Between Pedagogy and Propaganda: Animating Indonesian Islam in Diverse Representations

Since the 2020s, YouTube Islamic animations have gained popularity in Indonesia. Content creators have established channels featuring diverse representations of Islam and promoting various ideologies. The release of Nussa Rarra in 2018 sparked the creation of other Islamic animations on YouTube in subsequent years, including Hafiz and Hafizah (2019-2022), Riko the Series (2019-present), I am the Best Muslim (2021-present), Ibra Berkisah (2021-present), and Shafi wa Shafiya (2023-present). These animations have amassed a substantial following, with viewers and subscribers ranging from 20 million to 2 billion people. While previous research has focused on analysing the moral messages conveyed in these shows, this study contextualises these animations as a contested space that portrays diverse representations of Islam. This approach will reveal the various ideologies represented in these animations, showcasing how an ideal Muslim can lead their daily life (pedagogy) and promote specific values and doctrines (propaganda). The objective of this research is to contribute to the production of Islamic knowledge and explore the use of YouTube as a platform for its dissemination.