Adult animation in the Philippines

In 1978, cartoonist Nonoy Marcelo produced an animated historical satire, Tadhana, intended to be the first fully animated feature produced in the Philippines. Based on a book allegedly authored by ousted president Ferdinand Marcos, it was initially interpreted as a presidential propaganda of New Society Movement; Marcelo incorporates a satirical, humorous and poignant view with anti-imperialist and progressive themes of the Philippines's history under Spanish colonization.^[2]

Despite being a television premiere, it is one of the many films in the Philippines released under regime and martial law during the Marcos era which lasted until the 1986 revolution.^[3] It was then rereleased for artistic and educational purposes.^[4]

During that era, adult animation saw a surge after the television premiere of Tadhana, animators and filmmakers began to produce their own animated short films with similar use of satirical, political and mature themes. An independent animator Roxlee is an exemplar of adult animation in the Philippines, who utilized political and mature themes that were previously suppressed by the regime, producing short films with unusual animation techniques using pencil and celluloids.^[5]

Adult animation is often used by expanding conventional and mature storytelling conveyed with characters' melodrama and realism, satirical and darker tone rather than raunchy, off-color and sexual humors commonly depicted in animated works.

It covers varieties of thematic elements, which presents the country's socio-political issues, values, mythology, and even folklore. The prominent use of themes in animation stress the importance of family, friendship, love, and faith. Other elements that are relatable to Filipinos including abuse, addiction, cancer, child abuse, corruption, death, depression, dysfunctional families, homelessness, nudity, pollution, poverty, sexuality, social issues, suicide, teenage pregnancy, and war.^[1]

In 2010s, animated short films made by Filipinos like Sanayan Lang Ang Pagpatay (lit. Killing Just Becomes A Habit) is an animated short film, drew themes of murder and massacre, about the butiki was crawling on different areas of the house but it turns out after killing the butiki with flip-flops leads to more gruesome ways about the massacre in the past.^[1] Lakas ng Lahi (lit. Race's Strength), a historical drama animated short film, deals with abuse, oppression and war, briefly expanding each story and timeline from the Spanish colonial period to Japanese occupation of the Philippines.^[1]