REVIEW: ‘Panji Tengkorak’ Delivers A Solid Dark-Fantasy Story

Panji Tengkorak is an Indonesian dark fantasy animated film, directed by Daryl Wilson and written by Theo Arnoldy, Hans Djaladara, and Agung Prasetiarso. With a curse laid upon him for the past atrocities he’s committed, Panji (Denny Sumargo) seeks to free himself of a living nightmare. But when his quest sets him on the path of a would-be tyrant, Panji joins forces with others to potentially find more than freedom in the ensuing struggle. He may take his first steps towards redemption. 

The core plot of Panji Tengkorak is strong. A nation ravaged by wars sees a prospective new ruler step onto the field, hoping to fuel their bid for power with magic. The thrown-together force that rushes to oppose this would-be king is hardly functional and lacks any sense of trust among its members. But as the growing danger crashes around them and past elements of their lives are revealed, the group comes together to make one last heroic stand, whatever the cost. 

The blend of personalities that make up the film’s core protagonists is the central support Panji Tengkorak leans on the most. From the grizzled loner Panji to the young, optimistic martial artist Gantari (Aghniny Haque), each of the four main characters creates a potent mix of personalities. Their interactions as they learn about each other and face the battles ahead go a long way toward making a compelling, engaging narrative. 

The true danger of the villains is aptly conveyed through the brutality of the combat in Panji Tengkorak.

Further deepening the cast’s potential is the way the film explores the past of key members, particularly Panji. The flashbacks that reveal his tortured existence do a good job of explaining who he is, even if the nature of his history isn’t new or surprising. The writing, art design, and voice work manage to accomplish a lot within the familiar confines of Panji’s history. 

All of this focus on Panji and his allies leaves little time for the villains to grow into anything more than a foe to be vanquished. Aside from one clever twist involving them, there is little to remember about the antagonists beyond the fact that they are bad and must be stopped. 

The true danger of the villains is aptly conveyed through the brutality of the combat. Blood splashes, bones breaking, and painful mutilations are all used to reinforce the threat and punishing nature of war within Panji Tengkorak. These elements, though, are never used gratuitously. They drive home what they need to, nothing more. 

While the visual design in Panji Tengkorak can be strong at times, the animation leaves a lot to be desired.

While the visual design and brutal combat in Panji Tengkorak can be strong at times, the animation leaves a lot to be desired. The characters’ movements on screen never feel as smooth or polished as those in many animated features we get these days. This forces the frequent fight scenes to feel underwhelming at times. 

Despite lacking the impressive flair of many of its contemporaries, the film remains consistent in its animation quality. There are no glaring problems that pull a viewer out of the action. It’s just not as polished as other, larger productions. However, even as it works within its limitations, the film manages to ramp up the scale and threat of its antagonist as the final fights play out, culminating in an impressive final clash that closes the story. 

Another shortcoming of the visuals is an overly timid camera. Many of the angles and shots are too static and far from the subjects. This creates a barrier at times to the action and emotions that play out in the story. If the camera could have been a bit more creative and daring, it might’ve helped the bigger moments overcome some of the animation’s struggles.

An element that works in Panji Tengkorak’s favor is its music, helping crucial moments stand out.

An element that works in Panji Tengkorak‘s favor is its music. Despite often playing a subdued role across the film’s hour-and-a-half runtime, it steps into its own at key moments, helping the most critical scenes to stand out. This audible reinforcement of the emotions these scenes carry helps pick up for what the basic animation can’t fully convey. 

Panji Tengkorak delivers a strong core story, held together by a well-set-up cast of protagonists. Highlight moments of design and brutal combat help drive home key scenes, even as the animation never manages to impress. If you can get past the budgetary feeling this glaring weakness imparts on the rest of the film, there is a strong story of heroism, vengeance, and redemption to be enjoyed here. 

Panji Tengkorak is streaming now on Netflix.