PH studio drops trailer, crowdfunding campaign for 'Zsazsa Zaturnnah' film

Philippine boutique production company Rocketsheep Studio just dropped a trailer of "Zsazsa Zaturnnah" alongside the launch of its Kickstarter campaign for the animated film.

In a video shared on social media, "Zsazsa Zaturnnah" director and producer Avid Liongoren turned to the public to help fund the film.

"It's a fantabulous story that needs to be shared with the world because even if superheroes dominate the box office, there's still a lack of LGBTQ characters on screen. Zsazsa Zaturnnah is Asia's first LGBTQ superhero and we need your help in finishing her film," said Avid in the video.

"Zsazsa Zaturnnah" is adapted from the 2002 graphic novel of Carlo Vergara, who also stands as a collaborator of the animated film.

"Zsazsa Zaturnnah" follows the story of a shy, gay man who transforms into a flamboyant female superhero upon swallowing a magical stone. The graphic novel has also been adapted into a live action film in 2006, as well as a long-running popular stage musical.

Avid also shared that their team has been working on the animated "Zsazsa Zaturnnah" film for over four years, which has mostly been funded out of their own pockets.

Rocketsheep Studio needs $40,000 (about P2.3 million) to complete the film in around two years. The "Zsazsa Zaturnnah" film will be a 2D animated film in English that will run for 80 minutes.

According to Avid, backers of the campaign can be featured as bit characters or have their name embedded in the film in return for supporting the campaign.

Thus far, the Kickstarter campaign for the "Zsazsa Zaturnnah" film has raised around $4,400 as of this writing. The project will only be funded once it reaches its goal by Sept. 5.

The "Zsazsa Zaturnnah" film centers on Ada, a gay man who works in a beauty parlor in a small provincial town. One day, a huge stone falls into Ada's house. When he swallows it, he turns into the strong and fabulous Zsazsa Zaturnnah, and she must save the town as it's attacked by a monster frog, a giant squid, and the Amazonistas of Planet X.

Rocketsheep Studio has produced various animated films, notably "Saving Sally" and "Hayop Ka!"

— CDC, GMA Integrated News