After 6 years in “production hell”, the “Zsazsa Zaturnnah” animated film is finally reaching completion.
Rocketsheep Studio, an animation production company known best for films “Saving Sally” and “Hayop Ka!”, released the film’s trailer and a few animation stills just last night. The shots boast the labor of love and care that was poured into creating this film.
Originally intended to be an animated series, the comic’s creator Carlo Vergara was instead approached to do a film. After 4 years in development, and receiving support from the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the production started a Kickstarter campaign to raise additional budget to finish the film within 2 more years.
Swipe or click arrows to see photos
The film is set to release this year, which marks the 20th anniversary of the original staging of “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Musikal”, and 24 years since her comic debut. It is directed by Avid Liongoren, and co-written with creator Carlo Vergara.
The story follows Ada, a meek gay beautician who swallows a melon-sized cosmic rock reminiscent to Darna’s origin story. It transforms him into the bombastic, red-haired superheroine Zsazsa Zaturnnah, ready to fight and protect the Earth from the supernatural and extra-terrestrial.
Phi Palmos, an openly queer actor known best for his roles in theatre, voices Ada, reprising his role from the 2023 musical staging under Ateneo Blue Repertory. The rest of the cast has yet to be disclosed.
We enter the final, back breaking stretch of completing the film after a 6 year journey. GANBAROU TODO NA TOH!
Rocketsheep Studio
