Filipino clay animator Edwin Guillermo scrutinizes animation on television and the Philippine dubbing industry.
1) I Am Weasel (Cartoon Network)
Ako si Weasel!
“I Am Weasel” stars a highly intelligent and charming I.M.Weasel, knowledgeable in all known professions. A stupid and gramatically-incorrect I.R. Babboon serves as his antagonist, sometimes sidekick.
When translated into the vernacular Tagalog and shown in the free channels, this cartoon would be immediately offensive to the Philippine masses.
The masa would immediately identify with the babboon, being uneducated and unskilled. In fact, highly educated Philippine politicians would project a public image that the masses would identify with. Former president Joseph Estrada, an Atenean, came up with Erap jokes to give the illusion to the masses that he was equally uneducated and not fluent with the English language, therefore endearing himself to them. The intelligent character for Philippine media will always be the bad guy.
2. South Park (Comedy Central)
Liwasang Timog
South Park is a highly controversial and offensive show about a group of 4 young boys from Colorado. Catholic schools once sought to ban it from Philippine cable TV because of one of its episodes entitled “Bloody Mary”
But what makes it unfit for Philippine viewing is not its offensiveness. Kho and Halili proved that offensive and controversial sells. What makes it unfit for Pinoy consumption is its humor, which is definitely alien to Filipinos. Kenny McCormick is made fun of in class because of his poverty. Most of the jokes about revolve around racism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism even about Mormons. And most of the jokes are about American politics and American pop culture.
3. The Simpsons (Fox)
Ang Pamilya Singson
Once considered to be offensive, this comedy about a dysfunctional family will be ignored by the Philippine public when dubbed in Tagalog. It may be about an ordinary guy and his family, but that may be the only thing Filipinos can relate to.
The culture is definitely American. Ordinary Filipinos do not work menial jobs in nuclear facilities and do not own houses and cars. Homer Simpson, the head of the title family, may be dimwitted, but his quips and punchlines can only be understood by the intelligent. His children Bart and Lisa attend public school with complete facilities. And to add, his wife Marge and daughters Lisa and Maggie are highly intelligent, a definite no-no for the Philippine bida.
