If you have spent any time on Disney Twitter (X) or TikTok Indonesia, you have likely seen the hot take: "Moana dubbing Bahasa Indonesia is better."
At first glance, this seems like patriotic bias. But after listening to both the original English track and the Indonesian version back-to-back, I have to agree. The 2016 Disney masterpiece Moana (or Sang Petualang) isn't just well translated in Indonesian—in some key ways, it is superior.
Here is why the Bahasa Indonesia dub deserves a standing ovation.
The English script relies heavily on modern colloquialisms: “Chicken lickin’,” “Shiny,” and “You’re welcome.” The Indonesian dub skillfully replaces these with local idioms. moana dubbing bahasa indonesia better
The heart of any Moana discussion is the titular heroine. In English, Moana is voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho, who was 14 at the time of recording. She brings a raw, youthful, and slightly raspy energy that perfectly captures a determined village chief.
In Indonesian, Moana is voiced by Mikha Sherly Marpaung (often credited simply as Mikha). While Cravalho’s performance is technically excellent, Mikha brings a distinct vocal warmth and smoother legato to the role. Indonesian audiences noted that Mikha’s voice carries a specific kelembutan (gentleness) that feels more natural to the character’s empathetic leadership style.
Furthermore, Mikha excels in the spoken dialogue. The Indonesian script utilizes a formal yet heartfelt Bahasa Baku (standard language) mixed with natural intonation, which makes Moana sound wiser beyond her years. The result is a protagonist who feels less like a Disney princess and more like a kakak (older sister) you would actually follow across the ocean. If you have spent any time on Disney
Satu-satunya hal yang mungkin menjadi perdebatan adalah soal "dubbing voice matching". Beberapa penonton mungkin lebih menyukai suara berat Dwayne Johnson (Maui) yang sangat khas di versi asli. Meskipun pengisi suara Indonesia sangat berbakat, kehadiran Dwayne Johnson memang sulit ditiru karena karakter suaranya yang sudah ikonik. Namun, ini lebih ke preferensi selera daripada kesalahan teknis.
This is the secret weapon of the Indonesian dub. While Hawai’i and Polynesia are geographically distant from Indonesia, they are linguistically and culturally linked via the Austronesian language family. Words like “mata” (eye), “laut” (ocean), and “mana” (spiritual power) exist in both Bahasa Indonesia and many Polynesian languages.
When Moana sings about the “laut biru” (blue ocean), an Indonesian ear hears a direct kinship to their own maritime heritage (the Penumpang Austronesia). The original English version treats Polynesian culture as an exotic "other." The Indonesian version makes it feel familiar. Furthermore, Mikha excels in the spoken dialogue
Moreover, the concept of “leluhur” (ancestors) is sacred in Indonesian culture. The Indonesian dub emphasizes this word far more heavily than the English script, which relies on “grandma” and “the past.” For an Indonesian audience, the story stops being about a specific Pacific island and starts being a universal story about their own struggle between modern conformity and ancestral calling.
Maretha Dee, the voice of Moana in the Indonesian dub, doesn't try to copy Auliʻi Cravalho. Instead, she channels a different kind of bravery.