“Sun Chaser,” a new animated series set in the Philippines which recently won the “Animation du Monde” prize at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, is in production.
In “Sun Chaser,” 16-year-old Cross-Cultural Kid Jordan Santos’ first summer visiting his grandmother in the Philippines tales a wild turn when one day, on a hike with his neighbor Zoe, a fiery portal zaps open and they’re attacked by a supernatural demon. A wild chase ensues until they’re saved by two mystical strangers who vanquish the demon back into its portal.
The two strangers — a dwarf and a vampire-bat-person — tell Jordan that he’s destined to be a “Spirit Guardian” — born into a lineage that protects the gates between the human and spirit realms.
Jordan’s reluctant new gig becomes even more crucial as new portals start popping up everywhere, unleashing chaos and ultimately putting an evil curse on Jordan’s island, plunging everyone and everything into a frozen standstill.
So with the fate of his home at stake, Jordan, joined by his 10-year-old twin cousins La Bamba and Sessa along with Zoe and his supernatural saviors Archie and Angie embark on a quest through the Sea of a Million Islands (SOAMI).
With each adventure, this ragtag crew face off against rival armadas, battle sea serpents and sky dragons unleashed from the spirit realm and meet mythical creatures both friend and foe.
“Sun Chaser” delves into the clash between different worlds, old wisdom vs. young spirit, and family legacy against personal desires. Through Jordan’s journey, viewers see his battle to balance his newfound role as a Spirit Guardian and craving a normal life. His internal conflict highlights the importance of finding where we belong and the significance of both our given and chosen families.
The series was created by Oscar-nominated animator and Military BRAT Bobby Pontillas (who also designed the first Filipino muppet on “Sesame Street”) and Filipino American writer Bernard Badion.
In an Instagram post, Pontillas says:
I believe my purpose is to direct a film or show-run a series inspired by Filipino culture — I’ll stop at nothing to make that happen. My aspirations for the animation industry are to help make it a more diverse and inclusive space for underrepresented voices.
Check out the “sizzle reel” shown at Annecy below.
