Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story is the first Filipino adult-animation on Netflix, and giving voice to the leading role a.k.a. pretty pussycat is Angelica Panganiban. The raunchy, pun-filled adult animated film is directed by Avid Liongoren (Saving Sally) and premieres on Netflix this October 29.
The story is set in Animanila, a re-imagination of Metro Manila, inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. Nimfa Dimaano is a hardworking department store sales kitty in the perfume section, and she has a rugged, macho mongrel named Roger (Robin Padilla) as her boyfriend. She then meets the smooth-talking business dog named Iñigo (Sam Milby) at work one day and immediately becomes a smitten kitten.
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We got to interview Angelica Panganiban to learn more about this very first Filipino adult animation film in Netflix. The actress shares about her voice acting experience, playing a pussycat, and more:
This is your first animation film. Ano yung different challenges in voice acting compared to live-action? Mas mahirap ba maghanap ng chemistry with your co-actors since iba din yung may physical presence when you’re recording or shooting?
Angelica Panganiban: Mahirap nga siya kasi kulang ka sa tools. Wala kang facial expression, hindi tumutulo ang luha mo. Very challenging kung paano mo mapaparating sa audience kung ano talaga yung nararamdaman nung character. Sa chemistry naman, pag mahihirap yung mga scenes, ginagawa talaga ni Direk na magkakasama kami nila Sam. Naging malaking tulong siya, kasi talagang naririnig mo kung paano niya dinedeliver, and sagot ka. Iba siya dun sa ikaw lang talaga mag-isa yung nagsasalita buong araw. Naging malaking tulong naman. Kapag medyo critical yung mga eksena, ginagawa ni Direk, nagsasama sama kami.
On what part did you see yourself immersed in the role of Nimfa? Did it take some time or did it happen naturally?
Naturally lang. Same thing lang siguro pagdating din sa ginagawa ko. May tawag nga sa akin yung mga nakakatrabaho ko — para daw akong diesel. Sa umpisa parang lagi akong nangangapa, then habang tumatagal tsaka palang umiinit, ganon. So ganon din naman yung nganyaring experience sa akin. Nung umpisa, lalong lalo na dito dahil wala akong alam sa mundo ng animation diba? First time kong gumawa, maging voice actor. Tinake ko nalang siya as a challenge then, of course, sa lahat ng challenge, kailangan mo siyang i-enjoy, yung process. Ganun lang siguro, and talagang hinayaan ko lang si direk na maging director. [laughs] I-guide niya talaga ako sa ano ba yung mga kailangan kong gawin, paano ko ide-deliver. Of course, meron siyang sariling vision for the film, and kailangan masakyan ko ‘yun para matawid ko yung pelikula and hindi naman ako napabayaan. And hinayaan din niya ako na mag take time para magawa ko yung character ni Nimfa.
