Enigma Kai, Fire and Ice, Toei Animation Team on Philippines Anime Franchise ‘Solemn Vow’ (EXCLUSIVE)

New Philippines anime franchise “Solemn Vow” has set several partnerships across the Southeast Asian region.

Conceptualized as an anime series with a strategy for spinoffs into manga, games, music and merchandise, the franchise, created by Lawrence Panganiban, has formed partnerships with Philippines-based Enigma Kai and media startup Fire and Ice, and Singapore-based companies Anito Studios and Silver Media, in collaboration with Japanese animation giant Toei Animation Philippines, which will handle production. Veteran music producer Alexander Lim will be consulting on the opening theme for the series.

The 13-episode anime series built around a fictional universe of magic and mystical creatures follows super powered spouses, Cef and Lia, who try to fix their marriage after the death of their young son. But their struggles worsen as their mercenary work leads them to a war between two tropical island nations, unleashing a serpent god that may destroy the world.

Panganiban, said: “’Solemn Vow’ is a story that is inspired by the myths and legends of the Philippines, it will be told through the popular Japanese art form – anime, and it will be made for global audiences. Our dream is to bring the best of Philippine creativity to the world and we are excited to collaborate with the best partners to help us fulfill this vision.”

The partnerships were signed during the annual SEE Cebu conference and revealed at TIFFCOM, the market attached to the Tokyo International Film Festival. The series is in advanced development and a teaser will be unveiled at Content Tokyo 2024.

Liza Dino, CEO of Fire and Ice, said: “This franchise is poised to take the animation world by storm. With a rich history of animation talent in the service industry, it’s time we showcase our homegrown content on a global scale. ‘Solemn Vow’ is not just a project; it has the elements needed to become a globally viable franchise. Partnering with passionate experts in the audiovisual industry, we aim to transform it into its best version. This journey is a thrilling narrative of creativity, ambition and innovation.”

Nestor Palabrica, VP of Toei Animation Philippines, added: “We are happy to announce that we will be handling the in-betweens and digital ink and paint for ‘Solemn Vow.’ We hope that you can join us in supporting this project as we embark on this exciting journey on ‘Solemn Vow.’”

Lim, who is also the head of A&R for Warner Music Philippines, said: “I am happy to lend my expertise as a key consultant for the opening song of ‘Solemn Vow.’ Looking forward to an exciting collaboration.”