elias Siswanto Rujani Pahlusi Muhamad Nur Jumali Jindra Jumali Jindra Kamal Nasuti Lis Kurniasih Jessy Millianty Mirna Haryati Sani Oktania Merry Siti Mariam Maria Cicillia Siti Balqis Dr. Nefario Arya Samaji The Secret "Indo" Ingredient: Pierre Coffin You can't talk about Despicable Me
and Indonesia without mentioning the director and the voice of the Minions, Pierre Coffin
. Coffin is of Indonesian descent; his mother is the famous Indonesian novelist
This heritage is why you might catch "Minion-ese" words that sound suspiciously like Indonesian. In several films, Minions have been heard saying: "Terima kasih" (Thank you) (Come here) "Nasi goreng" (Fried rice) Why the Dub Matters
Dubbing animation is about more than just translation; it’s about capturing the "vibe." Actors like Elias Siswanto Muhamad Nur
(Disney/VTV) had the massive task of making Gru’s grumpiness feel natural in Bahasa Indonesia. For many Indonesian kids, these are the "real" voices of their favorite characters.
Whether you're a purist who sticks to the original or someone who grew up with the Sunday morning movie on RCTI, the Indonesian dubbing industry continues to be a vital bridge between Hollywood magic and local audiences. Which version of Gru’s voice did you grow up with? Let us know in the comments! for the rest of the franchise? Pierre Coffin - Despicable Me Wiki
The Indonesian dubbing of Despicable Me (2010) is notable for its presence across multiple major television networks, utilizing different recording studios and voice casts to cater to local audiences. Broadcast and Production Overview
The film has been dubbed into Bahasa Indonesia multiple times for different platforms: despicable me 1 dubbing indonesia
RCTI & GTV: One of the most prominent versions was produced by Studio Dubbing RCTI.
Disney Channel (Indonesia): A separate dub was recorded at Eltra Studio.
ANTV & VTV: Another version was handled by KAN Production, with a scheduled release on VTV as recent as April 2025. Indonesian Voice Cast (RCTI/GTV Version)
The following voice actors provided the performances for the central characters in the Indonesian-language version: Gru: Elias Siswanto Margo: Lis Kurniasih Agnes: Maria Cicilia Edith: Sani Oktania Dr. Nefario: Arya Samaji Vector Perkins: Jumali Jindra Cultural Connections
Beyond the dubbing itself, the franchise has a unique tie to Indonesia:
Director's Heritage: Co-director Pierre Coffin is of Indonesian descent; his mother is the renowned Indonesian writer Nh. Dini.
Minionese Language: The fictional "Minionese" language incorporates several Indonesian words, such as "terima kasih" (thank you) and "kemari" (come here), which are easily recognizable to local viewers.
Translation Nuances: Academic studies have analyzed the Indonesian dubbing and subtitling, noting how translators handle wordplay. For instance, Gru's joke about "raises" (pay increases) vs. "raises" (raising hands) is adapted to ensure the comedic timing works in Bahasa Indonesia.
Sometimes, a simple movie night can turn into a small lesson in world cultures. If you’re looking for a helpful story about the Indonesian connection to Despicable Me , it actually starts with a single word: "Terima Kasih." The Story of the Indonesian "Easter Egg" In the very first Despicable Me
(2010), audiences in Indonesia were surprised and delighted to hear a familiar sound. During a scene where Gru is given a gift by his Minions, one of them clearly says, "Terima Kasih" —the Indonesian phrase for "Thank you"
This wasn't an accident or a random dubbing choice. The film's co-director, Pierre Coffin
, is of Indonesian descent (his mother is the famous Indonesian novelist NH Dini). He is the voice of the Minions, and he intentionally sprinkled Indonesian words like "terima kasih" (come here) into their signature "Minionese" language Why This is "Helpful" A Lesson in Inclusivity: The Voices Behind the Villain: Exploring the Indonesian
For Indonesian kids (and adults!), hearing their language in a massive Hollywood blockbuster was a moment of immense pride. It showed that even a "gibberish" language could be a beautiful bridge between different cultures How the Dubbing Works:
While the Minions' voices stay the same globally (relying on Coffin’s original recordings), the rest of the film is often professionally dubbed into Indonesian for local television (like RCTI or Global TV) to help younger children follow Gru’s emotional journey from villain to father Language Learning:
For those learning Indonesian, the Minions actually provide a fun, low-pressure way to recognize basic vocabulary!
If you're watching the Indonesian-dubbed version on a streaming service, try keeping the Indonesian subtitles on. It's a great way to see how "Minionese" blends real Indonesian words with French, Spanish, and Italian to create its unique charm other Indonesian words appear in the Minions' language throughout the sequels?
The story of the Indonesian dubbing Despicable Me (2010) is unique because it involves both traditional TV localization and a direct cultural link to the film's original creation. Lowy Institute 1. The Indonesian Connection
While the film is a Hollywood production, it has deep Indonesian roots. The co-director and the voice of the Minions, Pierre Coffin Pierre-Louis Padang Coffin ), is the son of the legendary Indonesian novelist and French diplomat Yves Coffin. Lowy Institute
Because of this heritage, Coffin intentionally included several Indonesian words in the Minions' language (
), which can be heard in both the original English version and the Indonesian dub: The Jakarta Post "Terima kasih" (Thank you) (Come here) "Paduka Raja" (Your Highness) The Jakarta Post 2. Indonesian Dubbing History
The film has been dubbed into Bahasa Indonesia multiple times for different platforms: The Dubbing Database
The Indonesian dubbing of Despicable Me is particularly fascinating because it bridges a world-famous franchise with deep Indonesian roots. Here are the most interesting facts about the Indonesian version: 1. The Indonesian Connection Behind the Scenes
The biggest "hidden" fact is that the director of the original film and the primary voice of the Minions, Pierre Coffin, is of Indonesian descent. His mother is the famous Indonesian novelist Nh. Dini. This connection is even reflected in the Minions' language ("Minionese"), which includes borrowed Indonesian words like "terima kasih" (thank you) and "kemari" (come here). 2. Multiple Dubbed Versions
Unlike many films that have just one dub, Despicable Me has several distinct Indonesian versions produced for different networks: Dadan R
RCTI/GTV Version: A popular version that has aired frequently on terrestrial TV. Disney Channel Version: Recorded at Eltra Studio. HBO (Asia) Version: Recorded at MCPro Studio.
VTV/ANTV Version: A newer version recorded at KAN Production that aired as recently as April 2025. 3. Iconic Indonesian Voice Cast
The various versions feature some of Indonesia's most experienced voice actors. Depending on the version you watch, the cast includes: Indonesian Voice Actor (Sample Cast) Gru Muhamad Nur Elias Siswanto Rujani Pahlusi Vector Kamal Nasuti Jumali Jindra Irfan Setiawan Margo Lis Kurniasih Mirna Haryati Jessy Millianty Agnes Maria Cicillia Jessy Millianty Siti Balqis Dr. Nefario Arya Samaji
While the first movie used professional voice actors, later spinoffs like Minions featured celebrity "star dubbing" with names like Kevin Julio , Jessica Mila , and Joe Taslim . 4. Recent Local Releases
Banyak remaja dan dewasa muda saat ini yang mengaku pertama kali menonton Despicable Me di TV swasta Indonesia (seperti RCTI, Global TV, atau Disney Channel Asia versi Indonesia) dengan dubbing lokal. Mendengar kembali suara Gru bergaya logat Jakarta atau teriakan "Cepat lari!" dari para Minion akan memicu gelombang nostalgia yang manis.
Siapa yang tidak kenal Gru? Pria berkumis tebal, berhidung mancung, dan berkacamata itu telah mencuri hati penonton Indonesia sejak pertama kali film Despicable Me tayang di bioskop pada tahun 2010.
Meskipun sudah lebih dari satu dekade berlalu, pesona film pertama dari franchise ini tidak pernah pudar. Bagi banyak orang Indonesia, menonton Despicable Me 1 dengan dubbing Bahasa Indonesia adalah pengalaman yang tak terlupakan. Bukan hanya karena karakter Minions yang lucu, tapi juga karena kualitas sulih suara yang sangat mengena di hati.
Yuk, kita flashback serunya Despicable Me 1 versi dubbing Indonesia!
Sayangnya, informasi detail mengenai jajaran pengisi suara untuk film animasi di awal 2010-an terkadang sulit dilacak. Namun, berdasarkan komunitas pecinta dubbing dan beberapa sumber terpercaya, proses alih suara Despicable Me 1 biasanya ditangani oleh studio dubbing ternama seperti I-Sky Media atau PT. Vision Intermedia. Mereka dikenal memiliki jajaran pengisi suara andal seperti:
Sayangnya, tidak seperti film besar sekarang yang mencantumkan nama pengisi suara di ending credit, banyak pengisi suara Despicable Me 1 dubbing Indonesia yang bekerja secara anonim. Mereka adalah pahlawan lokal yang layak diapresiasi.
The Indonesian dub starred TV personalities, not just professional voice actors. Ayu Dewi as Miss Hattie (the orphanage owner) used an exaggerated "Jakarta snob" accent, while Ungu (a popular band’s vocalist) voiced Vector with teenage surfer slang, making him sound like a local anak gaul (cool kid). This star power drew non-animation fans to theaters.