NEW FILIPINO ANIMATION: HENERAL TUNA, HERE ARE THE DETAILS ON WHERE TO CATCH IT ONLINE!
After the success of “Trese” and “Hayop Ka!”, a new animated series is set to capture the hearts of many Filipinos.
Banner art by Angelica Flores Juan
The Furry, Pancit-lover General
Meet Heneral Tuna, the feline-faced alien from planet Mingming with a goal to take over the world. Unfortunately, his ship crashed in Barangay Hiraya, where he met the family-oriented residents. The townsfolk welcomed him, and the experience led him to self-discovery. Will this affect the furry general’s planetary invasion agenda?
Miniseries details
Heneral Tuna’s aim is to show how Filipino intrinsic values are incorporated in daily lives through the characters’ interactions with family, friends, and community. The 7-episode series is a part of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)’s Filipino Values Program, research that seeks to determine different values upheld across the country. The production of Heneral Tuna started in August 2020 and finished last August 2021.
The miniseries is illustrated and animated by Rocketsheep Studio, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Filipino animated flicks “Saving Sally” and “Hayop Ka!”; Rob Cham, Charlene Sawit-Esguerra, and Kevin Raymundo were also entrusted with conceptualizing the project, while Carlo Vergara, the writer of “Zsazsa Zaturnnah,” was tasked with developing the scenario and script.
You can binge-watch Heneral Tuna on its official channels on Facebook, YouTube, Kumu, and the FDCP Channel.
The issue of lucrative college degrees being lowballed in the industry
A Reddit user raised a concern regarding the pay animators receive in the Philippines. “What is animation like in the Philippines after graduation? Is the pay really as bad as they say?”, he asked.
A user replied:
Moreover, a person living in Manila requires P50,798 a month to cover rent, food, transportation, and utilities according to research conducted by iPrice. This leaves you wondering how animators in the country feel when it comes to their salaries. Imagine studying for years in college and spending sleepless hours to learn animation and the industry does not compensate well. It’s truly disheartening for students like the mentioned Reddit user. However, others would say, “It’s better than to receive nothing at all.” Supporting “Heneral Tuna” and other proudly Filipino animation will not only boost the morale of our animators but also give them a sense of hope that animation can thrive in the country.
