MANILA, Philippines?TV director Mike Tuviera points out that the main characters of the new GMA 7 fantasy series, ?Panday Kids,? are not only pint-sized; they are reluctant heroes.

But that?s precisely what attracted Tuviera to the story, a re-imagining of the famous franchise created by Carlo J. Caparas for the late Action King Fernando Poe Jr.

Child actors in the ?Panday? series are usually relegated to ?sidekick? status, but the kids on this new show?Robert ?Buboy? Villar Jr., Julian Trono and Sabrina Man?come into their own, says Tuviera.

?They are initially hesitant to fulfill their destiny as heroes,? he relates. ?They just want to play, like all other children.?

It?s a homage to FPJ?s movie character, Tuviera notes. ?The ?Panday? hero just wanted to remain a blacksmith.?

He explains that it?s a delicate balancing act, ?coming up with a younger and more modern take ... while remaining true to ?Panday? mythology.?

He says Caparas worked very closely with the creative team to ensure that the new series would hew closely to the komiks narrative.

He admits that there?s pressure in revisiting the ?Panday? franchise, considering the success of the original ?Panday? movies top-billed by FPJ, and even the recent Metro Manila Film Fest top-grosser starring Ramon ?Bong? Revilla Jr.

Nevertheless, Tuviera hopes to leave his mark on this beloved classic.

He gathered the same creative team behind his old shows ?Captain Barbell,? ?Lupin? and ?Luna Mystica.? The costumes are by Bill Gustilo and production design is by Rodell Cruz.

The kids joined adult cast members JC de Vera, Jackie Rice and Polo Ravales in training with fight instructor Larry Ang, who had flown in from mainland China.

?I wanted the cast to learn wushu properly,? Tuviera said, ?so their movements would be graceful, like dancing.?