FILIPINO ANIMATION IS IN MOTION: A CULTURAL UPDATE

Filipino animation is breaking through—and not because anyone handed it a spotlight. The rise has been hard-earned, built on decades of service work, bold experimentation, and a new wave of creator-owned stories finally getting the recognition they deserve. From Hollywood projects to homegrown indie films, the Philippines is no longer just part of the animation pipeline—we’re telling our own stories, our way.

Hollywood Meets Philippine Mythology
One of the biggest headlines this year is DreamWorks Animation’s announcement of Forgotten Island, a full-length feature film inspired by Philippine mythology and folklore. It’s set to premiere in 2026 and is being co-directed by Filipino-American Januel Mercado (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish). This marks the first time a major Hollywood animation studio is betting on Filipino culture as the foundation of a global release.

The Diaspora Is Creating, Not Waiting
Oscar-nominated animator Bobby Pontillas (One Small Step) made waves at the Annecy International Animation Festival in 2025 with Sun Chaser, a new animated series developed with Toon City and Playlab Animation. Featuring a Filipina lead and stories grounded in cultural myth, Sun Chaser won the MIFA Animation du Monde pitching competition—proving that Filipino narratives resonate far beyond our borders.

Science Fiction with a Soul
Director Keith Sicat, known for the independent sci-fi film Alimuom, is developing EWA, a new animated feature set in the same universe. Pitched at Annecy in 2024, EWA follows the story of a migrant worker stranded in space. The project blends grounded Filipino struggles with a futuristic lens—bringing something new to both local and global sci-fi storytelling.

Trese Put Filipino Urban Fantasy on the Map
When Trese dropped on Netflix in 2021, it was a major moment. Based on the graphic novel by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, the series fused noir storytelling with Filipino supernatural folklore. Though animated abroad, Trese was loaded with local talent, language options, and cultural specificity. For many viewers worldwide, it was the first glimpse into just how rich Philippine mythology really is.

The First Netflix Feature? Hayop Ka!
Directed by Avid Liongoren and produced by Rocketsheep Studio, Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story made history in 2020 as the first Filipino animated feature on Netflix. Raunchy, bold, and unapologetically “bastos,” the film tells the story of a love triangle between anthropomorphic animals in retail jobs. It wasn’t trying to be Pixar—it was trying to be Pinoy, and it nailed it.

Watch: Hayop Ka! trailer

The Philippines' First 3D Animated Film
In 2010, RPG Metanoia became the country’s first full-length 3D animated feature. Directed by Luis Suarez and produced by Star Cinema, the movie followed a group of kids who discover courage and friendship inside an online game world. It’s still one of the most technically ambitious and heartfelt films in Filipino animation history.

Watch: RPG Metanoia trailer

Avid Liongoren and Rocketsheep’s Creative Legacy
After Saving Sally—a handcrafted, hybrid live-action and animated film that took over a decade to complete—Avid Liongoren and Rocketsheep Studios carved out a unique space in Filipino animation. Their next project is Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh, an animated adaptation of Carlo Vergara’s iconic queer superhero. It promises to be stylish, subversive, and very Filipino.

Watch: Saving Sally trailer

Don’t Sleep on the Shorts
The independent short film space in the Philippines is thriving. Here are just a few to check out:

• Ella Arcangel – A dark, folklore-based mini-series set in Barangay Masikap
  Watch here
• Mutya – A dreamy, emotionally rich fantasy short
  Watch here
• Jepoy – A visually playful and proudly local short
  Watch here
• Salamin ni Malas – A mystical tale of mirrors and misfortune
  Watch here

These shorts, often created by small teams or student groups, regularly show up at festivals like Animahenasyon and on platforms like TikTok and Vimeo. They showcase the next generation of animators before they hit big screens.

More Full-Length Animated Features Worth Watching
Here are more Filipino animated films that deserve your time:

• Iti Mapukaw (2023) – The first animated film in Ilocano, blending science fiction with grief and memory.
  Watch trailer
• Heneral Tuna – A web series about an alien cat who lands in the Philippines and learns Filipino values. Created with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, it’s smart, funny, and perfect for kids.
  Watch here
• JET & PET Rangers – A fun kids' series promoting environmental protection and Filipino ingenuity.
  Watch here

Looking Ahead
Filipino animation isn’t one thing. It’s Ilocano sci-fi, queer superhero comedy, raunchy rom-com, mythological noir, and hand-drawn indie magic. It’s kids' shows on YouTube and shorts on TikTok. It’s Netflix premieres and Annecy pitch winners.

More is coming:

• Forgotten Island (DreamWorks, 2026)
• Sun Chaser by Bobby Pontillas
• EWA by Keith Sicat
• Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh by Rocketsheep
• More indie shorts from Animahenasyon, Vimeo, and student festivals

This is no longer a question of whether Filipino animation is good. It is. The work speaks for itself—what it needs now is support, recognition, and viewership. Watch the films. Share the shorts. Talk about the artists. This isn’t a moment. This is a movement.

About Hot Tropiks: Hot Tropiks is the leading distributor of Filipino komiks and children's books in North America. We spotlight bold stories from the Philippine tropics and beyond—across books, animation, design, and culture. Our mission is to connect global audiences with the freshest creative voices from the Tropiks.