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- Multiple African animation studios and shows are gaining international recognition.
- The shows offer diverse and fresh narratives, which resonate both locally and on a global scale.
- But the industry is not without its challenges on the continent.
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As the world's appetite for diverse stories and representation grows, African animators and studios have seized the opportunity to shine, offering a rich selection of narratives that resonate on both local and global levels.
Some recent titles - such as Supa Sema from Kenya, Disney Junior's Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes from South Africa, Disney Plus' Iwájú from Nigeria, Netflix's first African animated series Supa Team 4 from Zambia and South Africa, and Disney Plus' Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire from Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Zimbabwe - highlight the past two years as exciting, and some might say breakthrough, years for original animated content from the continent.
Sci-fi anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, which South African animation studio Triggerfish was the lead studio for, has a 100% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is one of the most acclaimed animation series' of this year – among others from the continent.
This is just one highlighted success of many recent productions.
In 2015, Triggerfish launched The Triggerfish Story Lab, a pan-African talent search for animated productions, which received over 1 400 entries. The initiative was supported by The Walt Disney Company and some of the animated productions listed above were developed by the winners of the talent competition all these years later.
Triggerfish's senior producer, Vanessa Sinden, tells News24 that the results of African studios' and talents' hard work over the past decade are now "certainly visible".
She says:
"This recognition is serving as an inspiration for others to follow in their footsteps. I am extremely optimistic about African audiences engaging positively with this content, [and] the only missing piece is to get broadcasters onboard to make this content readily available for consumption throughout the continent."
'Unchartered territory'
Anthony Silverston, creative director at Triggerfish, points out that African animation is somewhat "uncharted territory", leaving room for invention, innovation and entrepreneurship.
"This newfound focus on authentic African narratives hasn't always been the order of the day, but the landscape has gone through a positive and much-needed shift."
Sinden adds that this shift signifies not only a change in the creative landscape, but also a recognition of the richness and authenticity that fresh voices and perspectives bring to storytelling.
READ MORE | Meet the new superheroes in Netflix's thrilling first African animation series, Supa Team 4
Speaking at the 2021 Annecy Animation Festival about Iwájú, the Nigerian Disney Plus sci-fi anthology set to be released later this year, Walt Disney Animation Studios' chief creative officer Jennifer Lee said: "There were stories with themes that I had never seen put together in that way. There were ideas [based on] folklore that I had never had access to. We, as Disney, can tell the stories of the world, but by... having people tell their own stories."
Representation and diversity are at the forefront of African animation, showcasing the continent's vast and varied cultures, traditions, and the stories that have long remained underrepresented in mainstream media. That's where much of the magic lies.
Challenges
However, the local animation scene isn't without its challenges, especially for independent film producers.
Sinden outlines some of these challenges as the financing of projects, establishing partnerships with broadcast entities, identifying and nurturing talented individuals, and managing the creative scope of projects during their production phase, all within the constraints of limited budgets.
Additionally, access to animation software, tools and technologies has historically been a challenge for African studios, often coming at a hefty price. However, in recent years, free-to-use software, such as Blender, Resolve and Krita, have opened new doors, contributing significantly to the rise of original animation from the continent.
The future
Looking ahead, 2D animation, the availability of free tools and a burgeoning community are set to allow African creators to feel a sense of freedom to tell their stories and inspire a new generation of filmmakers to engage with animation from an early age, Sinden says.
This democratisation of access to animation tools has the potential to diversify the field and dim the influence of the privilege historically tied to the production of animated films.
As African animation continues to evolve and overcome challenges, it stands ready to make a powerful and lasting mark on the global entertainment landscape, enriching us all with its unique voices and refreshing perspectives.
