Are you in the mood for action-packed quests with supernatural demons, mythical entities, and vibrant Philippine folklore through the eyes of a teenage boy? “Sun Chaser” will sign you up for the adventure! In this new proudly Pinoy animation project, our protagonist Jordan Santos’ summer vacation at his lola’s house does a full 180 when a mystical demon forces a bone-chilling curse upon his family and wreaks havoc on his home island.
With thrilling obstacles, epiphanies, and larger-than-life challenges afoot, Jordan will be our eyes and ears in the fantastical fight for his destiny as the “Spirit Guardian.” Yup, we’re already as intrigued as you are!
Photo: Sun Chaser/Instagram
“Sun Chaser” is the brainchild of Filipino creatives Bobby Pontillas and Bernard Badion. They teamed up with Toon City Animation, a Pinoy-run animation company and community-based in Manila and Vancouver, and Playlab Animation to bring their magical story to life.
Pontillas is no stranger to art and animation, having worked with Disney for the past decade on their beloved big-screen hits “Frozen,” “Moana,” “Big Hero 6,” and “Zootopia.” His 2018 short film “One Small Step” was even nominated for an Academy Award. Similarly, Badion’s writing and directing prowess had him representing the Philippines at the 2024 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival for his short film “The Van,” which won Best Narrative Short. Talk about Pinoy pride!
Now joining forces with Toon City for “Sun Chaser,” Pontillas and Badion see an optimistic future for their series in the works and the industry it belongs to. “When I got to Toon City, they welcomed me like one of their own. There was this beautiful mix of veteran talent and young artists fresh out of school,” Pontillas shares.
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Though still in its early production stage, “Sun Chaser” is already making waves in the global animation world. This year, the project earned a spot at the Annecy International Animation Film Market (Mifa)’s Pitches for TV Series and Specials on June 10. “Sun Chaser” and its visionary team will share the stage with other international animated works in progress from Argentina, Estonia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Slovakia, the USA, and the host country France.
As the only Filipino series on the roster, it’s safe to say we’re already immensely proud of this definitive feat among “Sun Chaser’s” animators, producers, and storyboard artists. They even got a shout-out from the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI). The entire nation’s got their back!
“This milestone marks a proud moment for the Philippine animation industry, as creators [Pontillas] and [Badion] bring their deeply personal passion project to the global stage. Their collaboration reflects the strength, creativity, and global potential of Filipino animation. We look forward to sharing this story—and the remarkable talent behind it—with the world,” the Council stated.
Like Jordan Santos, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the show emerges as the market’s “chosen one.”
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Before the Mifa Pitches and future global recognition (we’re calling it now!), “Sun Chaser” was “Kuya,” a touching glimpse into Pontillas’ life growing up in an American household, overcoming the culture shocks and language barriers for the first time back at his hometown in the Philippines. On Instagram, he vividly recalled, “Then I met my wild, hilarious cousins! Even without words, we connected through play. They helped me belong, reconnect with my culture, and learn what it meant to look out for someone beyond myself.”
Upon their collaboration, Badion helped transform “Kuya” into the fun and chaotic life of Jordan Santos that’s about to take France by storm. Besides Jordan’s close-knit family, the co-creators added supernatural characters like Archie the Duwende and Angie the Manananggal to his circle of constants—a present-day nod to the country’s myths and history.
“We always had in mind to create a show that delivered big laughs grounded in heart with the hope that kids and adults would enjoy watching it,” Badion says of the project’s an imaginative flair.
We surely can’t wait to see the shenanigans unfold between Jordan and his newfound “Sun Chaser” friends, humans and halimaws alike, as they sail the seas in style with their trusted jeepney boat. What’s not to love about this eclectic bunch?
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“Sun Chaser” is a breath of fresh air in Filipino animation, honing the same innovation and homage to our culture that animated media over the years put their own spin on. There’s “Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story,” a raunchy “aso’t pusa” feature built on the bones of a classic Pinoy rom-com. It also graced the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2021. The film found Angelica Panganiban, Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, and Moira dela Torre in their voice acting era. Compelling accounts of family dynamics also come to mind, such as the highly acclaimed rotoscope animated film “Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing).” Even the 2016 sleeper hit “Saving Sally” deserves its flowers. Our favorite redhead heroine and queer pop culture staple ZsaZsa Zaturnnah will star in her own animated show in a few years, too.
These bodies of work are reason enough to still have faith in the country’s illustrators, artists, writers, producers, and directors. Adversities may persist, but if these titles are any indicator, animation is a promising art form that won’t go anywhere anytime soon. In fact, it’s a new-age platform for educating future generations about the Philippines’ rich culture, customs, beliefs, and background.
As Badion puts it, “I hope the world keeps looking this way for fresh ideas and bold new talent that we know already exists [locally]. We’re thankful and blessed for ‘Sun Chaser’ to get it to this point, but we have multiple seasons of this story that we want to tell. We’ll do everything in our power for it to see the light of day. This adventure is just the beginning.”
Whatever happens in Annecy, our prayers and manifestations are ready for every heart and mind behind “Sun Chaser.” Making it to the festival is a major achievement of its own. We’re confident that, one day, Jordan Santos and his out-of-this-world friends will come home and reach the hearts of every Filipino, young and old, who dreams unabashedly and constantly seeks everyday magic in their lives.
ALSO READ: “Iti Mapukpukaw” Made History at the Cinemalaya
What are your thoughts on “Sun Chaser” so far? Share them in the comments below!
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