The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
“Rugrats” film animation and television series might be albeit a thing of the past but it made a dent among kiddie shows and clamor among viewers across the globe.
“Rugrats” has remained one of the iconic cartoons in the history of anime in the loop of Nickelodeon production.
“Rugrats” is still one of the leading animated shows in internarional screening domain and has been drawing popular support worldwide including children and adults alike in the Philippines.
And didn’t you know that one of its historic makers is a Filipino animator?
He is Erben Detablan, a Fine Arts graduate from the Philippine Women’s University (PWU).
Erben went to Hollywood in the past mid-90s when Paramount Pictures recruited from the Philippines experienced animators to work for Nickelodeon.
“Mga more than twenty kaming Filipino animators na nakapasa at kinuha ng Paramount Pictures (We were more than twenty who passed the screening and were sent to Hollywood),” recalled Erben who has retired from Hollywood filmmaking and later set up his own art gallery and bar called Ben’s Resto Bar and Gallery in 36 France Street, Better Living Subdivision in Paranaque City.
“Gusto ko naman, dito sa atin (This time I like it here),” quipped Detablan of Sorsogon.
According to Erben, although “Rugrats” is a long-running series, he was also involved in many Nickelodeon projects like “SpongeBob,” “Phineas and Ferb,” among others.
If you look at the credits of “Phineas and Ferb,” Erben’s name is spelled out as one of the character layout artist of the project.
You may wonder where in the world the pop hit and cult cartoon “Rugrats” is now.
“Binili ng Disney. Kasi, natatalbugan ng ‘Rugrats’ ang Disney. Tapos, ‘yon, Disney na ang bahala (It was bought by Disney. It’s because ‘Rugrats’ has overrun Disney. After a while, Disney already calls the shots),” informed Erben who is currently engrossed in painting countryside harvests.
“‘Yan ang subject ko ngayon (That’s most of my subject at the moment),” he said.
Erben’s gallery is adjacent to his bar which is being frequented by pop artists like Mike Hanopol who will stage a Valentine concert in the place.
Former sidekick of action stars in the 60s and 70s, Boy Alvarez performs regularly in Ben’s as well as balladeer Rafael Centenera.
Photo Captions: Erben Detablan in Hollywood in the 90s (Photo Credit: Erben Art/Facebook); Erben Detablan (second from right with guests at his Ben’s Gallery) (Photo Credit: Erben Art/ Facebook)