GLOBAL — In a time of the great global halt, at the height of the pandemic in 2020, unassuming homegrown and (literally) “home-made” online series GAMEBOYS, considered to be the Philippines’ first hit “Boys Love” series, premiered on YouTube and proved to be a runaway success that by 2021, it was picked up by Netflix globally, aired on Philippine Television on GMA’s Heart of Asia channel, before spawning a highly-anticipated GAMEBOYS: THE MOVIE which is now showing on digital cinema platforms KTX and Ticket2Me.
Produced by The IdeaFirst Company and Octobertrain Films, GAMEBOYS has since reached a new milestone with the record-breaking film, GAMEBOYS THE MOVIE and the forthcoming GAMEBOYS: The Series SEASON 2 are now international co-productions with Japan-based companies 108JAPAN Co., Ltd, Aeon Entertainment Co., Ltd. and Hakuhodo DY music & pictures Inc.
108 JAPAN will be leading International Sales and Distribution outside the Philippines, while co-producers Aeon Entertainment Co., Ltd. and Hakuhodo DY music & pictures Inc. will lead theatrical distribution and digital & home entertainment distribution in Japan, respectively.
Production still courtesy of The IdeaFirst Company.
Starring Kokoy de Santos and Elijah Canlas, GAMEBOYS: The Series Season 1 follows the story of Gavreel and Cairo who met online during the lockdown and slowly built a relationship even before they could physically meet. In GAMEBOYS THE MOVIE and GAMEBOYS: The Series Season 2, the two boys are finally together in one house but with external forces pulling them apart.
Under the creative direction of Jun Robles Lana and the direction of Ivan Andrew Payawal and writing of Ash Malanum, the BL series has won numerous awards around the world and has built a global following with nearly 25% of its fan base residing outside of the Philippines, particularly in the USA, Latin America, and Europe.
Production still courtesy of The IdeaFirst Company.
“GAMEBOYS started small but then went on to climb higher and higher, first winning fans here and abroad, then with sponsors, distribution platforms, and now as a co-production with our partners in Japan,” noted producer Perci Intalan. “With 108JAPAN Co., Ltd., Aeon Entertainment Co., Ltd. and Hakuhodo DY music & pictures Inc., GAMEBOYS gets to reach a wider audience with the release of the movie and the series in Japan and their expertise in international distribution.”
Managing Director of 108 JAPAN, Ryo Ebe, shares, “Japan is a huge market for ‘Boys Love’ content and we will do our best to meet the expectations of the fans. IdeaFirst has produced a beautiful story and we are grateful to be working with their company, along with our partners Aeon Entertainment Co., Ltd. and Hakuhodo DY music & pictures Inc. We will continue to find more Gameboys fans around the world in a variety of ways.”
Production Still courtesy of The IdeaFirst Company.
GAMEBOYS: THE MOVIE opened on digital cinema on July 30, but tickets were getting sold out as early as July 1. KTX has touted it as its biggest opening so far and Ticket2Me reported that it is their fastest-selling title. Reportedly, GAMEBOYS: Season 2 has already completed production but its release date has yet to be announced.