By DARLENE CAY
EVER wondered about the artists responsible for such popular animés as Dragonball, Sailormoon and Slam Dunk?
Filipinos would be surprised to know that those artists are not only their countrymen but persons with disabilities (PWDs) at that.
Filipino PWDs are taking Asia by storm at Take One Animation Studio, which prefers to hire PWDs as artists. Take One is a subcontractor of Toei Animation, a Japanese animation company, which makes popular animé series.
“Nuna una, nahihirapan ako. Pero nakasanayan na rin e (At first, I had a hard time. But eventually, I got used to it),” said Charles Rodriguez, 28, who draws not with his hands but with his feet on a small computer tablet that lays on the floor.
Take One President and CEO Eric Tansingco said he has committed to choosing PWDs over non-PWDs when it comes to hiring. “I noticed that when PWDs apply for a job in other companies, they already do not stand a chance when the companies see their disability. So I said, ‘if they do not want you, come to me.’”