The animated film Merah Putih: One For All came into the public spotlight amid the current hype surrounding animated films, especially with the success of Jumbo. However, from the moment it first appeared on social media, the film was met with questions. Negative sentiment quickly followed, ranging from criticism of its quality to concerns about credibility and various technical issues.

This phenomenon shows that in the digital era, the reputation of a work is no longer controlled solely by promotion or media reviews. The audience now plays a major role in shaping public perception, and once expectations are not met, a wave of opinions can quickly spread in the online space.

The Rise of the Critical Audience

Today’s audiences are far more critical and have the knowledge to assess quality. They can easily access references, compare standards, and form their own opinions. More importantly, they are unafraid to share their views in public spaces, whether positive or negative.

This shift means that quality is no longer the exclusive domain of critics or industry players. Audience evaluations now have a direct impact on the reputation and sustainability of a product or work. For brands, this is a reminder that every claim and promise will be tested openly.

Building Trust Through Transparency

For brands, situations like this reinforce that building hype alone is not enough. Transparency in the process is key, from showing how something is made, involving audiences in the evaluation or co-creation stage, to opening space for honest feedback.

Consistency in quality is the foundation, but the willingness to be open to public input is what sets a brand apart. When audiences see a brand willing to be tested and remaining consistent with its promised quality, trust will grow. That trust will last far longer than the initial buzz of promotion.