I first learned about Dayo when I covered the OktakonEK event in Enchanted Kingdom. Who would have thought that covering that great anime-inspired event would lead me to another learning experience.
I was told that Dayo will be the first ever full length animated film to be included as finalist in the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF 2008). The movie was produced by Cutting Edge productions and proudly say that this is a 100% Filipino work.
Last Saturday, Some bloggers were invited to take a tour at the Cutting Edge Studio where we got to catch a glimpse of several animators doing some finishing touches on the movie Dayo.
Dayo is a heart-warming story of a young boy named Bubuy who tries to rescue his kidnapped grandparents. In the middle of his adventure he met Anna, a bubbly manananggal. The movie also featured several other Pinoy mythical creatures in the movie like tikbalang, kapre, and tiyanak.
But wait. Dont be scared. This is not a horror movie. Cutting Edge made twists in the story to make the characters more appealing to moviegoers. Anna for example, is not scary at all. She has this kikay attitude that is completely different from how we normally portray manananggal. The movie is not just for kids, it’s for adults too. There are some parts in the movie that has jokes and lines that can only probably be picked up by an adult.
And for the creative team behind the movie, it was not an easy task of convincing the Manila Film Festival 208 organizers to let them join. many were skeptical if they could actually finish the project just in time for its opening on December 25th.
But Cutting Edge, hardworking and always a believer, proved that the MMFF is wrong. They showed the movie trailer to the organizers which finally allowed them to join the contest.
The production process took one year to finish. Some parts of the animation were done by animation houses in Naga City, Dumaguete and Baguio.
The theme song of the movie entitled “Lipad” will be sang by world class stage performer Lea Salonga. Meanwhile, Gerard Salonga will be conducting the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra for the soundtrack.
After previewing the movie trailers, I feel so excited. I can’t wait to finally see this movie on Christmas Day. Yup, it will be my first time to actually watch a Manila Film Fest Movie!
I have high hopes for this movie, after seeing how they put so much dedication and hard work to create this great film. Cutting Edge is also planning to screen this movie abroad, and exhibit it in some foreign film festivals.
Dayo: First full length animated Pinoy movie at the Metro Manila FilmFest 2008 (MMFF)