GMA 7 Slates Filipino Anime Series

Synergy88 Entertainment Media’s upcoming series Barangay 143, a Filipino anime, is set to air this October on GMA 7 in the Philippines.

Co-produced by Synergy88, TV Asahi (in Japan) and August Media (in Singapore), Barangay 143 features a Filipino cast that includes Cherie Gil, Alice Dixson and John Arcilla, as well as millennial heartthrobs, Julie Anne San Jose, Kelley Day, Migo Adacer and Ruru Madrid. Barangay 143 is a coming of age story about a young Korean boy whose search for his father brings him to the Philippines. Lost and desperate for answers, he finds an unlikely family in a team of misfits whose only ambition is to bring glory to their hometown. The storyline is set against the world of street basketball.

The Barangay 143 Street League mobile game is already available on the Google Play Store for Android and the Apple App Store. Leading up to the start of the broadcast, fans will able to experience a series of Barangay 143-themed concerts featuring music stars such as Gloc-9, Shanti Dope and Julie Ann San Jose.

“Philippines has a vibrant TV and film industry with a rich culture of storytelling,” said Jyotirmoy Saha, the CEO of August Media Holdings. “Right from the onset we were determined to develop the show right here so that it captures the essence of life in Manila. “I am immensely proud of what we have finally created in Barangay 143.”

“Within the series, the comic strip and even the game, we have tried to capture the real-life experiences of the Philippines through the art and the sounds,” commented Jackeline Chua, the managing director and co-founder of Synergy88 Digital. “With Barangay 143 Street League we also created a unique experience that helps players compete with friends in cyberspace but get their wins rewarded in the real world.”

“When we first came across Barangay 143 during its development phase, it seemed like a natural choice for us to be a part of this great project,” added Takahiro Kishimoto, the head of animation at the international business department of TV Asahi. “We hope that Japanese creativity will bring light into the Filipino story and bring characters to life.”

“We expect to also treat our audiences with many other great events,” remarked Joey Abacan, the first VP of program management at GMA. “GMA has always been known to support anything that champions Filipino talent and promotes our culture. We are immensely proud to be the network carrying the first Filipino anime drama series.”