Serial Conversion of Children Adventure Book from the Original Version into Indonesian Version

Many children's adventure books must undergo some changes or adjustments when translated from the original languages into Indonesian.


Trio Detektif known in Indonesia is a translation of The Three Investigators. Publishers in Indonesia relatively is not change anything other than the name of the series from The Three Investigators become Trio Detektif. The titles relatively unchanged. Character's name was exactly the same.

Originally The Three Investigators: The Mystery of the Fiery Eye

For Enid Blyton’s children adventure series, character involved totally unchanged. Changes common to the work of Enid Blyton is the name of series and title of the book.

Famous Five series was changed to Lima Sekawan (literally means five person in a friendship). Some titles changed and others are relatively unchanged. Titles which is experiencing changes such as "Five Go Off to Camp", which turned into "Memburu Kereta Api Hantu" (Urging Ghost Train). "Five Fall Into Adventure" was changed to "Jo Anak Gelandangan" (Jo the Bum Child). "Five On A Hike Together" was changed to "Rahasia Harta Karun" (Secret of the Treasure). "Five Have Plenty of Fun" was changed to "Menyamarkan Teman" (Disguising Friend) and so on.

Originally Five Go Off to Camp

Five Find-Outers series was changed to Pasukan Mau Tahu (Want to Know Army). The title changed slightly. For example "The Mystery of the Pantomime Cat" changed to "Misteri di Teater Kecil" (Mystery in the Little Theatre). "The Mystery of the Vanished Prince" became "Misteri Pangeran Asing" (Mystery of Foreign Prince).

Originally The Mystery of the Vanished Prince

Adventure series translated into Serial Petualangan (Adventures) in Indonesia. Title were added with an adjective or adverb. "The Island of Adventure" was translated to "Petualangan di Pulau Suram" (literally means: Adventure in a Gloomy Island. "The Castle of Adventure" was changed to "Petualangan di Puri Rajawali" (Adventure at Eagle Castle). "The Valley of Adventure" was changed to "Petualangan di Lembah Maut" (Adventure in Death Valley) and so on.

Originally The Valley of Adventure

Secret Seven series was converted into Sapta Siaga Series (literally means seven standby). Some title changed. "Secret Seven Adventure" translated into "Rahasia Jejak Bundar" (Secret of Round Track). "Well Done Secret Seven" translated into "Memecahkan Rahasia Kapak Merah" (Solving the Secrets of the Red Axe), and so on.

Barney Mysteries was changed into Komplotan (Hordes) Series. The title also undergone many changes. "The Rockingdown Mystery" become "Komplotan Bawah Tanah" (Underground Horde). "The Rilloby Fair Mystery" become "Komplotan Tangan Hijau" (Green Hand Horde) and so on. Because of this title change typical characteristics of Barney Mysteries Serial which is in the original title was always started with the letter "R" becomes lost in Indonesian version.

Originally The Ragamuffin Mystery

Secret Series converted into Empat Serangkai (means: four close friend). The title did not change. Adventurous Four series are not much changed so that the series remains the Empat Petualang in Indonesian. However, titles of this series were changed. The first Series title, "The Adventurous Four" became the "Pangkalan Rahasia" (Secret Base). While the title of the second, "The Adventurous Four Again" was changed to "Gua Penyeludup" (Smugglers Cave).

Children Adventures Series which changed a lot when translated into Indonesian is TKKG series or STOP by Indonesian version. In Germany, this series was published as TKKG series which is the initials of the names of the characters: Tim, Karl, Klößchen and Gaby. When it translated and published in Indonesia the characters changed into Sporty, Thomas, Oskar and Petra. Dogs that accompany the adventures also changed from Oskar become Bello.

Originally Geheimnis der chinesischen Vase

Some titles are still unchanged but in other title there are many changes. Changed title, for example "Die Jagd nach den Millionendieben" which literally means The Hunt of the Million-Thieves converted into "Pencuri Lukisan Antik" (Thieves of the Antiques Paintings). "UFOs in Bad Finkenstein" which literally means UFO in Bad Finkenstein changed to "Serangan dari Antariksa" (Attack from Outer Space). "Hexenjagd in Lerchenbach" which literally means Witch hunt in Lerchenbach converted into the "Misteri Tukang Sihir" (Mystery of Witches).