It’s Satanic, but it has a lot of artistic merit. That’s my one-sentence review of Trese, the first ever Filipino anime. And what’s most commendable about this show is its worldbuilding.
We Filipinos have always patronized foreign entertainment to the point that we barely utilize our own culture and history as a rich source material for fiction. So I have to give Trese a lot of credit for using Philippine folklore and the current local situation to develop a distinctly Filipino story world. It was amusing to see the MRT break down in the first episode’s opening. That’s because I experienced it too many times! The Balete Drive scene felt close to home because I work near that place. Moreover, the details of the drawings and the animation made me feel like I was in Metro Manila with the characters.
I also like it that the writers incorporated what we Filipinos often experience only here in the Philippines. In no other anime will you see characters eating Chocnut, walking on train tracks to get to the next station, and saying “Tabi-tabi po” when they’re afraid to disturb evil spirits.
Most importantly, Philippine folklore’s monsters look far more terrifying than any demon I’ve seen in Japanese anime. They make Death Note’s shinsengumi and Sailor Moon’s enemies look like a bunch of clowns.
What I dislike about Trese are its Satanic worldview and cardboard characters. But I’ll discuss that in the next blog entry. For now, I’ll just commend the creators for having the bravery and creativity to utilize the richness of Philippine culture. I hope more Filipinos will aspire to create world-class entertainment that’s based on what’s unique about us. For starters, here are some online resources on how one can write an intriguing story world:
How to Build a Fictional World by Kate Messner
Worldbuilding: the Master Guide by Reedsy
10 Worldbuilding Tips for Writers by Masterclass
(Photo from Canva)
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