Fil-Am animator Bobby Pontillas talks of his new TV project, 'Sun Chaser,' and winning at Annecy Film Festival
Dreams do come true.
And for Fil-Am Bobby Pontillas, it was going back to his roots, doing what he loves to do, and winning at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in Annecy, France, considered the Oscars of Animation.
His TV animation project, "Sun Chaser," which he created with Bernard Badion, together with Toon City and Playlab animation studio, won the Annecy Festival MIFA Animation du Monde Prize (Animation of the World – All Categories).
The boyish-looking Pontillas said in an email interview, "Sun Chaser was selected for the MIFA Pitches at Annecy in the TV Series category and won the Animation du Monde prize, which supports original stories from underrepresented regions in animation. Just being invited felt like a huge win, as it gave us the chance to share our story on one of the world's biggest animation stages."
The "Animation du Monde" Prize at the Annecy Festival's MIFA Pitches is dedicated to spotlighting animation projects from regions where the industry is still emerging—those often under-funded, under-resourced, or just getting started. It aims to open doors for international creativity across geographical, cultural, and technical diversity.
Pontillas revealed that his inspiration for his Sun Chaser "came from a personal place of wanting to tell a story rooted in Filipino mythology and identity, through the eyes of a young Filipino American trying to reconnect with his roots."
Originally from Bremerton, Washington, and then Glendale, California, Pontillas is now back in the Philippines.
Asked what made him make the big move, the former animator at Disney, Blue Sky, ArenaNet and Taiko Studios, said, "I wanted to be closer to the culture I was drawing inspiration from, and I wanted to work with Filipino artists to bring a very Filipino story to life. It felt very important to help bridge the gap between local creatives and the global animation industry."
Pontillas, who worked in such blockbuster projects as "Frozen," "Zootopia," "Moana" and "Rio," was also a former Oscar nominee for the short film, "One Small Step."
The only child of a single mother, Corazon Pontillas from Nabua, Camarines Sur, Pontillas shared that his greatest inspiration in being an animator was his mother. "All of us have been fortunate enough to have strong support systems that encouraged us to be artists. For myself, my mother was my biggest cheerleader when I was trying to become an animator. She sacrificed so much for me, and I wanted to pay tribute to that love."
Asked how he would compare the animation industry in the Philippines to that of Los Angeles, Pontillas said, "The Philippine animation industry has long been known for its incredible service work, often helping bring to life stories from studios in LA. And while we know that service work will always be the backbone of the industry here, we're also working to expand our narrative. It's time the world sees what Filipino artists can create when we tell our own stories, in our voice."
He explained why "Sun Chaser" is special to him and significant for representation. "First and foremost, I want Filipino kids to see that they can be the heroes of their own stories.
"But beyond that, I hope it resonates with anyone in the diaspora, across cultures, who's searching for a deeper connection to their roots. There's so much beauty in our heritage, and this is my way of honoring that while inviting others to do the same."
As to his next project, he said, "We're actively looking for the right partners to help bring Sun Chaser to life. At the same time, I'm committed to working closely with young Filipino artists, helping them find their voice and supporting them as they tell original stories rooted in their own lived experiences. Seeing their talent and heart gives me so much hope for the future of our industry here!"
He admitted there was no more time to celebrate the win. He confessed, "Honestly, I celebrated the win by getting back to work haha! But also taking quiet moments of gratitude. Wins like this don't happen alone, and I'm incredibly thankful to my team and everyone who's believed in the project so far.
"That said, we know there's still a long road ahead, not just to make Sun Chaser a reality, but to help inspire our industry here in the Philippines to keep investing in original content. This is just the beginning!"
—MGP, GMA Integrated News
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