HAYOP KA!, 2020, Rocketsheep Studio, 73 min. From one of the most inventive and irreverent voices in Filipino and World Animation, director Avid Liongoren (SAVING SALLY, the upcoming ZSA ZSA ZATURNNAH), the utterly delightful HAYOP KA! is inspired by the beloved telenovela genre of romance melodramas. Nimfa (voiced by Angelica Panganiban) is a perfume saleswoman kitty in Manila, who receives a prediction from a fortune teller that she’ll fall in love with two men (er, dogs) simultaneously. One is her long-time boyfriend, likable but unambitious canine janitor Roger (voiced by Robin Padilla) – the second turns out to be high-powered top dog (literally) executive Iñigo (voiced by Sam Milby), who sweeps her off her paws and forces her to ask what’s more important: Love, or Wild Hot Sex + Lots of Bling? Featuring an irresistible style that’s both retro and Cartoon Network modern, HAYOP KA! is one of the few Filipino animated films both made in the Philippines and about its life and culture. The Philippines has long been an animation powerhouse, but primarily churning out product for U.S. and Japanese producers -- until the arrival of a new generation of animators led by Liongoren’s Rocketsheep Studio and films like HAYOP KA!. In Filipino with English subtitles.
Special Features
48-page illustrated booklet featuring new essays by film critic Walter Chaw and Fantasia Festival programmer Rupert Bottenberg
New audio commentary by filmmaker Avid Liongoren and co-writer/co-producer Manny Angeles
New visual essay by film historian Celeste de la Cabra
New video interview with filmmaker Avid Liongoren
6 short films by Avid Liongoren: “Robuboy,” “Momo,” “Muning,” “Josephine,” “Our Forgotten Friends” and “Jepoy” (2011-2018)
Teaser trailer for Rocketsheep Studios’ new animated film ZSA ZSA ZATURNNAH and rare concept artwork
Original trailers
Blu-ray authoring by Vital Passenger
New art by Beth Morris