Why are there no Filipino cartoons!? | The Chismis | Episode 2 | One Down

Summary

Filipinos have made significant contributions to the animation industry, with notable involvement in beloved films like 'Finding Nemo' and 'Inside Out.' Despite this, Filipino representation in lead roles remains scarce. The video discusses the subtle inclusion of Filipino culture in animation and questions the adequacy of such representation. It highlights the importance of authentic storytelling and the role of independent creators in pushing for more accurate and diverse representation, suggesting that the future of Filipino representation in animation is contingent on both creators' persistence and audience demand.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Filipinos have made significant contributions to the animation industry, with many working in Western animation studios and schools in the Philippines.
• 🎬 Iconic animated films like 'Finding Nemo', 'The Incredibles', and 'Inside Out' have had Filipino involvement in writing, directing, and animating.
• 😢 The emotional opening scene of 'Up' was created by Filipino Ronnie del Carmen, who drew inspiration from his own family.
• 🤔 Despite the presence of Filipino talent, there is a lack of explicitly Filipino protagonists in mainstream animation.
• 🎭 Some subtle references to Filipino culture exist in animations, such as in 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'The Incredibles 2', but these are not always apparent to the general audience.
• 🌐 There is a growing representation of Filipino characters in lead roles, like in 'Float' and Disney's 'Raya', but the extent of Filipino influence may not be widely recognized.
• 📺 The internet and platforms like YouTube have allowed for more visibility and data to show that stories with specific cultural experiences can have broad appeal.
• 📚 Netflix's new show based on Filipino graphic novels is a step forward in authentic representation, with a story set in Manila and featuring Filipino folklore.
• 💪 Independent creators play a crucial role in ensuring authentic representation, as they understand the cultural significance of stories better than outsiders.
• 👀 The demand for Filipino representation in animation also depends on viewers supporting and advocating for these stories to be told.

Q & A

Why are there many Filipino nurses in America?

There are many Filipino nurses in America due to the mass number of western nursing schools in the Philippines.

How have Filipinos contributed to the animation industry?

Filipinos have found success in the animation industry, contributing to writing, directing, and animating movies like 'Finding Nemo', 'The Incredibles', and 'Inside Out'.

Which Filipino animator is known for creating the opening scene of 'Up'?

Ronnie del Carmen, a story supervisor for the film 'Up', created the iconic opening scene where old Carl reminisces over his late wife Ellie.

What is the significance of the address 'P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way' in 'Finding Nemo'?

The address 'P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way' in 'Finding Nemo' is a playful nod to Filipino culture, as it is set in a location with a Filipino accent.

Why are there not more explicitly Filipino characters in animation?

While there are slight references to Filipino culture in animation, there is a lack of explicitly Filipino protagonists, indicating a need for more representation.

What role did Armon Serrano play in incorporating Filipino culture into 'Lilo and Stitch'?

Animator Armon Serrano placed her cultural roles in the Christmas sequence of 'Lilo and Stitch', adding a touch of Filipino culture to the film.

How does the film 'Raya and the Last Dragon' represent Southeast Asian countries?

While 'Raya and the Last Dragon' represents all of the Southeast Asian countries, most of the voice actors are East Asian, and the directors are not Asian, raising questions about the depth of representation.

What is the importance of Netflix's new show based on Filipino folklore?

Netflix's new show, based on the graphic novel by Filipino writer and artist team Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldissimo, is significant as it features authentic Filipino stories and characters, with the protagonist voiced by Filipino actors.

Why are independent creators key to authentic representation in animation?

Independent creators are key to authentic representation because they can tell stories with cultural significance and understanding that may not be possible within larger studios.

How can viewers help increase representation of Filipino stories in animation?

Viewers can help increase representation by creating demand for Filipino stories to be told, supporting independent creators, and engaging with content that authentically represents Filipino culture.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Filipino Success in Animation Industry

The first paragraph discusses the significant presence of Filipinos in the American nursing and animation industries. It highlights the contributions of Filipinos in creating iconic animated movies like 'Finding Nemo,' 'The Incredibles,' and 'Inside Out.' The paragraph also raises questions about the lack of explicitly Filipino protagonists in animation and the adequacy of subtle cultural references as representation. It mentions Ronnie del Carmen's work on the opening scene of 'Up' and the need for more authentic representation beyond just background elements. The discussion includes the emergence of Filipino lead characters in recent animations like 'Float' and 'Raya,' and it ponders why Disney hasn't created a distinctly Filipino protagonist similar to 'Coco' or 'Mulan.' The paragraph ends with a call to action for more representation and the potential of the internet in proving the mass appeal of specific cultural experiences.

05:01

🚀 The Role of Independent Creators in Authentic Representation

The second paragraph emphasizes the importance of independent creators in achieving authentic representation, particularly for Filipino stories in animation. It argues that no one can tell Filipino stories with the same cultural significance and understanding as Filipinos themselves. The paragraph suggests that creators should not wait for studios to recognize the worth of their stories but instead persist in telling them accurately. It also calls on viewers to create demand for these stories. The paragraph concludes with an optimistic view that with the existing Filipino animators and stories, representation is a matter of time and sharing their narratives until the world listens.

Keywords

💡Filipino Animators

Filipino animators refer to individuals of Filipino descent who work in the animation industry. The video highlights how many successful animators in the U.S. are of Filipino origin, contributing to the creation of iconic animated films. An example mentioned is Ronnie del Carmen, a story supervisor who created the opening scene of 'Up', drawing inspiration from his own Filipino father.

💡Representation

Representation in this context means the portrayal or inclusion of a particular group, in this case, Filipinos, in media and art, such as animation. The video discusses the lack of explicitly Filipino characters in mainstream animation despite the significant contributions of Filipino animators, questioning the quality of representation when only slight references to Filipino culture are made.

💡Coco

Coco is a Disney-Pixar film that celebrates Mexican culture and is used in the video as an example of how a major studio can create a distinctly cultural protagonist. The video contrasts this with the lack of distinctly Filipino protagonists in Disney productions, despite the presence of Filipino animators and cultural influences.

💡Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon is a Disney film that features Southeast Asian influences. The video points out that while the film represents Southeast Asian countries, it does not distinctly represent Filipino culture, and most of the voice actors and directors are not of Asian descent, raising questions about the authenticity of representation.

💡Float

Float is a Pixar short film that features a Filipino-American family's tradition of creating lanterns to honor lost loved ones during the Day of the Dead. The video uses Float as an example of how Filipino influences can be integrated into mainstream animation, and how the internet can help prove the mass appeal of such stories.

💡Cultural Significance

Cultural significance refers to the importance of accurately reflecting a culture's values, traditions, and experiences. The video emphasizes the need for authentic representation, where Filipino stories are told with an understanding of their cultural significance, without altering them to be more palatable to a broader audience.

💡Indie Creators

Indie creators are independent artists or creators who produce content outside of major studios. The video suggests that indie creators are crucial for authentic representation, as they can tell stories with a cultural understanding that may not be present in mainstream productions. It encourages Filipino creators to persist in sharing their stories.

💡Viewer Demand

Viewer demand refers to the influence that audiences have on the type of content that gets produced. The video argues that for better representation of Filipino stories in animation, viewers need to create a demand for these narratives, pushing studios to recognize the value of such stories.

💡Mainstream Animation

Mainstream animation refers to the dominant and popular animated films and series produced by major studios. The video discusses how these studios have the power to shape representation but often lack Filipino protagonists, despite the contributions of Filipino animators.

💡Authentic Filipino Stories

Authentic Filipino stories are narratives that accurately depict the experiences, culture, and perspectives of Filipinos. The video argues for the importance of telling these stories in their original form, without altering them to fit preconceived notions of what is marketable or appealing to a broader audience.

💡Greenlight

To greenlight a project means to approve and fund its production. In the context of the video, it refers to the decision-making process in studios to select which stories get produced. The video discusses the challenges of getting Filipino stories greenlit due to the perceived risks and lack of precedents.

Highlights

Filipinos are notably successful in the animation industry, with many working in Western animation studios and schools in the Philippines.

Filipino contributions are evident in popular animated movies such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Inside Out.

Ronnie del Carmen, a Filipino, created the iconic opening scene of the movie Up, drawing inspiration from his own father.

Despite the presence of Filipino talent, there is a lack of explicitly Filipino characters in animation.

The question of quality representation and the need for more Filipino protagonists in animation is raised.

Armon Serrano, a Filipino animator, placed subtle Filipino references in the Christmas sequence of Lilo & Stitch.

The Nomano Island in The Incredibles 2 was inspired by the Ta'ala volcano in Tagaytay, showcasing Filipino geography.

The address 'P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way' from Finding Nemo is a playful nod to Filipino culture by Pixar's Filipino animators.

Bobby Rubio's Float and Disney's Raya are examples of recent efforts to include Filipino characters in lead roles.

The challenge of identifying Filipino influence in animation without explicit cues or information is discussed.

The importance of creating distinctly Filipino protagonists, as seen in Coco or Mulan, is highlighted.

Netflix's new show based on Filipino graphic novel by Team Boujet, Pan in Kajo Baldissimo, is a step towards authentic representation.

The show will feature a setting in Manila with mythical creatures of Philippine folklore, offering a rich cultural backdrop.

Filipino actor Liza Soberano and Canadian-Filipino actress Shane Mitchell are set to voice lead characters, ensuring cultural authenticity.

The role of independent creators in ensuring authentic representation of Filipino stories is emphasized.

The internet's role in providing a platform for cultural stories to prove their mass appeal is discussed, using Hair Love as an example.

The necessity for viewers to create demand for authentic Filipino stories in animation is highlighted.

The future of Filipino representation in animation is seen as dependent on creators' persistence and audience demand.

Transcripts

every filipino becomes a nurse or an

animator

we know there are a lot of filipino

nurses in america due to the mass number

of western nursing schools in the

philippines but many filipinos living in

america have found success in the

animation industry

because of the sheer number of western

animation studios and schools in the

philippines

from finding nemo to the incredibles to

inside out

filipinos helped write direct and

animate these movies and other beloved

classics

the iconic tear-jerking opening scene

from up was created by a filipino ronnie

del carmen a story supervisor for the

film

he wrote the sequence where old carl

reminisces over his late wife ellie

and based a lot of carl's personality

and mannerisms on his filipino father

who is in hospice and could no longer

speak yet

while our culture and families serve as

animators inspirations

there aren't any characters we can point

to as explicitly filipino

so how come we don't see more filipino

protagonists in animation

are slight references to filipino

culture enough to count as quality

representation

and why have filipinos spent decades

writing stories for other communities

but have little to no opportunity

writing from their own perspective

i'm trace gaynor and here's what you

missed on the cheese face

presented by kumu unlike live action

films and tv shows that aren't known to

be lacking in representation

animation has long been a pioneer at

introducing filipino culture into the

mainstream

animator armon serrano placed her roles

in the christmas sequence of lilo and

stitch

the nomanosan island in the incredibles

2 was inspired by the ta'ala volcano in

tagaytay

and the address p sherman 42 wallaby way

from finding nemo

was intentionally fishermen set in a

filipino accent an

inside joke among the pixar pinoy

animators or pixnoys

now we are starting to see

representation not just in the

background

but in lead characters like bobby

rubio's float and disney's raya

but can people even tell that these

characters had filipino influences

unless you search it up yourself or

follow bobby rubio on twitter

you might not have known that the leads

were filipino and while raya does

technically represent

all of the southeast asian countries

most of the voice actors are east asian

and the directors are not even asian the

question we have is why couldn't disney

create a distinctly filipino protagonist

like they had chosen in coco or mulan

now

float raya and even disney's recent

christmas ad have

undeniably opened important doors for us

especially since these are the first

times we've seen an intentional effort

to put filipino characters and culture

in the mainstream

but now we need to ask how do we grow

from here

well if we look at why big studios have

produced stories about specific cultures

or people

they tend to be based on pre-existing

tales for example

the majority of disney princesses have

prior fairy tales associated with them

beauty and the beast sleeping beauty

frozen even mulan

we see this working in our favor with

netflix's new show starring authentic

filipino stories and characters

based on the popular graphic novel by

filipino writer and artist team boujet

pan in kajo baldissimo

netflix is producing today's say the

story is set in manila where mythical

creatures of philippine folklore live

amongst humans

the protagonist alexander terese will be

voiced by filipino actor liza soberano

for the filipino language version of the

series

and filipino canadian actress shane

mitchell in the english version

not only will it include recognizably

filipino references but even her

character motivations can be seen as

innately filipino traits

so how can we ensure the representation

like this continues

and do we always need to rely on studios

to greenlight our stories

well not exactly i'm staff for cindalo

and i'm an animator

may i if you're loving this episode

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to play now back to the episode

while big studios have the most

opportunity to take representation

mainstream

development executives weigh the risks

and may not often pick up a storyline

that doesn't have

mass appeal or has already proven to be

marketable

and since we have very few filipino

animation examples

it's much tougher to greenlight these

stories

however the industry is changing as

these studios are beginning to take cues

from the internet

which has opened up doors for our

stories to prove their worth

amongst many others i mean we've all

seen float on disney plus

but on youtube it's racked up more than

60 million views

take for example hair love the

oscar-winning short film that follows

the story of an african-american father

as he tries to learn how to do his young

daughter's natural care

it's the perfect example of how the

internet provides factual data that

specific

cultural experiences can have mass

appeal

which is the opposite of what larger

studios may believe

at the moment and here's why independent

creators will be

key to authentic representation

especially for filipino stories

no one can tell our stories with the

cultural significance and understanding

as

we can and we can't wait for studios to

miraculously decide

that these stories are worth sharing the

future of filipino representation

in animation depends on creators

persisting

that our stories stay accurate that we

don't whitewash our protagonists or

change the setting or alter our

experiences

to be more palatable and it also depends

on you as the viewer creating demand for

these stories to be told

so as we've seen through decades of

animated work

the filipino animators already exist and

the filipino stories do too

so representation for us is just a

matter of time

and telling our story and waiting for

the world to listen

[Music]

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