The Lovers, a queer animated short set in a dark fantasy Philippines, will stream for free on YouTube from August 30.
Studio Heartbreak created the enemies-to-lovers WLW animation for an adult audience.
The story takes place in an alternate version of Binondo, Philippines. Mythological creatures live alongside humans in this world.
Studio Heartbreak announced the free YouTube release on August 9.
The film will stream without ads. It will feature Tagalog dialogue with English subtitles.
Meet Sara and Sirena
The dark romantasy story follows Sara, a seafood chef facing a difficult homecoming.
After her father dies, Sara leaves her dreams behind. She returns home to save her family’s struggling restaurant.
Her life changes when she meets Sirena.
Sirena is a siren who should become the main course at a politician’s birthday dinner. Sara prepares the meal.
Studio Heartbreak describes Sirena as “a cunning siren, an apex predator armed with psychedelic venom, sharp spines and an even sharper mind.”
The studio also highlights another side of her character.
“Although she’s well acquainted with the cruelty of humans, there’s something hiding behind her confidence.”
Sirena tries to escape by getting inside Sara’s head. The situation soon becomes dangerous.
The two women develop a toxic and complicated affair.
Studio Heartbreak also teased Sara’s emotional journey.
“She [Sara] thought she made peace with everything she couldn’t have in life… but Sara’s world is about to be shaken one last time,” the studio said.
More about ‘The Lovers’
“Sara’s story embraces colloquial Tagalog and Taglish to immerse the viewer into the unique dynamics of a Filipino family,” the independent studio wrote on its Kickstarter page, where the animated short raised over $400,000 from more than 7,000 backers since it opened in 2023.
“The film explores mature themes, delving into the complexities of repression, love, generational trauma, body horror, and the intricacies of desire and identity,” it added.
‘The Lovers’ made its international premiere at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France in June 2026 alongside other Filipino animated movies, including ’58th’, ‘Zsazsa Zaturnnah’, ‘Forgotten Island’, and ‘Sun Chaser’.
It recently won the Gold Award for Best Animated Short at the 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival.
Sara is voiced by Vanille Velasquez (Valorant, League of Legends), while Sirena’s voice actor is Dawn M. Bennett (My Hero Academia, Honkai: Star Rail, Fire Emblem).
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