PHILLIPINE MADE ANIMATION

Filipino animators have once again proven their caliber in creating

animated films with the release of Saving Sally, an entry to the 2016 Metro
Manila Film Festival. But before the success of this masterpiece on the big
screen, local talents produced animated movies that wowed the
moviegoers in the past. What were these movies about and how were they
made? CIIT, a 3D animation school, prepares a list of few animated clips
that made Filipinos so proud to call them their own.

1. Ibong Adarna (1997)

Based on the famous local epic about a mythical bird and the three princes,
this local animated movie featured the voices of famous actors and singers.
These included Regine Velasquez, Martin Nievera, Boots Anson Roa,
Marvin Agustin, and Jolina Magdangal (who gave voice to the magical
bird). Gerry Garcia, the pioneer of Pinoy animation, was the writer and the
director of the film.

Awarded as the first full-length Pinoy animated film, Adarna adapted the
story of the eponymous folklore and turned it into cartoon. It took animators
plenty of time to finish voice recordings, drawings, and storyboards as part
of the cel animation technique. There wasn’t enough money to produce an
animation, too, during Adarna’s release; so the producers had a hard time
financing the entire production of the film.
 2. Urduja (2008)

This 100-minute film showed the life and struggles of Princess Urduja, a
warrior princess in Pangasinan. Actors Regine Velasquez, Cesar Montano,
Eddie Garcia, Johnny Delgado, and Jay Manalo formed the cast giving
voices to the lead characters.

In the story, Princess Urduja is the only daughter of Tawilisi tribe’s

chieftain, Lakanpati. He wants her to marry Simakwel, someone she
dislikes. Instead, Urduja falls in love with Limhang, a stranger who escapes
from the wrath of Wang and hides in Tawilisi’s place. Limhang’s kindness
and good deeds won the tribe’s trust and respect. The tribe bravely fought
against Wang.

Urduja is a product of teamwork among a group of Filipino animators, who

used the traditional animation process of hand drawing.
 3. Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia (2008)

This movie showed the adventure of an 11-year-old boy as he attempted to

rescue his kidnapped grandparents. His quest led him to a magical land
called Elementalia, which housed popular local creatures of mythology,
such as kapre, aswang, and tikbalang. Dayo starred voice actors Nash
Aguas, Michael V., Peque Gallaga, and Trina Legaspi.

A mix of traditional and 3D animations, the film became the country’s first
all-digital full-length animated feature. Over 500 animators worked on the
2D animation of the characters and the 3D animation of the scene’s
backdrops.
 4. RPG Metanoia (2010)

RPG Metanoia shares the story of a timid young online gaming fan named
Nico. Every time Nico plays Metanoia, an MMORPG, he turns into an
unpredictable wanderer equipped with a magic yoyo and startling agility.
The film used the voices of Zaijian Jaranilla, Aga Muhlach, Mika dela Cruz,
Vhong Navarro, and Eugene Domingo.

RPG became the first full-length 3D animated film in the Philippines.

 5. Saving Sally (2016)

A story of teenage love between a young aspiring comic book artist and a
gadget inventor, Saving Sally depicts a Manila-state of mind in Marty’s
world. In here, huge animated monsters roam the streets of Manila while
tackling the characters’ yearnings and the country’s current rampant
issues. Enzo Marcos gave life to Marty’s role while Rhian Ramos played
Sally.

Behind the nice story and visuals of Saving Sally hides the entire staff and
cast’s struggles. It is perhaps the toughest in the list because the film took
a decade before it finally reached the cinemas. It ran out of funds, faced
problems with the initial casting, and endured arduous editing works. But
it’s worth the long wait! What makes Saving Sally a great artwork is it mixes
2D animation with live actors.