Why We Need More Filipino Cartoons
WRITTEN BY ELLE LAVIN, LEO ALBEA AND FRANCESA JANA SANTIAGO
Every Filipino becomes a nurse… or an animator! And we know what you’re thinking but these two options aren’t as far off from each other as they sound. Because just like healthcare education, there are a number of western animation studios and schools in the Philippines that train talented Filipino artists and designers who’ll eventually enter the film and TV industry. From Inside Out to Finding Nemo to other Disney and Pixar classics, Filipinos helped write, direct and animate these iconic films. But while our people and our culture are active contributors to the production of cartoons, we don’t really get to see that many mainstream animations that explicitly depict our community. Well, it’s about time that we get our chance!
Unlike live-action films and TV shows that are known to be lacking in representation, animation has long been the key to introducing Filipino culture into the mainstream. The references are subtle but accurate just like how animator Armand Serrano placed parols in a Christmas sequence on Lilo & Stitch and the use of the salakot and arnis in Raya and the Last Dragon. Eventually, we evolved past subtlety and that’s how we got Trese, the popular Netflix adaptation of a comic taking place in a creature-infused Manila as well as Jalysa Leva’s Jelly, Ben & Pogo, a children’s show that turns Filipino-American culture to little adventures— like learning how to make Halo-Halo!
Should it stop here? Of course not! There’s still a wide open space for us to grow into and what we have now is only just the beginning. With Philippine-centered content targeted towards the little ones, it’s already one way of helping them embrace who they are at such a young age. Most of the mainstream cartoons earlier generations grew up with often reference western notions but having media portrayal that reflects our heritage, strengthens our kids’ love and connection towards our community. A bonus to that is getting to share how exciting Filipino culture is to kids of other ethnicities!
While big studios have the most opportunity to make representation mainstream, development executives weigh the risks and may not often pick up a storyline that doesn’t have “mass appeal”. This is where our community comes in: to ensure that representation for us continues in this ever changing industry, we need to support our talents and storytellers. Consuming their craft multiplies the amount of films and shows that portray our culture because after all, no one can tell our stories better than we can. Whether it’s a digital short or a limited series on air, lending our attention and interest to our pioneering fellow Filipinos can go a long way in establishing inclusivity within both the fictional and nonfictional realms.