The Making of “Kancil dan Buaya” (Part 1) : Mouse-deer in the story

We’ve got a few questions from readers like, why does CERI tell about Mouse-deer, which has been known as sly animal, often cheat his enemies? And what message is conveyed by the story “Kancil dan Buaya” (Mouse-deer and Crocodiles)?

OK, Let us tell to you.

We know that the Mouse-deer fable is popular in Indonesia. CERI decided to tell it because it is considered close to the reader and well understood, especially by children, who like animals.

CERI has specific ideas about the character of Mouse-deer. Mouse-deer is a little animal that naturally desperate when faced with a large crocodile. In the story of “Kancil dan Buaya”, ingenuity and agility are form of self-defense of Mouse-deer from the dangers. CERI describe the Crocodile, as a large and ferocious creatures, and not just one but seven crocodiles, it was very-very dangerous for the Mouse-deer. We tried to make the reader feel how the Moused-deer cornered, and at that moment the ingenuity and agility can avoid the Mouse-deer from the crocodile. Actually, the Mouse-deer, which looks weak, can win against the crocodile. While a large crocodile and sharp-toothed can be deceived by the Mouse-deer.

The moral to be learned from the story of “Kancil dan Buaya” is that every creature has its own advantages and disadvantages. The Mouse-deer aware of his weakness, but he can use its ability well, while the crocodile is too confident with the excess, but he is not careful, so easily fooled by the Mouse-deer.

I hope this explanation can help us as adults to convey the correct message to the children in order to avoid misinterpretation :). My next post will tell about the process of design and production of “Kancil dan Buaya”.