Some newcomers may wonder whether Zsa Zsa Gabor and Zsazsa Zaturnnah are one and the same. They are not. Although both are glamorous queens capable of making many hearts flutter, there’s far more to the latter than meets the eye. Created by Filipino comic book artist Carlo Vergara, this superheroine became a cultural sensation and an important champion of LGBTQ representation in the Philippines.
Outside the country, she remains relatively unknown, and that’s where the 2026 self titled animated movie comes in. It retells her origin story for a new generation while shifting the focus towards themes that have followed the character since her 2002 debut. For those unfamiliar with her history, this alternative to Wonder Woman first appeared in the graphic novel Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah.
Her popularity continued to grow, and the story was soon adapted for the stage. Although she doesn’t have many published adventures under her belt, that core narrative clearly resonated. It seems there can be no Zsazsa without music, either.
The songs are especially important for anyone who wants to understand what’s happening inside the hero’s head. Each new production has to retell the same origin story, but the focus tends to shift slightly every time. I checked out the musical for comparison, hence the delay in this review, and although the zest and zaniness remain, I still can’t help wanting to do the Time Warp again. At its heart, the adventure has the same outrageous energy as a Richard O’Brien screenplay.
The story begins with Ada (Phi Palmos) trying to build a life of his own after growing up with a homophobic and abusive father. The animated film mentions this painful history, although it doesn’t always allow that trauma to shape the rest of his journey as deeply as it could. Still, Ada’s anxiety and poor self-confidence remain visible, especially whenever he speaks to Dodong (Siglo Pecho), the local town hunk.
Ada needs to summon every ounce of courage simply to approach him. Their uncertain romance feels more prominent here than in some earlier versions, helping the film explore Ada’s fear that Dodong might only desire Zsazsa’s glamorous female body rather than the person underneath. Plus, that candy red hair, well…. As their relationship develops, so will other ideas arise. Just like the previous works which explored Zsazsa Zaturnnah’s vulnerable side, there’s much more going on her to suggest everyone has skeletons to face and conquer.
They don’t always manifest right away. Just like Spider-Man, we have to watch Ada find his place in society, and not let his other public identity outshine the pain he holds inside. Just as the more confident self gains popularity, so must that version find balance between which side matters more while discovering new abilities while fighting a giant toad and dealing with the usual growing pains every superhero faces.
That toad encounter, incidentally, seems destined to survive every adaptation. Things don’t escalate too much, and in true Sentai fashion, when Queen Femina (Joelle Yuvienco) arrives and declares her intention to rid Earth of all men, that’s when this movie embraces its pulpy roots.
When considering this movie’s full title is Zsazsa Zaturnnah vs. the Amazonistas of Planet X, that detail is hard not to miss. Not only do we get all those crazy science fiction iconography from the 50s but also there’s outrageous dialogue to boot! While the film doesn’t necessarily signal the beginning of a regular cinematic franchise, I hope it leads to one. This world deserves another adventure told through the same wonderfully colourful and dynamic animation.
There are too many variations of Zsazsa’s beginnings, and I like to see ongoing adventures rather than the same ol, same ol all over again. Director Avid Liongoren worked with Vergara to give the character a modern update, and for the most part, the recentering of ideas works. In essence, we’re seeing a character in drag. This allows Ada to express another part of himself without suggesting that one identity must replace the other.
Honestly, I feel Io Balanon is equally important to the status quo as Ada’s best friend, Didi. Without this more boisterous character encouraging him to embrace his strength and become the best version of himself, this heroine might never get off the ground. Every superhero needs someone who sees the person beneath the costume, and We need more cheerleaders of gender equality like hir!
4 Stars out of 5
ZsaZsa Zaturnnah: Ze Moveeh (2006)
