Cartoon contingent for National Day parade

KUALA LUMPUR: A contingent of 26 popular Malaysian animation characters will take part in the National Day 2017 parade here on Thursday.
The coordinator of the contingent, Nik Ramzi Nik Hassan, said the mascots were the main characters of 15 local animation companies.
"Our contingent is different from the others which are more serious and targeted at adults … ours focuses on children," he said.
The mascots to be featured include BoBoiBoy, Chuck Chicken, Keluang Man, Awang Khenit, Didi and Friends, as well as Chichi and Chacha, he added.
"Previously, we featured only 16 mascots, but 26 will be joining the parade at Dataran Merdeka this year, with the involvement of 200 participants including giant balloon operators and parade escorts," he said at the National Day parade rehearsal at Dataran Merdeka here today.
Nik Ramzi, who is also a National Film Development Corporation assistant creative and production director, said the animation segment would also showcase a National Day sing-and-dance routine, three giant balloons featuring characters, namely Ejen Ali, Omar and Ummi, as well as six tricycles.
"Spectators will also be shown a special National Day animation video. We are confident that the animation character mascots will be most sought after at the parade.
"This is the time that the public will get to know the characters that they only get to watch on television," he said.
In KANGAR, about 5,500 people making up 75 contingents from various agencies participated in a Perlis-level National Day 2017 parade rehearsal at the Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium.
Two elephants, specially brought from the Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre in Pahang by the Wildlife and National Parks Department, also took part in the rehearsal.
The Perlis parade is scheduled for 8.30pm on Wednesday and will be officiated at by the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.