currently researching african animation :
interested in compiling a database of practitioners in various sub-saharan countries :
welcome any postings from practitioners
When animation directors such as the likes of Ngendo Mukii (Kenya) and Kenneth Coker (Nigeria) are part of an Afro-futurist animation series, one can be sure that this project is going to be ground breaking. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire - the animated sci-fi anthology series was first aired on Disney+ in December 2023 going on to win a host of awards; Best Animated Series at the KIDSCREEN AWARDS, won the prestigious Annie Award. The winning series episode “Enkai” was directed by Kenyan Ng'endo Mukii and produced by Blink Industries.
The episodes on Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire anthology are:
Stardust: Directed by Ahmed Teilab – Egypt
Mkhuzi: The Spirit Racer: Directed by Simangaliso ‘Panda’ Sibaya and Malcom Wope – South Africa
Hatima: Directed by Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane – South Africa
Enkai: Directed by Ng’endo Mukii – Kenya
Moremi: Directed by Shofela Coker – Nigeria
Surf Sangoma: Directed by Nthato Mokgata and Catherine Green – South Africa
Mukudzei: Directed by Pious Nyenyewa & Tafadzwa Hove – Zimbabwe
First Totem Problems: Directed by Tshepo Moche – South Africa
Herderboy: Directed by Raymond Malinga – Uganda
You Give Me Heart: Directed by Lesego Vorster – South Africa.
Great to see Nigerian animator Shof Coker receiving the award for documentary Liyana (which he animated for), directed by Aaron and Amanda Copp. Well done everyone!
On the 4th November the Animate Africa will be running a StoryLab webinar 'How to Bring a TV Series to Market' in collaboration with Triggerfish (South Africa) and a host of speakers including:
Malenga Mulendema, Creator of Mama K's Super 4 Wanuru Kahiu, Kenyan award winning Writer and Filmmaker (Pumzi) Babalwa Baartman, Co-founder/Producer at Sanusi Chronicles Thulani Simantov, Animator and Co-founder/Art Director of Sanusi Chronicles Kelly Dillon, Animator and Co-creator, Ninja Princess The event is promoted on ANIMATE AFRICA as follows,
If you have ever thought about bringing your own characters to life as an animated TV series, you should attend this webinar to be streamed on YouTube Live on Saturday, 4 November to registered delegates. You'll learn insights that Triggerfish gained over the last 2 years while developing TV series with Disney’s support, resulting in 2 worldwide distribution deals to date....
Your idea could be the next African TV series to be produced and distributed internationally. You’ll get insights into what international distributors are looking for when they review projects. You’ll also learn directly from creators who have just been through this process and have signed distribution deals for their shows. And you'll get a chance to ask questions via Facebook & Twitter.
If you happen to be in Joburg, South Africa check out the
FUPITOONS Festival supported by Africa Animation Network, and the Gauteng Film Commission the festival will run in Johannesburg between the 26th - 29th October. The selection of animations screening are from all over the continent and aimed at children. See the final list they announced below:
FupiToons Final Selection:Gyrow (Nigeria) Machismo - The Substance (Kenya) Is that believable? (Egypt) Please Frog, just one sip (South Africa) Snow (South Africa) Way Better (South Africa) Jabu's Jungle - Warthog (South Africa) Becca & Bongani EP2 (South Africa) The Parlotones - Stay A While, (South Africa) Orisha's Journey (Ghana) Crocodile River (South Africa) Crumbs (South Africa) Doodle Duo (Imagination Studios) Llama Drama (Imagination Studios) Smarter Phones (Imagination Studios) The Great Escape (Imagination Studios) Hatch (South Africa) Monday Man EP1 - Seat Belted (South Africa) Monday Man EP2 - Tapped out! (South Africa) TheWoods - MaJozi Music Video (South Africa) Bun & Bunee - A collection of 60 second shorts (South Africa )
Formerly known as 'Kunjanimation' this year the Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF) will run from 18th - 21st February 2016.
The festival includes a wide range of speakers, including talks and masterclasses with professionals from Dreamworks, LAIKA, and South Africa's own Trigger Fish.
Cited as the festival that will act as a 'gateway to the continent', this festival is definitely worth keeping an eye on!
CAPE TOWN - After the international success of its first two feature films, Triggerfish Animation Studios is establishing The Triggerfish Story Lab with the support of The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) and The Walt Disney Company.
Triggerfish will be investing up to $3.5m over the next three years in The Story Lab, which aims to give Africa’s most talented storytellers and filmmakers the opportunity to develop their ideas alongside Triggerfish’s international network of mentors. Selected storytellers will potentially have their concepts developed into episodic TV content or an animated feature film for the global market.
Triggerfish is conducting a continent-wide search for storytellers. These storytellers will be carefully selected, based not only on the creative and commercial merits of their concept, but also on their track record.
The entries will be evaluated by a high-profile panel of both local and international experts, including British director and co-founder of Aardman Peter Lord (Chicken Run, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists), Hollywood writer Jonathan Roberts (The Lion King) and script consultant Karl Iglesias (Writing For Emotional Impact), and a panel of development executives from The Walt Disney Company, as well as South Africanstoryteller Gcina Mhlope, comedian David Kau and Triggerfish’s development team ofAnthony Silverston, Wayne Thornley and Raffaella Delle Donne.
Shortlisted storytellers will take part in workshops with leading Hollywood script consultant Pilar Alessandra, author of The Coffee Break Screenwriter.
The selected Story Lab participants will also receive two weeks of mentoring with key studio and television executives at Disney’s headquarters in Burbank, California.
“We are ready to bring a fresh voice to the world,” says Anthony Silverston, head of development at Triggerfish. “We believe there is extraordinary talent inAfrica and the Story Lab is the perfect way to partner with them.”
“We are excited to be supporting Triggerfish on this innovative project,” says Christine Service, senior vice president and country manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We believe the Story Lab provides a unique opportunity to discover this continent’s next generation of storytellers.”
“The dti is committed to developing a pool of creative talent that can produce international quality animation production scripts,” says Nelly Molokoane from the dti’s Film and TV Incentives Unit, adding that the department is honoured to support projects that will contribute to job creation.
“The Story Lab will be a great catalyst for African creativity on the global stage,” says Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest. “We look forward to opening up the Triggerfish production platform and our networks to the continent’s top creative talent."
The development process can take a number of years. For each phase of development, Triggerfish will provide financial support, workspace, and expert guidance by internal and international consultants and mentors, as well as a route to market through top-tier relationships with Hollywood agency William Morris Endeavor.
Animation has proven to be a successful medium for South African films to travel internationally, with Triggerfish’s films Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba being distributed in over 150 countries and dubbed into over 27 languages.
Applications are welcome from all writing and creative disciplines, not just experienced film and TV screenwriters. Applicants must be over 21 and either Africancitizens or permanent residents. Entries must be in English. Entries close 31 August 2015.
This year's AFRIKA Film Festival in Leuven was an exceptional year for African animation. It saw the the screening of the original film of The Tales of Mboloko (1953) by the Belgian Roger Jamar, the very first Congolese stop-motion animation. Alongside this screening was a documentary 'Roger Jamar et les palabres de Mboloko: Pionnier du cinema d'animation en Afrique Centrale', that offered an insight into the man who made these films and the context within which these were viewed.
One was also able to attend a days worth of screenings of different animation shorts, including the works of Nigerian animator Ebele Okoye and South African artist Wendy Morris.
The exhibition will be held at the Universiteitsbibliotheek, KU Leuven between 27th March and the 26th April, and features the charming models from JM Kibushi's own films, Prince Loseno (2005) and Ngando (WIP).
The South African artist Jil Jarvis, finalist of the Golden Baobab Children's Illustrator award, not only makes beautiful collage for print but her animations also have a similar fun aesthetic. JILJARVIS from JilJarvis on Vimeo.
IMAGINAFRIK is a great online resource/ community of individuals interested, talking about and making African animation. Whilst it is mostly in French, google translate does a good job of translating to the relevant language of your choice. The discussions in the forum are varied from South Africa to Burkina Faso, in places with inserted videos to watch. Its a treasure trove of topical discussions and worth exploring...
a little discovery made somewhere in the trails of discussions...
Courtesy of DesignIndaba here is great little clip with the BlackHeartGang from South Africa, talking about their work, this includes also their own animation "The Tale of How".
Well done to the animators who have been reviewed on AfriPOP's website. The article gives a short bio of each artist and links to their work. Read all about Kwame Noyongo, Adamu Wasiri, Mohammed Ghazala, Ree Treweek, Gatumia, Phil Cunnigham, Anthony Sliverstone at AfriPOP.
Apologies CNN has removed these videos from its site. Instead you can view some more about Kentridge on VIMEO: Watch out for his new film release due to be out on the 21st Oct
Justine Puren's animation Mbulu's Bride (2006) is a brilliantly executed sand animation from South Africa's AFDA.
I stumbled across the animation in an article about Post-Apartheid film in the journal Kinema, "Short Filmaking in South Africa after apartheid" by Martin Botha.
The only version I found online - the quality is not very good, but one gets an impression of the animation.
I research sub-Saharan African animation and completed a PHD for SOAS, University of London in this field - this is an area of interest that I have been looking at since 2003.. I moved to the UK in 2001 from Malta, where I was working in animated graphics at a television station. I then completed a Masters in Computer Animation at the NCCA Bournemouth Uni where I currently lecture as a Senior Academic. I completed a Masters in Anthropology of Media at SOAS, London in 2004 - focusing on discourses of identity in Post-Apartheid South African Animation
