Filipino comics illustrator and animator. 1926 - 2005
One of the pioneers of Philippine Komiks illustration, Fred Carrillo was born in Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines, the site of the popular local Mardi Gras known as the Ati-Atihan. At an early age, a promising career in drawing was already evident in Fred. At grade school, he could already sketch textbook pictures that caught his fancy, bringing delight to his "audience" - his teachers. When World War II broke out, the young Carrillo drew propaganda materials for the guerilla movement in Panay. This war-time experience led to a job doing illustrations for komiks at peace time. His first strip was Pompi, followed by Karias for the Bayani Weekly Magazine. He divided his time writing and illustrating for komiks and freelancing in animation with a friend who worked as a cameraman from LVN Studios. He twisted and leap-frogged from animation to stage design until he finally settled with komiks illustration. His first assignment was with Liwayway Publications, Adbentura ni Marko Polo (Adventures of Marco Polo), that was supposed to appear in the pages of Aliwan Komiks. The company, however, stopped publication of Aliwan and Carrillo was not paid for his artworks. Pedrito Reyes, author of Kulafu, did not want to see his talents wasted so he brought the young artist to Tony Velasquez, head of ACE Publications, for a possible stint. This was to be the start of a beautiful friendship to last more than three decades. Carrillo became an exclusive illustrator for ACE Publications, where he initially did Daluyong, followed by Daryo ang Mahiwagang Bata, illustrated in semi-cartoon style. Often besieged by deadlines, Carrillo soon gave up writing to devote his work entirely to illustration. Teaming up with writer Clodualdo Del Mundo, he illustrated Hercules, Prinsipe Paris Walang Kaparis, Misteryso, Paladin and Kayumangging Krisantemo. With bosom friend and 'compadre' Romy Lachica, a police reporter from the Manila Times, Carrillo did a daily mini series entitled Ronnie Belo, Police Reporter. It was at this time that Carrillo was made art director as well as editor of Espesyal Komiks. When ACE Publications closed down in 1962, he went freelancing with yet another company, this time for Graphic Arts Service, Inc. Aside from Graphic Arts Service, Inc., Carrillo continued to freelance with other publications including Liwayway Publications and PSG Publishing House until the 70's. In 1972, Carrillo's work started to appear abroad, specially in the United States for DC Comics, Vincent Fago Productions and Pendulum Press where he adapted classics like William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Swiss Family Robinson, The Last of the Mohicans, Don Quixote, and Oliver Twist among others. For DC, he illustrated stories for Phantom Stranger, Black Orchid, Weird War Tales, Ghost Stories, Tales of the Unexpected and House of Mystery. In the 1980s, he illustrated children's books for Western Publishing and Dick Tracy for the Walt Disney Studios. He also returned to the animation field, commissioned by Filmation Studios as layout artist, background artist and character designer for such television series as He-Man, She-ra, Transformers and Bionic Six. Fred studied Fine Arts and Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. He was married to the late Helen Villanueva Carrillo and was blessed with seven children. Fred passed away August, 2005 This website was compiled and created as a tribute and loving memory to Grandpa Fred by his grandchildren Edmond Jason, Jaymee, Jessa, Matthew, Nick, Miko, Jerrick, Cathy and Ethan. This website is also made available as an inspiration for aspiring students and young artists. This is an AD-free site and all references and external resources are duly acknowledged in the last page of this site. |