CartoonBrew on Nigerian Animation....

A recent article posted on the 20th November by Amid Amidi on CartoonBrew reviews the state of animation in Nigeria making special mention of Bino and Fino and a more recent addition by SporeDust Media and their animation Chicken Core: The Rise of Kings directed by Oricha Aliyu. 
The interview and links make for a great read, and in addition this makes for another interesting addition to the body of work from Nigeria. 

AIM 2012 exciting frontiers... Modern Africa

This years Africa in Motion which has extended to two cities Edinburgh and Glasgow, is sure to provide exciting new material to look out for on the African film front. To talk about see past festival director and festival chair, Lizelle Bisschoff






Of particular interest look out for

Kenyan - Ngendo Mukii's Yellow Fever (2012)
Ethiopian - Danny Gebeyehu & Bisrat Amare Abeba and Abebe: The Pepper Merchant (2011)
Burkinabe - Lazare Sie Pale Le Parain (2011)
Kenyan - (Bob) Muchiri Njenga  Kichwateli (2011)

Kenyan Wasi PSA

This new PSA created by Majiqmud Pete from Kenya for the WASI Campaign

On DIaspora and Animation

As my search for Sub-Saharan animation continues, it is becoming increasing hard to look at African animation without considering the role and movement of the diaspora as a contributing force to the body of work that currently circulates the public domain. Some artists work between different places, move from Africa to Europe or America and back again... Their constant movement makes it somewhat more difficult to place their work but it invites a new set of questions about the 'transnational', migration and identity... It also leads to more unexpected discoveries such as the artists/animators mentioned here and the 'accented' approach to their work-
One happy discovery to add to the growing list
Samba Fall -  from Senegal - Whilst currently practising in Norway, Samba Fall's introduction to animation came through employment in Dakar by Pictoon - whom also recruited Piniang * mentioned previously - and whom also was a graduate from the Dakar Academy of Fine Arts. You can view his work here: http://www.sfall.com/

SHUJAAZ.FM rocks and wins the International Digital Emmy Award!

What is Shujaaz? Well Told Story describe it like this.....


At its heart Shujaaz.FM is a story about four young Kenyans growing up and meeting life’s many challenges. 

600,000 copies of the 32-page colour comic-book Shujaaz.FM are distributed nationally each month, reaching at least 3,000,000 readers.


Shujaaz mostly known of in Kenya for its monthly comic books with an young and funky edge

but featured also for its animated content and short online episodes... 




....and have just won the International Digital Emmy Award  in the Digital Program: Children & Young People category, cited as having beaten some of the giants of international media. 

WELL DONE to all those involved.... and mostly the producers and distributors Well Told Story!! 

Subscribe to SHUJAAZ TV here

NDINADSAWAPANGA - I Will Tell International Film Festival

This year's IWILLTELL Film Festival will be screening a special category of African World Film Festival Selections, and the Anime Caribe selection. The selection includes a collection of animated shorts ranging from traditional drawn animation such as Rooted by Victor Opeyokun to computer generated 3D animations such as Victor Dollabaille's Dream Vs Reality.

 

Plugged Digital Expo in Kenya

Kenya's  PLUGGED DIGITAL EXPO will be showcasing digital technologies and related industries for the East African region.
It runs on the 13th - 14th July in the Sarit Centre, Nairobi 


It will include exhibitors in zones 

• Mobile Zone - mobile phones, tablets, accessories, portable devices
• Digi Zone - touch screens, Computers, Laptops, displays, print solutions, routers, automated office solutions, communication technology.
• Mobile apps Pit - mobile apps, mobile business solutions, payment solutions and mobile games.
• Apps Bar - sample shots of information on must-have apps for mobile devices. 
• Simulator Zone – flight simulators, Visual Effects, Driving simulators
• Studio Grid - media, broadcast, 3D, HD, Programming, Cable, Triple play, satellite, streaming, set top boxes, content creators and digital distribution technology.
• Innovator's Pavilion – meet Kenya's innovators who will shape and determine Kenya's future in the digital and technology space.
• Cloud 9 - Dedicated to cloud based solutions, tools and tutorials for businesses

The conference also includes a focus on digital content distribution for television, film and animation - which should be of particular interest to practising animators/ producers in this field.

For more info go to:
http://www.pluggedexpo.com/

Ngendo Mukii's Yellow Fever (2012)

The artist and animator Ngendo Mukii from Kenya, has recently completed her graduate film for the prestigious RCA, London. Her film is a personal narrative on questions of identity and skin colour and in particular African feminine voices on self-image.  It is an exciting contribution to Kenyan animation and resonates with the concerns of other filmmakers/ animators from the continent.

 
Yellow Fever: TRAILER from Ng'endo Mukii on Vimeo.

SinAnimation... Ivorian Coast Animation

Officially launched in 2007, known for its animated series "C KEMA?" (2010) and FOOT'IVOIRE (2008) an animated series with an awarding winning episode at the International Film Festival in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire. The animation company Sinanimation is another great find! 

You can read all about the company on this article by culturiche.com

International Trickfilm Festival, Stuttgart: African Animation Program

The Animation Film Festival being hosted in Stuttgart this year is featuring a timely African animation program with a focus on the Arab Revolution or Arab Spring. The program is being curated by the Egyptian animator Mohammed Ghazala. The details of the program are limited to a description of the spirit of the event with a emphasis on the aesthetic of 'revolution and challenge'.  This contribution is surely to be an exciting addition to the Trikfilm Festival. Well done Mohammed Ghazala!

"The programme shows bold portraits as well as wry cartoons on the Islamist resurgence at the polls. Photographs, graffiti, paintings, videos and sculpture explore the issues spotlighted with the ouster of dictator Zine al Abidine Ben Ali: freedom of speech and religion, women’s rights, the online world, democracy building."

Click here for TRIKFILM Festival

BuniTV hits the web

Described as....

Buni TV is a web and mobile video channel that allows viewers to discover the best and most innovative content off the beaten path of mainstream entertainment.

What's even better is BuniTv shares it's advertising revenue with the content owners.

BuniTV offers a great collection of music videos, short films and animations. Featured in BuniTV's archive you can find Kwame Nyongo's Legend of Ngong Hills, and Just a Band's music videos Huff and Puff, WAGEUZI Battle 2012, and The XYZ Show Season 5's First Episode and many other creative shorts.


With Africa in Motion as an official sponsor, this site is sure to be a hive of creative activity!

Check out Africa in Motion TV also for more videos: AFRICA IN MOTION TV

Bino&Fino Easter Update

For those who have been following the Bino&Fino Success story, here is Adamu Wasiri giving everyone an update of the latest news...

ethiopiananimation.com

Courtesy of the Bino&Fino crew who linked to this animation, another great find from Ethiopia.