Olsen is the reverse of Elson... replicating his true passion for animation.
Olsen Zen Wolvesteel is an entity struggling to create a balance between his good and evil side..jpg)
Olsen image # 1: Looking so crazy at the mall (did he saw a sexy gal?)
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Olsen image # 2: Get this interview and pictorial done as fast as you can guys!.jpg)
Olsen image # 3: I've got five fingers in my hand, which one will I draw my tattoo?Elson Balila II
The TASI creator leaves artistic imprint
By Ronelo Ladiao
If you give yourself superhuman abilities, cloak your body in a tight-fitting rugged costume, and defy the standard of what is “common” and “normal”, will it make you a Manga hero? I guess, it does, but that doesn’t make you an overnight sensation on TV among kids who grew up with Japanese Manga or Anime. Anybody can make their own character, design their own plot or fight their own villains by holding a pencil and start doodling using one’s imagination. But the catch is: you’ve got have bigtime luck and let a producer discover the artist within in you, then, produce an animated cartoon series for your created character. Olsen Zen Wolvesteel is one of the brilliant original animated characters created by Elson Balila II, a born artist, an amateur Ilonggo animator and founding member of Kuris Animation Unlimited.
The 19-year-old talented guy from Balleza, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo is no exception to the crop of rising 2D animators produced by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Western Visayas College of Science and Technology’s (WVCST) Professional 2D Assistant Animators Training that started last November 2006. As the youngest son of Elson Balila and Socorro Balila, Elson is gifted with talents in the field of visual arts that eventually evolved throughout the years with constant practice and patience since he was a kid. He finished his elementary and high school education, respectively at Beatriz D. Tupas Memorial Elementary School and St. Paul’s School with recognition in arts. Taking his passion in college, he took Architecture at the University of San Agustin for one year and decided to shift to Information Technology at Central Philippine University. Last year, he was interested to earn a scholarship in 2D animation from TESDA. When he passed the admission test last April 2006, he immediately proceeded in attending the day class of 2D animation at WVCST, their training school.
As part of the second batch of trainees in the day class, Elson never hesitates to prove his artist side and eagerly learned the principles of 2D animation. Day after day, he holds a mechanical pencil, an eraser, animation papers and the lightbox (the bulb-lighted box used by animators in drawing). When their class decided to start a group project entitled “The Adventures of TASI” that tells about the story of WVCST statue who walked among us as a boy for one day, Elson was tasked to make a model sheet design for the character. Immediately, he drafted the character and his classmates improved it more. For more than three months, the day and night class of the second batch worked hand-in-hand to finish the project on time before September. When their work was shown at Marymart Mall for the first time, it instantly captured the interest of the public and was recognized as WVCST’s official school mascot on its 101 Foundation Week.
Their graduation took place at SM City Iloilo on October 19, 2007 wherein they once again presented TASI to the public along with the compilation of their individual project of original animated characters entitled “Kuris Universe”. During that time, they already decided to call their group “Kuris” (Ilonggo term which means scribbled line). Kuris was actually a suggestion given by Elson during their class election which was then voted by the group for its significance as upcoming young breed of Ilonggo animators.
“Moving on to the next level” was the group’s dream after finishing their vocational course. The BEQUEST, an ambitious animated short film project dedicated to uplift the legacy of Dinagyang Festival’s historical origin, captivated the interest of Elson and his fellow Kurisans. For 60 days, he shared lots of sacrifice and hardship to catch up with the deadline of the project. His groupmates never heard any single clamor or regrets from him amid the difficult time they experience doing the project. On January 25 this year, Elson had his share of joy and success to the positive feedback for the showing of The BEQUEST at SM Cinema 7. Their “Dinagyamation” animation exhibit at SM City Iloilo from January 14-20 was also well-accepted by various art critics and mallgoers. For the past months, he maintains his outmost interest in supporting the group and taking part in the repeat showing of The BEQUEST at WVCST EDTech Center (February 25-29) and doing on-the-road animation lecture drive among students. Steadfast and ready to endure, Elson after creating TASI and responsible for naming the group Kuris, he’s determined to breathe life with his artistic stroke for his original character-Olsen Zen Wolvesteel as part of their soon-to-start animated trailer project, “Lapis: Epic of the Lost Key”.
The TASI creator leaves artistic imprint
By Ronelo Ladiao
If you give yourself superhuman abilities, cloak your body in a tight-fitting rugged costume, and defy the standard of what is “common” and “normal”, will it make you a Manga hero? I guess, it does, but that doesn’t make you an overnight sensation on TV among kids who grew up with Japanese Manga or Anime. Anybody can make their own character, design their own plot or fight their own villains by holding a pencil and start doodling using one’s imagination. But the catch is: you’ve got have bigtime luck and let a producer discover the artist within in you, then, produce an animated cartoon series for your created character. Olsen Zen Wolvesteel is one of the brilliant original animated characters created by Elson Balila II, a born artist, an amateur Ilonggo animator and founding member of Kuris Animation Unlimited.
The 19-year-old talented guy from Balleza, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo is no exception to the crop of rising 2D animators produced by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Western Visayas College of Science and Technology’s (WVCST) Professional 2D Assistant Animators Training that started last November 2006. As the youngest son of Elson Balila and Socorro Balila, Elson is gifted with talents in the field of visual arts that eventually evolved throughout the years with constant practice and patience since he was a kid. He finished his elementary and high school education, respectively at Beatriz D. Tupas Memorial Elementary School and St. Paul’s School with recognition in arts. Taking his passion in college, he took Architecture at the University of San Agustin for one year and decided to shift to Information Technology at Central Philippine University. Last year, he was interested to earn a scholarship in 2D animation from TESDA. When he passed the admission test last April 2006, he immediately proceeded in attending the day class of 2D animation at WVCST, their training school.
As part of the second batch of trainees in the day class, Elson never hesitates to prove his artist side and eagerly learned the principles of 2D animation. Day after day, he holds a mechanical pencil, an eraser, animation papers and the lightbox (the bulb-lighted box used by animators in drawing). When their class decided to start a group project entitled “The Adventures of TASI” that tells about the story of WVCST statue who walked among us as a boy for one day, Elson was tasked to make a model sheet design for the character. Immediately, he drafted the character and his classmates improved it more. For more than three months, the day and night class of the second batch worked hand-in-hand to finish the project on time before September. When their work was shown at Marymart Mall for the first time, it instantly captured the interest of the public and was recognized as WVCST’s official school mascot on its 101 Foundation Week.
Their graduation took place at SM City Iloilo on October 19, 2007 wherein they once again presented TASI to the public along with the compilation of their individual project of original animated characters entitled “Kuris Universe”. During that time, they already decided to call their group “Kuris” (Ilonggo term which means scribbled line). Kuris was actually a suggestion given by Elson during their class election which was then voted by the group for its significance as upcoming young breed of Ilonggo animators.
“Moving on to the next level” was the group’s dream after finishing their vocational course. The BEQUEST, an ambitious animated short film project dedicated to uplift the legacy of Dinagyang Festival’s historical origin, captivated the interest of Elson and his fellow Kurisans. For 60 days, he shared lots of sacrifice and hardship to catch up with the deadline of the project. His groupmates never heard any single clamor or regrets from him amid the difficult time they experience doing the project. On January 25 this year, Elson had his share of joy and success to the positive feedback for the showing of The BEQUEST at SM Cinema 7. Their “Dinagyamation” animation exhibit at SM City Iloilo from January 14-20 was also well-accepted by various art critics and mallgoers. For the past months, he maintains his outmost interest in supporting the group and taking part in the repeat showing of The BEQUEST at WVCST EDTech Center (February 25-29) and doing on-the-road animation lecture drive among students. Steadfast and ready to endure, Elson after creating TASI and responsible for naming the group Kuris, he’s determined to breathe life with his artistic stroke for his original character-Olsen Zen Wolvesteel as part of their soon-to-start animated trailer project, “Lapis: Epic of the Lost Key”.
This time, it’s time for the Kuris wonder boy to speak his mind and share his life…
Ronelo Ladiao (RL): Can you share to us your ambition when you were a kid?
Elson Balila (EB): I really want to become an architect when I was a kid that’s why I took up Architecture at the University of San Agustin but after a year I shifted to another course. Aside from that, I’m a certified anime fan when I young and I also used to dream of creating my own anime when I grow up. And I think it’s relevant since I’ve tried my hands in animation right now.
RL: Describe yourself in a short phrase?
EB: Silent but deadly, a mood swinger most of the time (laughs).
RL: Who are your favorite music artists?
EB: I listen to the music of Hale, Urbandub, Papa Roach and The Click 5.
RL: Tell us about your favorite animated films and TV series?
EB: Right now, I’m a fan of Japanese Anime series Bleach, Naruto and the 3D Final Fantasy films series.
RL: Hypothetical query—If you would be resurrected again in another life, who would you want to be?
EB: Si Gerald Aderson eh kay crush ko nga daan si Kim Chu (Gerald Anderson because I have a crush on Kim Chu).
RL: Olsen Zen Wolvesteel is your original animated character created for Kuris Universe, what’s the story behind him?
EB: Olsen is a teenager and fierce assassin possessing the power to create reignfire energy who died during a great battle with his evil master. After the seventh day of his death, he was resurrected into Zen Wolvesteel, a far stronger entity who discovered that he also posses the ability to summon blue flame aside from his old power. His destiny was revealed to fight his former evil master using the power to summon two powerful flames that could eradicate his nemesis’ evil soul.
RL: How is he related to you as a person?
EB: Olsen’s blue and red reignfire power represents the good and the dark side personality of every person. I believe there’s always good and evil part within us that has been struggling to come out, a choice that we should make to fulfill our destiny.
RL: What comes in your mind when you design the model sheet of TASI?
EB: Wala lang a…ginpanumdum ko lang siya nga isa ka bata nga puno sang paglaum kag damo gusto mabalan kay simbolo man siya sang isa eskwelahan ka WVCST. Ginhimo ko lang siya cute ka ang iya maso daw pareho sang mga anime characters nga ginalantaw ko sa TV (just nothing…I think about him like a kid who is full of hope and willing to learn more since he was a symbol of the school WVCST.I made him look cute and his mace just like any other anime characters that I used to watch on TV).
RL: You’re the one who suggested Kuris as the name of your group, what makes Kuris special?
EB: Para sa akon lain gid ya kon Ilonggo nga tinaga ang ngalan sang grupo para mapabalo ta sa tanan nga tunay kita nga Ilonggo animators kag ginapadayaw ta ang aton kultura (for me, it’s different if Ilonggo term would be the name of the group so that we could let them all know that we are real Ilonggo animators and we are proud of our culture).
RL: I need one shot answer in this 2-in-1 question---What’s your worst experience and naughtiest moment as a member of Kuris?
EB: Ang pinakagrabe nga experience ko sa grupo sang pirme lang kulang budget ta kag gamay lang ang tinion para tapuson ang BEQUEST. Pero ang pinakasadya kag indi ko malipatan sang nag-worm dance ako sa studio, nagpalanakit likod ko pagtapos to, hehe (the worst experience I had with the group was when we always lack in budget and we have little time to finish The BEQUEST. But the happiest and unforgettable experience was when I did the “worm dance” in the studio, I had some backaches after that, (laughs).
RL: What makes you inspired to draw?
EB: Nagadrawing ako depende sa feelings ko eh. Masubo man ko ukon masadya, ginagamit ko ini nga feelings para makadrawing sang mayo kag makaconcentrate. (I draw depending on my feelings. Whether I’m happy or sad, I use these feelings to draw and concentrate very well).
RL: As you could remember, what was the first drawing you did when you were a kid?
EB: Dako gid pasalamat ko kay San-Goku sang Dragonballs kay siya ang pinakauna nga cartoon character nga gindrawing ko sang bata pa ako eh (I’m very thankful to San-Goku of Dragonballs because he was the first cartoon character that I draw when I was a kid).
RL: Parting shot query, can you tell us your favorite expression?
EB: “Lata burn”…ambot a amo gid ni ya ang akon masami nga expression (…I don’t know this is my usual expression).
Elson Balila (EB): I really want to become an architect when I was a kid that’s why I took up Architecture at the University of San Agustin but after a year I shifted to another course. Aside from that, I’m a certified anime fan when I young and I also used to dream of creating my own anime when I grow up. And I think it’s relevant since I’ve tried my hands in animation right now.
RL: Describe yourself in a short phrase?
EB: Silent but deadly, a mood swinger most of the time (laughs).
RL: Who are your favorite music artists?
EB: I listen to the music of Hale, Urbandub, Papa Roach and The Click 5.
RL: Tell us about your favorite animated films and TV series?
EB: Right now, I’m a fan of Japanese Anime series Bleach, Naruto and the 3D Final Fantasy films series.
RL: Hypothetical query—If you would be resurrected again in another life, who would you want to be?
EB: Si Gerald Aderson eh kay crush ko nga daan si Kim Chu (Gerald Anderson because I have a crush on Kim Chu).
RL: Olsen Zen Wolvesteel is your original animated character created for Kuris Universe, what’s the story behind him?
EB: Olsen is a teenager and fierce assassin possessing the power to create reignfire energy who died during a great battle with his evil master. After the seventh day of his death, he was resurrected into Zen Wolvesteel, a far stronger entity who discovered that he also posses the ability to summon blue flame aside from his old power. His destiny was revealed to fight his former evil master using the power to summon two powerful flames that could eradicate his nemesis’ evil soul.
RL: How is he related to you as a person?
EB: Olsen’s blue and red reignfire power represents the good and the dark side personality of every person. I believe there’s always good and evil part within us that has been struggling to come out, a choice that we should make to fulfill our destiny.
RL: What comes in your mind when you design the model sheet of TASI?
EB: Wala lang a…ginpanumdum ko lang siya nga isa ka bata nga puno sang paglaum kag damo gusto mabalan kay simbolo man siya sang isa eskwelahan ka WVCST. Ginhimo ko lang siya cute ka ang iya maso daw pareho sang mga anime characters nga ginalantaw ko sa TV (just nothing…I think about him like a kid who is full of hope and willing to learn more since he was a symbol of the school WVCST.I made him look cute and his mace just like any other anime characters that I used to watch on TV).
RL: You’re the one who suggested Kuris as the name of your group, what makes Kuris special?
EB: Para sa akon lain gid ya kon Ilonggo nga tinaga ang ngalan sang grupo para mapabalo ta sa tanan nga tunay kita nga Ilonggo animators kag ginapadayaw ta ang aton kultura (for me, it’s different if Ilonggo term would be the name of the group so that we could let them all know that we are real Ilonggo animators and we are proud of our culture).
RL: I need one shot answer in this 2-in-1 question---What’s your worst experience and naughtiest moment as a member of Kuris?
EB: Ang pinakagrabe nga experience ko sa grupo sang pirme lang kulang budget ta kag gamay lang ang tinion para tapuson ang BEQUEST. Pero ang pinakasadya kag indi ko malipatan sang nag-worm dance ako sa studio, nagpalanakit likod ko pagtapos to, hehe (the worst experience I had with the group was when we always lack in budget and we have little time to finish The BEQUEST. But the happiest and unforgettable experience was when I did the “worm dance” in the studio, I had some backaches after that, (laughs).
RL: What makes you inspired to draw?
EB: Nagadrawing ako depende sa feelings ko eh. Masubo man ko ukon masadya, ginagamit ko ini nga feelings para makadrawing sang mayo kag makaconcentrate. (I draw depending on my feelings. Whether I’m happy or sad, I use these feelings to draw and concentrate very well).
RL: As you could remember, what was the first drawing you did when you were a kid?
EB: Dako gid pasalamat ko kay San-Goku sang Dragonballs kay siya ang pinakauna nga cartoon character nga gindrawing ko sang bata pa ako eh (I’m very thankful to San-Goku of Dragonballs because he was the first cartoon character that I draw when I was a kid).
RL: Parting shot query, can you tell us your favorite expression?
EB: “Lata burn”…ambot a amo gid ni ya ang akon masami nga expression (…I don’t know this is my usual expression).
For comments, email us at kurisanimators@yahoo.com
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