Meet the voice actors of Dayo

Meet the voice actors of Dayo

By Michael Kho Lim, Contributor

12/22/2008

Cutting Edge Productions, the local production outfit behind the first full-length digital animated feature Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia, pools together the finest voice talents in the Philippine entertainment industry to give personality to the film’s animated characters.

Dayo (Wanderer) is a heartwarming story about Bubuy (voiced by Nash Aguas), an 11-year-old boy from Antipolo, who goes on a journey to save his beloved grandparents abducted into Elementalia, fantasy land thriving with strange flora and fauna and home to several enchanted creatures of Philippine mythology.

Bubuy then meets Anna Manananggirl (voiced by Katrina Legaspi), a young and energetic manananggal (a winged creature that can separate her torso from her lower body) with a special fondness for all things human except to eat them. The two live out an adventure full of wild, will-testing and comical experiences all over Elementalia — from enormous waterfalls heaving with gravity-defying merfolk, to the breathtaking crystal cave dwelling of colorful alitubi (fairies), to a magnificent old tree that is home to a motherly kapre (hairy giant), and finally to a majestic mountain protected by a big pack of hungry aswangs (ghoul).

Though this is Nash and Katrina’s first animation voicing experience, they did not have difficulty recording for their roles. It was fun for them. “I really enjoyed doing the voice of Bubuy,” says Nash gleefully. “I was very happy when I learned that I got the part, because it was different from what I usually do on TV. My favorite part is when I meet Anna for the first time and she brings me to Elementalia.” Nash adds that he felt as if he was just playing rather than working in the recording studio.

On the other hand, Hopia, as Katrina is fondly called, loves the scene where she was introducing the beautiful underworld of Elementalia to Bubuy. “It felt like I was just welcoming Bubuy to my house,” she expresses. "I also like the flying scene because I’ve always dreamt of flying. I’m so excited to see the whole movie already.”

Even though the cast was not able to have any visual support during the recording, director Robert Quilao was there to visualize for them. “the screenplay on hand, the actors are called in the studio to record their respective dialog,” Robert describes. “This is when I briefed them on the mood and tone of the scene and directed them as to how the dialogs are to be delivered. The challenge for me as the director is to paint a vivid picture of what’s happening in the scene for the actors to act and deliver their lines accordingly.”

Robert also didn’t have a hard time directing the voice talents since almost all of them are seasoned actors and directors. “There was practically no need for a workshop,” he continues. “The most we were able to do was brief them about the story and the characters that they will be playing on the day that they were called to record in the studio. Even Nash and Hopia did not have a hard time internalizing their characters.”

Since schedule is a major concern for many of the voice artists, the creative team had to work around their availability. It was also rather difficult to gather all of them together and record the scenes that would require them to interact.

In most of these situations, Robert would act as the stand in and throw the lines of the characters during the recording session to create a natural dialog flow. “Although later on, we just played back the good takes of the characters that we had previously recorded for the one that we are currently recording," Robert explains. "These recordings are then edited together to create a cohesive dialog."

Painting more color and amusement to Dayo are its supporting cast. The creative team already had talents in mind when they were working on the characters and script.

Even before the controversial Pokwang was labeled as an aswang (ghoul or vampire) look-alike, the Dayo team already thought that she would fit the role of Vicky, the nanny manananggal of Anna. One would notice that the character sketch is loosely based on her. “I didn’t have to do any major voice adjustments for the role,” says Pokwang. “I didn’t have to lower or make my voice higher. I think I was just being my cool kalog self that’s why I had so much fun arguing with the role of Toti in Dayo.”

Cutting Edge originally had news anchor Mike Enriquez to do the voice of Toti, one of Anna’s bodyguards. The team, however, had to get someone who can mimic the famous newsman, veteran voice actor Pocholo Gonzales. “It’s really better if all of us could record together and interact in the studio,” Pocholo states. “But since this is not possible most of the time, it’s up to the talent how he will approach or respond to the pre-recorded lines thrown to him.” It was a challenge for him to react to Vicky’s lines, he relates, since Pokwang had many ad-libs and her role is somewhat a very talkative character. Backed by 13 years of voice acting experience, Pocholo also reveals that he is also behind the voice of Hal-lan, the anti-hero in Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia.

Anna’s second bodyguard, who has an unusual hearing impairment, is named Jo and voiced by famed comedian Gabe Mercado.

Perhaps one of the most challenging character portrayals would be the role of Narsi, the narcissistic cool rocker tikbalang (the underworld creature with the head of a horse and the body of a human). The Dayo team initially thought of Pepe Smith for the role, but due to his unavailability, there was no better versatile actor to do this than Michael V. “I prepare for every role that I play,” the comedian declares. “Even if I had previously done a horse voice for Enteng Kabisote 3, my role here is totally different.”

Playing the role of Lolo Nano, the cute resident sage of Elementalia, is no other than multi-awarded actor and director Peque Gallaga. “I accepted the offer of doing Lolo Nano simply because it’s something new and wonderful,” admits Peque. “But honestly, I had really a difficult time doing the role. Since he is supposed to be the wisest in Elementalia and has to impart words of wisdom, most of my lines are really long. That’s why I had to do many takes for most of my scenes.” Peque also shares that he played with three character pegs when he was studying for the character of Lolo Nano. He had in mind Yoda of Star Wars, Pilosopong Tasyo of Noli Me Tangere, and Jun Urbano’s role in Magic Temple, the film he co-directed with Lore Reyes.

Nova Villa is Lola Nita, Bubuy’s caring grandmother, who nags her husband Lolo Meong a lot. “I had to do some voice adjustments for the role,” Nova claims. “Since the character is about 75 years old, I had to make my voice a little husky and sound old. This is more challenging for me as an actor because I have to deliver my character without using any facial expression, but only through my voice."

Nova is proud and happy to be a part of the project. She also points out that the story is very moving and her character is easy to relate to. “Lola Nita is a happy grandmother and has a good sense of humor. She is actually like a comedian myself.” There was a time during their recording that Nova couldn’t immediately record her part because she cried at the scene played back for her. "It was the scene when Bubuy thought that we were already dead. He cried and cried, and I could just feel the pain he was going through that it made me cry, too.”

Dayo also features the voices of Trinidad as Lolo Meong, Bubuy’s grandfather who shares the kid’s penchant for flying. Delgado joins in as Carpio, Anna’s dad who is Elementalia’s head guardian. And completing Dayo’s dream cast is distinguished actor and director Guillen playing a dual role of the kapre (the motherly cigar-smoking giant) and diwata/bruha, the enchanting fairy with an evil alter ego.

Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia is an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), and is co-presented by Frootees, Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog and Mister Donut. The film is also supported by Ascorbic Acid Ceelin, Crispy Fry Breading Mix, Enervon Bright Brand, Timezone, Fuji YKL, Inquirer.net, Yehey.com, ClicktheCity.com, Animation Council of the Philippines, Toon Boom, Wacom, Woodpecker Studio and New Media.

For more information, visit the official movie Web site at www.dayomovie.com.