Ready for a local 3D?

Before the rest of the world did, I and a dozen other Asian journalists had the rare chance of previewing excerpts of the James Cameron’s Avatar which went on to become the year’s top-grosser (filing up millions so far, I presume) and the Oscar Best Picture awardee, proving to everybody that, yes indeed, Cameron is “the king of the world.”

That was in Sydney in early December last year during the press junket for Avatar. Cameron was not present but Sam Worthington, the movie’s lead actor, was. We were given colored plastic glasses as soon as we entered the screening room. Yes, the action in Avatar came alive in 3D.

Two Sundays ago, I was among a dozen movie writers invited to a special screening of the first five minutes of RPG: Metanoia, the Philippines’ first stereoscopic 3D animated, full-length feature film presented by Ambient Media and Star Cinema as official entry in the 2010 Metro Filmfest. (Star Cinema has two other entries, Tanging Ina N’yo [Last Na’To] starring Ai-Ai delas Alas; and Dalaw, starring Kris Aquino who’s also a co-producer). The venue was the Atrium of Shangri-La Mall. Judging from our reaction and that of the bystanders and shoppers who shopped and lingered, RPG (meaning Role-Playing Game): Metanoia could attract big (mostly kiddie) crowds during the 10-day filmfest. Of course, there have been a few locally-produced animated feature films (Dayo and Urduja among them) but Metanoia is, as I’ve said, the first-ever local 3D.

It was short but fun watching Metanoia, even if, admittedly, I’m alien to RPG which is a rage among the young and the young-at-heart. I wasn’t surprised that the film, touted to be “made by Filipinos for the Filipinos,” is comparable to those made in Hollywood (Toy Story, Cars, Monster Inc., Ratatouille, etc.) because, in case you’ve forgotten, the brilliant animators behind them are Filipinos. Metanoia is directed by animation veteran Louie Suarez.

The story: Nico is a typical 10-year-old boy from San Juan. With his mother at work and his father working abroad, Nico spends his days playing Metanoia, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). In the Metanoia world, Nico is Zero, a very strong character that makes him think he is a hero, which is opposite his real weak and timid self. When the game starts affecting reality, it’s up to Nico and his friends Bryan, Bobby, Mark, Daniel and May to save not just the Metanoia world but the real world itself. On their journey to battling Metanoia, Nico realizes that one doesn’t need powers to become a real hero. 

Nico is voice-acted by Zaijian Jaranilla, Nico’s father by Aga Muhlach, Nico’s mother by Eugene Domingo, Cel the game geek by Vhong Navarro, May (a.k.a. C4ss4andra) by Mika dela Cruz, Bryan (a.k.a. Mang Ernie) by Jairus Aquino, Bobby (a.k.a. Sumpak) by Aaron Junatas, Mark (a.k.a. Ahdonis) by Basty Alcances, Andrew (a.k.a. Bossing) by Ketchup Eusebio, Daniel (a.k.a. K’Mao) by Jonas Calapatan, and David (a.k.a. Sidekick) by Igiboy Flores.

During screenings on campuses, Metanoia has been getting a good response. Well and good.

“We want to show people that there is a market for local animation, that we can use all these technological tools to tell good quality, Filipino stories,” said direk Suarez. “The feedback has been incredible, and it’s not people reacting to the effects or the graphics; it’s really that thrill of seeing our characters in familiar places, speaking in Tagalog with their mouths actually matching what they’re saying, and that’s what people are responding to.”

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