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Biography
Infobox television| show_name = Akademi Fantasia| caption = Akademi Fantasia logo| format = Reality television | runtime = approximately 3 hours| creator = Francel Diaz Lenero Daniel Ortiz| judges = Fauziah Ahmad Daud (5, 6 & 9) Hattan (5 & 9) Adlin Aman Ramlie (4, 7 & 8) Aznil Nawawi|Aznil Hj. Nawawi (8) Edrie Hashim (7) Khatijah Ibrahim (7) Ning Baizura (6) Fauziah Latiff (5) Kudsia Kahar (1 - 3)| theme_music_composer = Aubrey Suwito | country = flagicon|Malaysia Malaysia | network = Astro Ria | first_aired = June 3, 2003 - June 12, 2011| num_seasons = 9| website = http://www.astro.com.my/akademifantasia| status = Ended Akademi Fantasia (commonly abbreviated as AF ) is Malaysia 's first reality television show in which a number of contestants called students compete for the winning title and a chance to start their career in the entertainment industry . The first season premiered in June 3, 2003 and was one of Astro Ria 's highest rated shows. The theme song entitled "Menuju Puncak" was performed by Juwita Suwito, who is the sister of the composer, Aubrey Suwito .
The format of the show is taken from " La Academia ", which originated from Mexico . Malaysia is the first country in Southeast Asia to have its own version of the show. Subsequently, it has also been followed by Indonesia and Thailand , which garners positive response in comparison to the American Idol|Idol series.
The show made its own history in Akademi Fantasia (season 5)|Season 5 when Norsyarmilla Jirin was crowned as the first female winner, breaking the streak of male winners for the first four seasons. The record was later continued when Stacy (singer)|Stracie Angie Anam was declared as the winner of Akademi Fantasia (season 6)|Season 6 . On January 13, 2011, it was announced that the ninth season will be the last season of Akademi Fantasia .
Show format
Each season of Akademi Fantasia has 10 concerts including the finale, and starts with 12-16 contestants who are called students. However, in Akademi Fantasia, Season 3|Season 3 and Akademi Fantasia, Season 4|Season 4 , a prelude concert was conducted in order to determine the ultimate students. Once the ultimate students are chosen, they will stay in a house called Akademi, practising songs, acting and dancing lesson, and other activities that are related with performing arts for a period of 10 weeks. The classes are held by professional trainers, called teachers, who have an established career in the entertainment industry. Diari Akademi Fantasia , which is aired on weekdays, showcases the students' activities in the academy. The academy is led by a principal, which varies every year. However, in Season 6, the academy is led by Ramli M.S, who is the academy principal of Akademi Fantasia (season 2)|Season 2 .
The judging system totally depends on audiences' short messaging service|SMS votes and Astro decoder votes (Astro users may need to connect their decoders to the phone line to vote). The student with the lowest vote will be eliminated at the end of the weekly concert, though in rare cases a double elimination, a triple elimination or no elimination was given by consensus of the production panel.
Nevertheless, there are cases where eliminated students are recruited into the competition through a voting line called 'AFMASUK'. In this case, audiences are given a chance to vote for all the eliminated students within a short period of time. The student who receives the highest vote will be recruited back into the competition.
The Akademi Fantasia (season 8)|eight season saw a new change to the format of Akademi Fantasia. Instead of eliminating a student at the end of each concert, the elimination process is conducted in a new 30-minute segment called Debaran Akademi Fantasia , one day after the concert.cite web|last=Rosdi |first=Razif |date=February 10, 2010 |url= http://www.murai.com.my/article/default.asp? article_id=5550& c=29& s=166 |title=AF8: Waktu Siaran Tak Akan Berubah!. |publisher=Murai.com |accessdate=May 16, 2010
In January 13, 2011, it was announced that the ninth season will be the last season of Akademi Fantasia .cite web|last=Rosdi |first=Razif |date=January 13, 2011 |url= http://www.murai.com.my/article/default.asp? article_id=8784& c=1& s=1 |title=Azlin: Sah& #33; AF9 Adalah AF Yang Terakhir |publisher=Murai.com |accessdate=April 15, 2011 In this season, a new format is implemented where students who do not show any improvement will be expelled by the management in a twist known as Operasi Gugur in order to give opportunity for new students to join the academy. The announcement was made at the end of the second concert in Season 9.cite web|last= |first=|date=January 16, 2011 |url= http://www.murai.com.my/article/default.asp? article_id=9451& c=50& s=238 |title=Eka Tersingkir, Peluang 4 Calon Baru Sertai AF9 |publisher=Murai.com |accessdate=April 17, 2011 In addition, the elimination process returns to its original format where each student is eliminated at the end of concert every week.
Hosts & Judges
Aznil Nawawi|Aznil Haji Nawawi , who hosted the show for the first five seasons, announced his retirement as the host for Akademi Fantasia at the end of Season 5 due to scheduling conflicts. He was replaced by AC Mizal in Season 6 and Akademi Fantasia (season 7)|seventh season . In Season 8, Sarimah Ibrahim and Jimmy Shanley were selected as the new hosts replacing AC Mizal.cite web|last=Rosdi |first=Razif |date=February 9, 2010 |url= http://www.murai.com.my/article/default.asp? article_id=5539& c=29& s=166 |title=Norman Pengetua, Sarimah - Jimmy Hos AF8 |publisher=Murai.com |accessdate=May 16, 2010 In season eight, Aznil Haji Nawawi returned to Akademi Fantasia as one of the judges.cite web|last= |first= |date=February 17, 2010 |url= http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/SosehSoseh_AznilpengkritikTetapAF8_/Article/index_html |title=Soseh Soseh: Aznil pengkritik Tetap AF8? |publisher= Harian Metro |accessdate=May 19, 2010Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot However, in the ninth season, he is appointed as the host, replacing Jimmy Shanley and Sarimah Ibrahim.cite web|last=Rosdi |first=Razif |date=March 10, 2011 |url= http://www.murai.com.my/article/default.asp? article_id=9123& c=50& s=238 |title=AF9: Wartawan Hiburan Setuju Aznil Jadi Hos AF9& #33; |publisher=Murai.com.my |accessdate=April 15, 2011
As of the ninth season, the current judges are Fauziah Ahmad Daud and Hattan. Previous judges include Kudsia Kahar, Fauziah Latiff , Ning Baizura , Khatijah Ibrahim, and also Edrie Hashim. Usually, an additional guest judge will be featured in every concert.
Trek Selebriti
Akademi Fantasia is also very connected with a programme called Trek Selebriti . During AF season, students who are eliminated in every concert will be featured in this programme which showcases their life journey before and after being selected as an AF students. Following the promotion to host the weekly concerts of Akademi Fantasia , Jimmy Shanley, who has been hosting Trek Selebriti since it first aired, is now being replaced with Aril (singer/actor)|Khairil Azam Pilus , who was a runner-up of the seventh season of the Akademi Fantasia .cite web|last=Razif |first=Rosdi |date=March 16, 2010 |url= http://www.murai.com.my/article/default.asp? article_id=5838& c=1& s=1 |title=Trek Selebriti: Aril Pengganti Jimmy |publisher=Murai.com |accessdate=June 7, 2010
Criticism
The main controversy during Akademi Fantasia season is about the judging system which is solely based on the audience through short message service|SMS and Astro decoder without professional jury. This judging system is heavily criticized because of allegations that most audience only vote for their favourite contestants, as well as judging the contestants based on their looks rather than their talents.
When the production team announced that Season 6 of Akademi Fantasia would be eligible for those aged from 18 to 45 years old, the show continued to be criticized for choosing contestants whom were rejected from other reality TV shows. Furthermore, the selection of two female contestants in Season 6, Hairina Abdul Halim, a grandmother of two grandchildren, as well as Siti Norsaida Tarudin, the eldest sister of Siti Nurhaliza were said to be the most important element of the season which was aimed to draw audience's attention and further guarantee vast publicity to raise the show's rating.cite web|last=Farihad |first=Shalla Mahmud |date=March 12, 2008 |url= http://www.simplysiti.com/2008/03/12/nenek-kakak-siti-mampu-cetus-kontroversi/ |title=Norman Pengetua, Sarimah - Jimmy Hos AF8 |publisher= Berita Harian |accessdate=June 29, 2008
Sponsorship
Since the introduction of the Akademi Fantasia , Maxis Communications|Hotlink has been closely associated with the branding of the show. Nevertheless, the eight installment of the show witnessed the departure of Hotlink as the major sponsorship after seven consecutive years of sponsoring the show. The sponsorship was taken over by Cerebos with its branding of Brands, Innershine and the Generasi Hebat campaign.cite web|last=Joe |first=Lee |date=March 12, 2010 |url= http://www.mmail.com.my/content/30115-akademi-fantasia-fantasy-over |title=AKADEMI FANTASIA: Is the fantasy over? . |publisher= The Malay Mail |accessdate=June 3, 2010
Zulaika Zahari, Nur Atiqah Shariffudin, Roshammizah Rosli, Nur Suhada Jebat, Mohamad Amirullah Jahari, Fahrur Raqib Abdul Majid, Ahmad Afif Tirmizie, Nur Khaidir Muhid, Queennera Francine Francis Kitingon, Hairul Najmuddin Abu Samah
14
International versions
Indonesia : Akademi Fantasi Indosiar - has finished 5 seasons. The show will return for the sixth installment after 4 years of hiatus. Season 1 was aired in December 2003, on Indosiar . In 2011, the show will be continued on MNCTV with a new name, Viva AFISTAR .
Mexico : La Academia - hosted by Rafael Araneda. has finished airing its ninth season in 2011, the tenth season will begin in 2012.
Thailand : Academy Fantasia - has finished airing its seventh season in 2010, the eighth season will begin in June 2011.
United States : La academia USA - The first season was aired on November 20, 2005.
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.astro.com.my/akademifantasia Official Site
http://www.murai.com.my/ Official Web Portal Akademi Fantasia
Akademi FantasiaNavbox|name = Akademi Fantasia |title = Akademi Fantasia franchise |image = |titlestyle = background:pink; |groupstyle = background:pink; |group = National franchises |list1 = flagicon|Indonesia Akademi Fantasi Indosiar|Indonesia • flagicon|Mexico La Academia|Mexico • flagicon|THA Academy Fantasia|Thailand • flagicon|USA La academia USA|United States
Category:Malaysian reality television series Category:Akademi Fantasia seasons
