Deaf Crocodile is releasing Hayop Ka! (2020) on Blu-ray. Directed by Avid Liongoren of Rocketsheep Studio, the film is one of the very few animated features produced in the Philippines about Filipino life and culture, and it arrives with a substantial set of new supplements: an audio commentary, a visual essay, six short films, and a 48-page illustrated booklet.
Hayop Ka! works in the tradition of telenovela romance melodramas. Nimfa (voiced by Angelica Panganiban), a perfume saleswoman cat in Manila, receives a fortune teller’s prediction that she will fall for two dogs at once: her long-time boyfriend Roger (voiced by Robin Padilla), a likable but unambitious canine janitor, and high-powered executive Iñigo (voiced by Sam Milby), who pulls her toward a very different life. The film is in Filipino with English subtitles and blends a retro visual style with a Cartoon Network modern sensibility.
New bonus material includes an audio commentary by Liongoren and co-writer and co-producer Manny Angeles, joined by a new visual essay by film historian Celeste de la Cabra and a new video interview with Liongoren. Six short films by Liongoren from 2011 to 2018 are also on disc: “Robuboy,” “Momo,” “Muning,” “Josephine,” “Our Forgotten Friends,” and “Jepoy.” A teaser trailer for Rocketsheep Studios’ upcoming animated film Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah and rare concept artwork from that project are included alongside original trailers for Hayop Ka!. Blu-ray authoring is by Vital Passenger.
The 48-page illustrated booklet features new essays by film critic Walter Chaw and Fantasia Festival programmer Rupert Bottenberg, with new art by Beth Morris.
Deaf Crocodile expects Hayop Ka! to being shipping in late August.
