Distortion is a 2023 Philippine independent experimental animated film directed by Frederick C.G. Borromeo in his directorial debut.
| Distortion | |
|---|---|
 Official release poster | |
| Directed by | Frederick C.G. Borromeo |
Production company | Studio Moonchalk |
Release date |
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Running time | 47 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
Combining elements of non-narrative, minimalism and machinima, the film was produced in RPG Maker MV engine and its premise set in the fantasy world that slowly descending one-by-one. With a runtime of 45 minutes in the film, making it the first RPG Maker feature-length and non-narrative animated film produced in the Philippines.[1]
Summary
editThe film has no dialogues and plot as a whole, started in a very slow-pacing camera movement as the village is slowly descending into a white, concept paper-like form, then goes back to the same movement and move on to the next area. The cycle repeats, with all villages and towns have been descended into the same form until goes to the castle, the world is turning to a ghost town and everyone else disappeared without a single trace led to the game's development has been cancelled.
Development
editDistortion took a week to complete. A 19-year-old video game developer and eventual filmmaker Frederick C.G. Borromeo expressed his desire of making feature-length animated films made in RPG Maker engine after conducting researches about the filmography of RPG Maker that existed, one of these included the web series Slimey (2011).[2]
In January, Borromeo self-described the film as an "experimental, slow movie made in a video game engine". It took inspirations of his own idea about the place's dissolution that looks like an unfinished storyboard. The film has no spec script, music, and sound effects during the production, served as a minimalistic piece. The film later drew inspirations on Andy Warhol's Empire (1965) and Lav Diaz.[3]
Originally titled Minimal as a proof of concept short film released on YouTube on January 15, the film was expanded into more lengthy runtime.[3]
Release
editDistortion was scheduled on January 22, 2023 and released exclusively on YouTube.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Studio Moonchalk: Films, Comic Dubs, and Games: Distortion - A RPG Maker Animated Film". Studio Moonchalk. November 15, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ "Studio Moonchalk: Films, Comic Dubs, and Games: Moonchalk's Archive Dairy #1: Distortion - The First RPG Maker Animated Film (Part 1: First Experience with RPG Maker)". Studio Moonchalk. November 15, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ a b "Studio Moonchalk: Films, Comic Dubs, and Games: Moonchalk's Archive Dairy #2: Distortion - The First RPG Maker Animated Film (Part 2: Conception and Development)". Studio Moonchalk. November 15, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.