84 countries, including the Philippines, were reinvented and turned into anime characters by the website World Flags, handled by Japanese artists.

“This project started with the concept of ‘education x entertainment’,” World Flag wrote on their website.

“It has become a hot topic in various media around the world, and it has expanded further as a manga, stage, and animation, and is working as a “World Peace Project” that goes beyond education,” they added.

The anime character of the Philippine flag is named Risa Ryu or “Risar”. Risar is one of the Sacred Guardians, along with Faiq from Brunei, Bisey from Laos, Miyawataru from Myanmar, Sochetra from Cambodia, Axamu from Malaysia, Buacao from Thailand, Gokensui from Singapore, Guyen from Vietnam, and Maharudika from Indonesia, that protects Southeast Asia.

“Quiet things are dangerous,” the website reads as it introduces Ryu.

Risar is born June 12, year unknown, with blood type “B”. Ryu stands 175cm or 5 feet and 9 inches. He is skilled in the art of eskrima, a weapons-based, martial arts, and fighting system from the Philippines, but shows vulnerability because he is quiet.

Ryu’s hobby is taking selfies and satisfies his taste buds with the taste of Lechon (roasted pork), his favorite food.

Risar is known to be a “super hot-blooded man full of courage.” He also enjoys taking care of people but is quite shy and reserved.

If Risar gets too hot, its enemies’ eyes and hands might suffer from it greatly causing them to turn into scarlet. They also cannot lay their hands on Risar while he is still in this state.

Aside from the anime characters, World Flags also created a manga, under the ideas of Saki, starring the Sacred Guardians from around the world.

The four-framed cartoon is by Nana Kakehi. Meanwhile, Nosuke Otakki Rikko illustrated the artworks.

“The theme of manga and anime is ‘It’s hard to understand the differences in culture and customs, and it’s a fight, but if you cooperate, you can overcome them’,” the Japanese artists said.

World Flag also reiterated that the project and the anime characters have no connection to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“However, although it is unofficial, we support the Olympic Games, and we support various events such as sports competitions and festivals that will be held in the world in the future,” they said.

Kama Yamamoto is the mind behind the original concept and design of the 84 flag-inspired anime characters.

Source: https://world-flags.org/