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Filipino representation in animation has been having a moment this year. And while the lion’s share of attention has gone towards DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, other animated works deserve the spotlight just as much. One such project is Sun Chaser, a Philippine-made animated series by Bernard Badion and Bobby Pontillas, the latter of whom earned an Oscar nomination for his 2018 short film One Small Step. In development for years, the show finally debuted in 2026, and already, it’s showing promise and potential that’s teeming with Filipino culture and mythology. Get to know more about the project below.
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A Mythical Adventure Across the Ocean
Sun Chaser tells the story of Jordan Santos, a teenager whose carefree summer turns upside down when an ancient icy villain named Necrofrost attacks his grandmother’s island in the Philippines. This incident causes Jordan to learn that he comes from an ancient line of Spirit Guardians, protectors of society against dangerous creatures. His grandmother is one, and so was his father, and now it’s Jordan’s turn to embrace his destiny. When his grandmother gets captured by Necrofrost, Jordan, his younger cousins, friends, and a couple of mystical allies use the ship, the Sun Chaser, to rescue her and face all kinds of supernatural foes in a magical realm.
The show stands out for its mix of Philippine folklore and mythology with fast-paced action and a cartoonish yet expressive art style. It presents itself as a Saturday-morning cartoon but through the lens of a Filipino-coded fantasy adventure. Sun Chaser’s first episode, which can be watched for free and in full on YouTube, lays out the stakes as viewers meet Jordan and sets the stage for his journey into becoming a Spirit Guardian in the face of ancient power threatening his family and people.
The People Behind Sun Chaser
The representation isn’t limited to the screen, as Sun Chaser was entirely animated by Filipino artists. Philippine-based production houses Toon City and PlayLab studios made the series, which speaks to the talent and contributions Filipinos have always brought to the global animation industry. Toon City, in particular, is no stranger to working on major animated productions as they count Rick and Morty, Kim Possible, and Hazbin Hotel among the shows it’s worked on.
Sun Chaser’s voice cast is equally as impressive, with an A-list ensemble that includes Manny Jacinto as Jordan, Liza Soberano, who has been building up her voice acting credits as of late and serves as a co-producer on the series through her Funny Face Films company, as the dual roles of Angie the Manananggal and Queen Marisol, Charo Santos-Concio as Lola, and an unrecognizable Dingdong Dantes as Necrofrost. Also, Dantes’ daughter, Zia Dantes, makes her acting debut in the series as Sessa, Jordan’s younger cousin. Rounding out the cast are Eugene Cordero, JR De Guzman, AC Bonifacio, and KD Estrada.
Following its winning of the Animation du Monde at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Sun Chaser returned to the festival this year to debut its pilot episode, the same festival that hosted another premiere of a Philippine-made animated project, Rocketsheep Studio’s Zsazsa Zaturnnah.
But as much attention as the show has received from fans, it still needs help funding the rest of the season, which is why they launched a Kickstarter to support the creation of future episodes. With Filipino-centric animation set to have a big impact in 2026, hopefully Sun Chaser gets the support it needs not just from viewers but also from the powers that be because Philippine animation, artistry, and creativity deserve to thrive.
Check out Sun Chaser’s Kickstarter campaign here.
Featured Image and Photos: TOON CITY (via Website)
Frequently Asked Questions
Sun Chaser follows Jordan Santos, a Filipino teenager who discovers he descends from an ancient line of Spirit Guardians after an icy villain named Necrofrost attacks his grandmother’s island. Armed with a magical ship and joined by cousins, friends, and mystical allies, Jordan sets out to rescue his grandmother and confront supernatural threats drawn from Philippine folklore and mythology.
Sun Chaser was created by Bernard Badion and Bobby Pontillas. Pontillas is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker recognized for his 2018 animated short One Small Step. The series was produced by Philippine-based studios Toon City and PlayLab, with Liza Soberano serving as co-producer through her company Funny Face Films.
The voice cast includes Manny Jacinto as protagonist Jordan Santos, Liza Soberano in the dual roles of Angie the Manananggal and Queen Marisol, Charo Santos-Concio as Lola, and Dingdong Dantes as the villain Necrofrost. Additional cast members include Eugene Cordero, JR De Guzman, AC Bonifacio, KD Estrada, and Zia Dantes — Dingdong’s daughter — making her acting debut as Sessa.
The first episode of Sun Chaser is available to watch for free in full on YouTube. The production team has also launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the remainder of Season 1.
The series incorporates creatures and figures from Philippine mythology, including the Manananggal — a supernatural being from Filipino folklore — alongside Spirit Guardians rooted in indigenous traditions of protector figures. The show frames these elements within a fast-paced action-adventure aimed at younger audiences.
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