History stripped down

Enter Saravut Chareonlap's small office and his hobby is immediately evident. Shelves and tables groan under an impressive collection of Japanese and Western action figures and models.

His enthusiasm for adventure extends to his reading preferences, too - so much so that he has chosen to make action heroes the focus of his career.

A fan of Japanese manga and Western animation since boyhood, the 33-year-old founder and managing director of Arthamart Creation is all set to launch nine new comic-book adventures this month. What makes them different from the usual superhero themes is that they are all based on Thai history.

"Si-roi" (Four Hundred), a strip about an 18th-century Thai army unit called Arthamart, tells the story of a valiant sword commando unit without armoured vests, led by Khun Rong Palat Choo. In 1760, on the orders of King Ekathat of Ayutthaya, they marched from Angthong's Wiset Chai Chan district to confront the Burmese army at Wah Khao Beach, Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Saravut came up with the idea for the comic-book project while surfing the Net for information on Thai history.

"I was touched by their courage. They were such a small battalion - 400 men facing tens of thousands of Burmese," he says. 

"A retelling of the Battle of Thermoplyae in which 300 Spartan warriors face the mighty Persian army was recently made into a successful movie.

"Although the Arthamart warriors were also defeated and killed, they were heroes who protected our country. They too should be glorified," he adds.

Typing the word "arthamart" in Thai on a search engine reveals a wealth of information both about the army and the martial arts of that era.

"The survey took almost four months and was an adventure in itself. I also approached academics and the head of the Wah Khao subdistrict's administration, who is planning to build a monument to Khun Rong Palat Choo.

"I discovered there's a temple called Wat Si Roi in Wiset Chai Chan that was apparently built in honour of the army. It's an interesting story that deserves wider knowledge," he explains.

After visiting the sites and talking to villagers, Saravut felt so close to the dead heroes that he decided to name his company after their battalion.

He has thoroughly researched every detail, pouring over the archives to study the ambush strategies and consulting renowned tattoo master Noo Kanphai on the ancient art of Thai tattoos.

"I've always fantasised about cartoons," grins Saravut, who was raised in an artistic environment. His father draws cartoons for a hobby and his uncle paints watercolours.

After studying for one year at Silpakorn University's decorative art department, Saravut went to the US and earned his MA in graphic design from Massachusetts College of Art.

Before returning home, he interned for a year at Big Blue Dot, where he gained experience on graphic design in print and television.

Before setting up his own company, Saravut working briefly with Kantana, Thailand's leading animation producer, on the graphics for Thai animations "Son" and "Kan Kluay".

Other titles being launched along with "Si-Roi" feature Thai heroes and heroines, both famous and not so well known, including Taksin the Great, Suriyothai, Yamada, and Nan Thip Chang.

The first two need no introduction to Thai readers but the second two may not be such familiar names.

Yamada, or Ookya Senapimook, was a high-ranking Japanese officer with a great deal of authority during the Ayutthaya era, while Nan Thip Chang is a hero of Khelang Nakorn, or Lampang Province.

Arthamart Creation's strong point, says Saravut, is producing quality and historically accurate comic books of not so famous people that should attract young people who are not keen on studying history.

He is confident that teachers will soon be recommending his meticulous edutainment project as homework for their students.

And he doesn't intend stopping at comic books. Future projects include cartoon animations, online games and a range of merchandise such as T-shirts, keychains, tin boxes and action figures from the Thai cartoon series.

"It's time to go back to our Thai roots," he says.

Aree Chaisatien

The Nation