From Sleepless Nights to Creative Heights: A Journey of a New Dad and an Animator

This Father’s Day, we celebrate the incredible journey of fatherhood and the inspiring stories of dads who balance their personal and professional lives with grace. One such dad is Ramon del Prado, an animator known for creating the eco-friendly animated series “Miming and Friends.” Recently, we had the chance to chat with Ramon about his experiences as a new dad, the inspiration behind his work, and how fatherhood has influenced his creative endeavors.

Welcoming Imogen: The Start of a New Chapter

Ramon del Prado, the proud father of two-month-old Imogen, is adjusting to the joys and challenges of fatherhood. “I haven’t had the same kind of sleep as before, ever since the day she was born,” he shares with a laugh.

Despite the sleepless nights and diaper changes, the rewards are priceless. “Seeing her smile at you randomly, or when she’s staring at you and the next thing she does is mimic your movements, utterly priceless,” Ramon adds.

According to him, the transition has been surprising, especially in terms of energy levels. “I’m surprised I can still function with so much less sleep… It’s like I’ve gained a superpower for small bursts of energy.”

“I have [never] known this kind of [tiredness] before. I’ve done fun runs, a marathon, off road triathlons, inter island open water swims, but the tiredness here is on another level.”

“I’ve hit the infamous zombie mode that most young parents have warned us about.”

Image from Ramon De Prado

The Journey to Water Birth

Ramon and his wife, Meryll, opted for a water birth, inspired by a recommendation from a friend.

“Being a swimmer myself I always considered the water to be my second home, so to have our daughter be born like that is a swimmer’s dream (well at least mine) come true,” he explains.

The couple immersed themselves in research, consulting experts and gathering information to ensure the best outcomes for both mother and baby. He added that they looked everywhere for information and prepared themselves thoroughly for the water birthing process.

“Of course, since pregnancy takes quite the toll on the mother’s body, I was open to whatever decision she had. What is important is the method made her feel safe, in control, and had very good outcomes for the baby. Apparently, it also has so much benefits for the mother as well!”

Their dedication paid off, and they successfully navigated the unique birthing experience.

Balancing Fatherhood and Animation

As an animator, Ramon finds his new role as a father influence his work. “My attention is now split between work and taking care of the mom and baby,” he says. The stakes are higher, as his actions directly impact his growing family. This shift in perspective has enriched his work on “Miming and Friends,” a show launched during the pandemic to bring light and positivity to viewers.

“There was a lot of negativity floating around cyberspace then, and I thought, if I were to create something then, might as well try to create something that can be a little flicker of light in this dark time.”

The series, featuring eco-warrior characters, has garnered recognition at various film festivals like Cinema Rehiyon Film Festivals, ATF Animation Pitch of Singapore, and Kre8tif Animation Pitch in Malaysia. It also collaborates with organizations like Mondelez International and Save Philippine Seas.

Image from Ramon del Prado

Roots in Nature: The Eco-Warrior Theme

Ramon’s passion for environmentalism is deeply rooted in his upbringing. He grew up in Negros Oriental, where he was surrounded by nature. His childhood adventures in rivers, hills, and forests instilled a lifelong appreciation for the environment.

Witnessing the effects of reckless development fueled his desire to protect nature through his work. “I saw how unchecked development can destroy places special to you as a child, and your children will no longer be able to see anymore” he laments. This personal connection drives the eco-warrior theme of “Miming and Friends,” aiming to inspire the next generation to care for the planet.

Fatherhood’s Influence on Creativity

Fatherhood has sparked new ideas for Ramon’s animated series. “I’m excited!  A huge inspiration from my daughter currently is the idea of the friends raising a much younger character, and sharing/teaching the same good values to that younger character. So much fun potential there and I have a few character sketches in mind already as well,” he reveals.

His daughter’s curiosity and joy inspire him to explore themes of kindness, empathy, and environmental care in future episodes.

“Miming and Friends is already a family project, as my wife Meryll is also the Executive Producer of the show, and I’m excited for my daughter to be part of the process, if she is interested.”

“The way I am seeing this is that the lessons for bringing up our good little human being into this world will also be the basis for topics of future episodes,” he says, envisioning a character that embodies these values.

Image from Ramon del Prado

Ramon also hopes to incorporate his passion for animation and environmentalism into his daughter’s upbringing.

According to him, “I can only hope there are still nature spots nearby, accessible, and something that is not difficult to go to, because nature should not be difficult to access.”

“The importance of a child’s exposure to nature cannot be stressed enough, so much physical, mental, emotional connection and health development happens with such an interaction,” he added.

When it comes to animation, Ramon explained how unsure he is if his little one will like animation. But he hopes to instill the mindset of play, discovery, wonder, and appreciation that he learns in animation, with whatever his daughter chooses.

Sharing Parenting Responsibilities

Balancing work and parenting are a team effort for Ramon and Meryll. “We barely try to get through day by day,” he admits. “But the way I see it, the baby has her needs, and the mom primarily takes care of her, and I try to take care of the mom so hopefully she doesn’t feel alone in the huge task of raising a child,” he added.

Their approach involves dividing responsibilities, with Meryll primarily handling feeding and Ramon taking care of other needs. “Mom handles the inputs, Dad handles the outputs,” he jokes, emphasizing the importance of teamwork. They also rely on advice from experts and support from online communities like DadBuds to navigate the challenges of parenthood.

Advice for New Dads

Image from Ramon del Prado

Ramon’s journey as a new dad is still unfolding, but he offers words of encouragement to other fathers. “Best of luck, there are lots of Dads in the same boat and are lucky enough to be able to personally attend to their child. I read that this will be very important especially if we can be there for the first few years of life,” he advises.

He highlights the importance of taking breaks and seeking support from fellow dads. “Let’s not forget that us dads could use a break or a pat on the back sometimes too,” he adds, reminding fathers to take care of themselves as they care for their families.

As Ramon del Prado continues to navigate the exciting waters of fatherhood, his experiences enrich his creative projects and inspire his vision for a better world. This Father’s Day, we celebrate his dedication, creativity, and the beautiful journey of raising his daughter while making a positive impact through animation.