Heads up, WLW enjoyers! This dark fantasy animated short film features an unlikely romance between a mermaid and a seafood chef.
Set in the Philippines, The Lovers follows the story of Sara Lim Baylon, a seafood chef in Binondo, Manila who was given the responsibility of running her family’s seafood restaurant. Things took a dark turn after the governor decided to hold a private banquet at the said restaurant, featuring a sirena (mermaid) as the centerpiece. As bizarre as it sounds, Sara suddenly finds herself tangled in a dangerous affair with the mythical creature.
The film is currently being developed by Studio Heartbreak, an indie animation studio with a young and diverse creative team from around the world. Its members have previously worked for big animation studios that produced Attack on Titan, Boruto, Chiaki’s Journey, and more.
Here’s what you need to know about The Lovers
Studio Heartbreak has yet to announce the release date for the much anticipated short film, but rest assured that it is already in development. “We've created a world, a script, a proof-of-concept trailer, and a plan for the film ahead,” they wrote. On May 9th, Studio Heartbreak released a 46-second trailer alongside a Kickstarter campaign to gather funds for its production.
According to Studio Heartbreak, the whole film is going to be in Taglish, and English subtitles will be provided. “Sara's story embraces colloquial Tagalog and Taglish to immerse the viewer into the unique dynamics of a Filipino family,” they wrote. The animated film explores the complexities of repression, love, generational trauma, body horror, and the intricacies of desire and identity.
The trailer and snippets shared by Studio Heartbreak on Twitter have been well-received by locals who are already looking forward to its completion. In fact, there are already fan art and fan fiction being made for the unlikely pair.
To keep up the excitement, Studio Heartbreak revealed that Sara will be voiced by Vanille Velasquez, while Sirena will be voiced by Dawn Bennett. Both are well-known voice actresses who starred in famous video games like Valorant and Fire Emblem.
I am stoked to announce that I will be playing Sara Baylon in @studioheartbrk's upcoming animated short film, THE LOVERS 🖤
— Vanille Velasquez (@vanillevela) May 9, 2023
The film is set in Binondo, the Philippines' Chinatown, and it is always an honor and a pleasure to be part of productions that put our culture forward ✨ pic.twitter.com/ZZf1qnk6eQ
“Sa karagatan, ihatid mo ako…!”
— Dawn M. Bennett 🔜 Des Moines Con (@DawnMBennettVA) May 9, 2023
I’m the voice of Sirena in @studioheartbrk’s upcoming animation, “The Lovers,” now LIVE on @Kickstarter!!! 🧜♀️🧜♀️🧜♀️
I’m so grateful to work with these amazing folks and act in a story set in the Philippines. Thank you Studio Heartbreak!!! 💙💚💙 pic.twitter.com/xVzGvlbY7z
How can we support the film?
As of today, Studio Heartbreak has already received over $260,000 of funding on their Kickstarter campaign, which is four times more than the original amount that they asked for! With this, the studio can go all-out and make their vision a reality, with enough resources and compensation for their talented artists.
If you wish to support the development of The Lovers, you can donate through their Kickstarter campaign which will be open until June 24, 2023. In return, contributors will get access to special behind-the-scenes of their production process including animation, recording sessions, and more exclusive content.
You can spread the word and share the trailer on social media, engage with their posts, and help the film maintain its online hype. Not only will you be supporting indie animation artists, but you will also help in promoting unique sapphic media representation that is rarely seen in the mainstream.
