Eli DhiansanLet’s Sketch A Face To A Name: Top Pinoy Cartoonists
We all grew up loving cartoons. For old time folks, they grew up reading cartoon characters in comic strips. For the new generation, we enjoy animated cartoons being played on TV. The joy of watching cartoons and the kind of character they bring to life gives us simple joy of watching it again and again. I bet majorly of us has his, or her own cartoon character hero. One that you could simply relate to and understand. Since we are celebrating Cartoonist Day, it is high time we highlight our top pinoy cartoonists and the contribution they brought forth in the comic strips and animation industry.
Let’s get to know Top Eventurer Pinoy Cartoonists both in local international scene who brought to life some characters we knew today.
1. Tony Velasquez (1910-1997)
If Walt Disney has Mickey Mouse in 1928, then, Liwayway Cartoon Series has Kenkoy created by no less than “The founding Father of Philippine Komiks Industry” Tony Velasquez. The readers grew fond of Kenkoy because of his honest to carefree antics that his komiks section grew from 1/3 of the page in 1929 to one whole page with 12 panels and in full colors in 1935! Velasquez was also a gifted writer too; he writes the scripts for his characters. He was not just a cartoonist, he also became the first Filipino to design drug bottles of Tiki-tiki, Castor oil, as well as cartoon characters such as Captain Cortal for Cortal and Isko for Esko Shoes.
Throughout his career as a comic artist, he created 300 characters such as Tsikiting Gubat, Talakitok, Talimusak, and Ponyang Halobaybay. He also helped other local cartoonists Mars Ravelo, Jose Zabala – Santos, Francisco Coching, and J.M. Perez publicized their works.
Tony Velasquez with Kenkoy
