Flexing their creative muscles

If Animax means maximum animé (exposure), then the channel is living up to its name. Animax is one of the few networks on cable that has featured animé programs in three-dimensional (3D) design to make the characters and the story-telling as real as possible.

Televiewers are treated to a "virtual" reality where emotions are heightened and reality seems closer, set against the flat surface of TV. The technical aspect of each show gives anyone the feeling of realism in moving geometrical designs. This is the product of creativity and imagination of the artistic people behind Animax.

To keep that spirit alive, Animax recently launched the Imagine-Nation campaign that showcases top personalities whose success stories are attributed to their creative imagination. They are big names in film, design, photography and sports.

Animax is not all about animé, say the channel’s executives. It is also about becoming successful by using one’s creativity and following one’s passion in life.

The campaign is also an effort to localize Animax and make it a lifestyle brand. This is something people can relate to in spite of the animated and fictitious nature of the characters. It will also show more faces of real people.

For the Philippines, kart racer Matteo Guidicelli, Cinema Evaluation Board chair Christine Dayrit and lens man Raymund Isaac are the personalities for Animax’s Imagine-Nation campaign. Matteo, Christine and Raymund are featured in a series of vignettes telling their stories on how imagination has played a significant role in the pursuit of their dream professions. They will inspire and empower Animax fans to go out and strive for their dreams.

Let’s get to know more about Matteo, Christine and Raymund, Animax’s Imagine-Nation personalities.

Christine discovered her passion for TV and film at a very young age. She would watch local variety shows and movies. Her love affair with cinema blossomed when she studied at Boston University finishing a masters degree in Film Production.

Christine co-produced movies with Viva Films like Hiram na Mukha and Andres Manambit. She has done 60 telemovies for GMA 7 and Four Aces Films.

To be at par with her profession, Christine says it is important to keep everything in perspective.

She believes "passion will not emerge without talent. Talent can emerge without passion. But what good is your talent if you do not have the passion to put out something creative, tangible?"

A Communication Arts graduate from De La Salle University, Raymund started his picture-perfect profession when a teacher reprimanded him for his amateurish photographs. The comment challenged Raymund to strive for excellence. His 21-year experience as photographer of the stars is a testament of how Raymund has become successful and how his artistry evolved through the years.

He says passion without hard work is like words thrown to the wind.

Matteo, on the other hand, first learned about kart racing when his uncle brought him in a rental kart track in one of his vacations in Italy. He enjoyed the experience. When he returned to Cebu, another uncle informed him that he and his friends were building a race track. As if the proverbial bug of the fast lane didn’t want him to let go – elsewhere, Matteo had no choice but to join a kart tournament and win his first race. Through the years, Matteo has joined racing competitions and brought home awards. Matteo was proclaimed Karter of the Year in 2004.

"There are no shortcuts in the greatest success of life, " says Matteo. "You just got to train, practice and try your best if you want to succeed."

Matteo, Raymund and Christine have found their Asian counterparts in Formula 1 driver Narian Karthikeyan of India, Toys Stickfas owner Bany J of Singapore and Centro Digital’s Don Ma of Hong Kong.

If this effort signals anything to Animax fans, it will be that they’re in for a maximum animé life experience.