On Araw ng Kagitingan, Filipino game and animation studio Buko Studios and creative partner Core Works Force, together with a volunteer team of Filipino artists, released a fan-made anime teaser: a 15 to 30 second tribute to a classic Filipino super hero. Lore Reyes, a veteran Filipino director, has given the project his creative endorsement. No commercial rights are being claimed. The character's identity will be announced at the TOYCON stage appearance on April 12. Fans are invited to share theories using #BalikBayani and #GuessTheHero.
The teaser is set to "Leviathan" by Filipino metal band Juggernaut (Tower of Doom Records, 2024), used with the band's permission. Direk Lore Reyes joins the creators at TOYCON Summer Prelude 2026, Crystal Pavilion Main Stage, Okada Manila, on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM. Free admission. For the teaser and all updates, follow Project K across social media. Posts go live between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM on April 9, 2026.
Teaser screening, fan Q&A, and a live conversation with Direk Lore Reyes. Media welcome. Free admission.
Buko Studios is a Filipino creative production house based in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, building games, animation, and brand experiences for major international clients while developing original IP of its own. Guided by the principle of "Refreshing Quality," the studio's portfolio includes award-winning and award-nominated titles such as Vendetta Forever (Edge Magazine VR Game of the Year 2024), The Pirate Queen (Emmy-nominated, winner of the Tribeca Storyscapes Award and Raindance Discovery Award), and Synapse (The Game Awards Best VR/AR Game nominee and TIGA Best VR/AR Game winner). Buko Studios is co-founded by Cherry and Kevin, and participates in Project K in a fan capacity, contributing creative leadership and production craft to the initiative on a non-commercial basis.
Core Works Force is a Philippine-based animation service studio built as a full-stack engine for original content development and international co-production. Led by Creative Director and CEO Jimmi Castillo Busa, the studio is staffed by industry veterans and emerging Filipino artists experienced in both Japanese and Western animation pipelines, operating a hybrid production workflow from conceptualization to execution. Service credits include contributions to Netflix's Castlevania: Nocturne, Castlevania, Psycho-Pass 3: The First Inspector, Blue Lock, Megalobox: Nomad, and Dragon Ball Super, alongside original development work on Kindred Chronicles and the P-Pop Kaia Project. Core Works Force participates in Project K in a fan capacity on a non-commercial basis.
Lore Reyes (full name Lorenzo A. Reyes) is a Filipino director whose career in Philippine cinema spans nearly four decades. Beginning in 1986, he built a long-running creative partnership with the late Peque Gallaga, co-directing more than twenty films across horror, fantasy, action, and family genres, including the Shake, Rattle & Roll sequels II, III, and IV, and Magic Temple, which won Best Director and Best Screenplay at the 1996 Metro Manila Film Festival.
One of the works from that partnership is the source material for Project K, and this fan initiative was made to honor it. Reyes has given the project his personal creative endorsement and will join the creative team on stage at TOYCON Summer Prelude on April 12 to speak about the work. The specific details of his connection to the source material will be shared at that appearance.
Juggernaut is a Filipino metal band. Their single "Leviathan," composed by Allan "Bords" Burdeos and Jomal Linao with lyrics by Rod Rodrigo, was released on November 13, 2024 by Tower of Doom Records. The band gave the fan initiative permission to use "Leviathan" as the featured soundtrack and offered their full support for the project. Their involvement is limited to the use of the song. Juggernaut is not otherwise attached to the initiative as a production partner.
Cherry Boase
Media asset pack including stills, logos, and the teaser file: Open Google Drive folder →
Cherry Boase
CEO & Co-Founder, Buko Studios Inc.
Jimmi Castillo Busa
Creative Director & CEO, Core Works Force
Official accounts for Project K across platforms. Watch these handles tonight for the teaser drop between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM PHT. Full reveal embargo lifts April 12, 7:00 PM at TOYCON Summer Prelude.
Project K would not have reached its stage moment without the support and generosity of:
These are the questions we anticipate press may ask during the April 9 to 12 window. Each has an answer, and those answers will be shared at the live stage appearance at TOYCON Summer Prelude on Sunday, April 12, 7:00 PM PHT. Crystal Pavilion Main Stage, Okada Manila, in conversation with Direk Lore Reyes.