Urduja (film)

Last updated
Urduja
UrdujaTheatricalPoster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byReggie Entienza
Screenplay byReggie Entienza
Story byReggie Entienza
Michael Tuivera
Produced byAntonio P. Tuviera
Starring Regine Velasquez-Alcasid
Cesar Montano
Eddie Garcia
Johnny Delgado
Jay Manalo
Ruby Rodriguez
Epy Quizon
Michael V.
Allan K.
Edited byManet Dayrit
Music byMon Faustino
Noel Zarate
Production
companies
APT Entertainment
Seventoon
Imaginary Friends
Distributed byAPT Entertainment
Release date
  • June 18, 2008 (2008-06-18)
Running time
100 minutes
Country Philippines
Language Filipino
Box office₱31 million

Urduja is a 2008 Philippine animated historical fantasy film based of the legend of the warrior princess Urduja of Pangasinan. It was the first of two locally produced (in the Philippines) animated films set for release in 2008. The other, Dayo , was released as an entry for the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Contents

The film was created by an all-Filipino group of animators and made using the traditional (hand-drawn) animation process. [1] It also features an all-Filipino cast of voice actors. Urduja was released on June 18, 2008 and earned ₱20 million during its premiere, surpassing the milestone of Adarna's grossing release but still unsuccessful in getting the audience interest which resulted in loss of profit. [2]

Plot

Set in the 13th century, the film is a fictionalized tale of Princess Urduja, legendary warrior princess of Pangasinan.

As the only daughter of Lakanpati, chieftain of the Tawilisi tribe of Northern Luzon, Urduja grew up as a warrior with the ability and willingness to defend her people from their rival tribe, the Badjaos. Lakanpati's age and failing health gave rise to the urgency of finding a man for the princess to marry and who will inevitably lead the tribe as the new chieftain.

The man Lakanpati considers most eligible to become Urduja's husband is Simakwel, a Tawilisi warrior but whom the princess dislikes. Oblivious of Simakwel's ambitious and scheming ways, Lakanpati tries his best to convince Urduja to marry him. However, Urduja meets Limhang, a Chinese pirate, who lands on the Tawilisi shore after he flees from the wrath of the ruthlessly greedy Wang. Urduja immediately falls in love with the stranger Limhang, which worries Lakanpati and drives Simakwel into madness. Afraid of losing both the crown and Urduja, Simakwel does everything to drive Limhang away from his dream. Eventually, Limhang's good deeds and genuine kindness win the respect and trust of the Taliwisi tribe.

Wang soon finds Limhang, who surrenders voluntarily to Wang in assurance that he will not attack Tawilisi. In the end, Wang still orders his men to attack the tribe. Urduja and her people bravely defend the tribe from the forces of Wang. Limhang escapes from his captors and with the aid of the Badjaos sends the invaders fleeing.

In the end, Daisuke, Mayumi and Kukut left Limhang, who decided to stay with his love, but not without another surprise from Tarsir, which the latter threw a snake on Kukut.

Cast

Production

Produced using a mixture of digital and traditional animation techniques, the film took eleven years of conceptualization or pre-production and was done roughly for two years of animation development by approximately 400-500 Filipino animators and three different animation studios situated within Luzon and Visayan areas, produced more than 120,000 drawings that ran in 1,922 scenes equivalent to 8,771 feet of film. [4]

Release

The film earned ₱20 million during its premiere and gained a box office hit of roughly ₱31 million over unstated production cost, surpassing the milestone of Adarna's grossing release but still unsuccessful in getting the audience interest which resulted in loss of profit. [2]

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References

  1. Talented Filipino animators go big time - Page 4
  2. 1 2 Cabrera Asis, Love (February 16, 2017). "The Perforation in Philippine Animation Industry: Original Content Full Length Animated Films" (PDF). De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde .
  3. Philippine Entertainment Portal | Movies | Regine Velasquez gives voice to Princess Urduja in first-ever Filipino animation film
  4. Urduja- A Milestone for RP animation. Good News Pilipinas website. Retrieved January 24, 2009.