The Construction of Religious Moderation in Children's Animated Media: A Study of the Representation of Tasamuh, Tawasuth, and I'tidal in Upin & Ipin – Gong Xi Fa Cai

Abstract

This study aims to examine how values of religious moderation are represented and normalised in children’s animation distributed through digital media, with a specific focus on the YouTube episode Upin & Ipin – Gong Xi Fa Cai. The research is important because the increasing reliance of children on digital platforms for entertainment and learning has transformed YouTube into a key arena for moral and religious socialisation, particularly in multicultural societies such as Indonesia. Understanding how moderate religious values are conveyed through child-friendly media is therefore crucial for addressing challenges related to intolerance and extremism from an early age. Methodologically, this study employs a qualitative descriptive approach. The data consist of audiovisual materials from the selected episode uploaded on the official Les’ Copaque Production YouTube channel. Data were collected through non-participant observation using structured observation sheets and supported by visual documentation in the form of screenshots. The analysis was conducted using thematic analysis combined with semiotic interpretation to identify patterns of representation related to religious moderation values. The findings reveal that the episode consistently represents religious moderation through three core values: tasāmuḥ (tolerance), tawasuth (the middle path), and i‘tidāl (balance). These values are embedded in everyday social practices, such as interfaith invitations, shared social spaces, respectful dialogue, family-mediated permission, and the observance of religious boundaries without syncretism or exclusion. Religious diversity is portrayed as a normal and harmonious aspect of daily life rather than as a source of conflict. The study implies that YouTube-based children’s animation can function as an effective informal medium for cultivating moderate religious attitudes and social cohesion when supported by balanced representation and parental mediation. The originality of this research lies in its integration of religious moderation theory, children’s animation, and digital media analysis within a specific festive-cultural context, offering a novel contribution to the intersection of media studies, religious education, and moderation discourse.