An unfinished Morbid artwork
What are you looking at? hehe
What does a Morbid animator looks like?...hehe
Morbid is a mysterious artist who hopes to inspire others.Dyvrum Alcantara
Morbid animator speaks up
by Ronelo Ladiao
Dyvrum Alcantara is a gifted artist who posses an open heart for changes and willing to embrace new knowledge to enhance his God-given talents in arts. As the only son of the couple Noel Alcantara and Alma Balasoto-Alcantara from Rizal, Lapuz, Iloilo City, he was given the right care and attention of a loving family. During his elementary and high school years at Western Wao Elementary School and Mindanao State University, respectively, Dyvrum exhibited his talents in arts. In fact, his childhood dream is to become a successful painter in the future. He has been constantly joining poster-making contests and other art-related events. When he took up Architecture at the University of San Agustin, his passion for arts expanded. Part of his growth as an artist was noticed when he became a member of Iloilo Visual Arts Association (IVAA) where he took part in various art exhibition all over the city of Iloilo. Of course, animation has been a vital part of his identity as an artist since he loves to draw Japanese anime and watch some of its successful TV series such as Samurai X and Naruto. In the American cartoons, he enjoys the comedy of Futurama.
It was last year when his artistic perspective changed and decided to venture in another endeavor to fulfill his passion which is animation. A close friend who graduated as one of the first batch of animators from Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) informed him of a better opportunity to try his luck in a scholarship given by Techinical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Iloilo. After taking the admission test and passing it, he was officially part of the second batch of Ilonggo 2D animation trainees in April 2007. He trained extensively for more than five months and pateintly learned the various techniques in 2D animation including the secret of making in-between drawings and clean-ups needed to prepare himself for the wide career as an animator. But amid the pressure, he took part in the growing friendship and close bonding that started to established within the group. His sweet and jolly personality was appreciated by his groupmates. On September 19, 2007, they unvieled the Adventures of TASI, their first group project for IT Week Celebration at Marymart Mall that they worked hard together for two months. Likewise, their graduation day was successfully held at SM City Iloilo on October 19 wherein they showcased a compilation of their individual animated characters and group projects to the excited audience. A few weeks later, the second batch of Ilonggo animators named their group as "Kuris", an Ilonggo term which describes a scribble line that strongly represents their passion as artists. Though he became busy with his other pat time jobs as data encoder at Philhealth Region 6 office by day and a service crew of a fastfood chain at night, Dyvrum never forgets to text his fellow Kuris Animators who were struggling hard to finish their first ambitious commercial project-- The BEQUEST: Origin of Dinagyang, a 15-minute animated short film considered as the first in Ilonggo history revealing the legacy of a world-famous festival. On January 25, 2008, he took part in the one-night showing of their animated project at SM Cinema 7 wherein 500 spectators came to see their output boasting with 2D and 3D animated format.
Let's not make his story too long. Instead, we'll finally get to know his honest and real thoughts about life in this candid interview. And of course, we will know why he was called as Mr. Morbid artist of the team...
Ronelo Ladiao (RL): Can you describe yourself as an artist?
Dyvrum Acantara (DA): Well, I am more inclined in the classical and practical approach in arts. I still love to draw and use different mediums in making my artworks once in a while. I realize that my artistic potential was develop further when I became a member of Iloilo Visual Artist Association when I was in college. I was exposed to the art community of Iloilo City through our various art exhibitions. It helped me a lot to develop my confidence and personality to appreciated various forms of arts. Now, being part of Kuris animators gives me more faith in my passion and enjoy every bit of experience I have with the group.
RL: So being a classical type of artist, how is it different from animation which combines the use of freehand drawings and computers?
DA: I think Animation is focusing more on the movements of cartoon characters and motion pictures with the use of drawings. I think it's a very challenging task. Unlike visual arts, it is less demanding when it comes to effort and time.
RL: As a trainee in 2D animation, can you tell us the kind of relationship and companionship you had with the group?
DA: As a group, we are jolly, sometimes we are happy-go-lucky type of artists who doesn't mind the deadline and tried to enjoy the camaraderie that develop throughout the good or bad times we had together. But when the deadline is near or a few days away, we started to concentrate in our task to finish it with good quality. I think everybody is very close to each other amid the schedule conflicts or age gaps.
RL: What makes you busy during your freetime?
DA: I do a lot of movie marathon at home and watch some the latest good movies that inspires me in life. Whether it's animated or motion picture film, I enjoy it as long as it has good story and production quality. I also love browsing the internet searching for new episodes of Naruto and other anime TV series.
RL: I've heard you created an original animated character you call "Morbid", can you share his story to us?
DA: Well, Morbid is just an average teenager with mysterious dark past that he wanted to uncover, master his hidden powers and reveal the reason why he was destined to become a legendary dark prince. But behind everything else, he has a good heart and a dream to transform the world around him into a new world and create a better home for humanity. He's struggling to change his dark destiny into a heroic path.
RL: Can you share to us your future plans?
DA: Personally if I were given a chance in life, I want to invest in animation and make a big-budgeted animated film for my original character which is Morbid.
RL: What do you consider as your greatest achievement as an artist so far?
DA: There's a lot of things that I am proud of as an artist. But I think I feel a lot of fulfilment when I animate Morbid, my original character in Kuris Universe even if it's not totally finished.
RL: How about being a member of Kuris, what makes you proud?
DA: Nakilala ang Ilonggo animation paagi sa Kuris kag sa pag-obra ta sang BEQUEST. Sang naobra ta ini kag napagwa sa SM, madamo sang tawo diri sa Iloilo nakabalo kag nagbilib sa aton kay bisan mabudlay katama ginhimakasan ta gid nga matapos. Bisan ang mga professors kag teachers ko sang college bilib sa effort sang group ta. Bisan kulang pa gid ang facilities kag time, napatigayon ta mapagwa sa publiko. (Ilonggo animation was known through Kuris and when we did The BEQUEST. When we made it and shown at SM, a lot of people in Iloilo recognized and were inspired even if it was hard, we tried our best to finish it. Even my professors and teachers in college we're inspired by the effort of our group. Amid the lack of facilities and time, we successfully shown it to the public)
RL: Now, if you were to describe Kuris as a group in three Ilonggo words, what would it be?
DA: Dedikado, pursigido kag masadya (dedicated, persistent and jolly)।
for comments, email us at kurisanimators@yahoo.com
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