A panel discussion at the 2nd Sharjah Animation Conference highlighted the need to champion diverse content by creating creative opportunities for talent across Africa.
The 2nd Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC) will feature three luminaries in African animation: Raymond Malinga, CEO of Creatures Animation; Hamid Ibrahim, CEO and Co-founder of Kgali Media; and Vanessa Sinden, Senior Producer at Triggerfish Animation, shared valuable insights into the burgeoning animation landscape across the continent.
During the discussion on Saturday, May 4, participants gained insight into Africa's rapidly expanding animation industry. With studios in South Africa and Ireland, Triggerfish Animation is a trailblazer celebrating his 28 years in the industry, championing African stories and contributing to the development of diverse talent. Vanessa Sinden, the studio's senior producer, highlighted Triggerfish's multifaceted efforts in fostering Africa's animation ecosystem, including efforts such as an online academy and accelerator program.
“Our studio needs to shape the industry, and through initiatives like our online academy, which offers free courses from grade school to professional level, and scholarship and accelerator programs that help talent break into the industry. We have achieved that,” Sinden explained.
Projects like Netflix are attracting attention. super team 4an animated series featuring an all-female writing team, and Kizazimoto: Generation FireTriggerfish, Disney+'s sci-fi anthology series showcasing African-futuristic stories from the continent, redefines global perceptions of African animation, champions diverse voices, and resonates with audiences around the world. We are paving the way for a new era of storytelling.
“Why not us?” was the question that led Malinga to enter the industry. Raymond, who started a small business with his brother and now heads his own successful animation studio, encouraged viewers to “have the audacity to dream.”
“When we started, the animation industry barely existed, but we dared to pursue our vision and open the door to the next generation. Africa is now!” He further points out: did.
short animation Karabandha ate the homeworkHighlighting the richness of the continent's storytelling tradition, this work put his studio, Creatures Animation, on the map and served as a springboard to recognition and success. pastoral boypart of Disney Kizazimoto Anthology series are another role for studios.
Hamid Ibrahim, the UK-based Ugandan visionary behind Kgali Media, which started out as a manga publisher, has co-produced the sci-fi animated series in collaboration between his company and Walt Disney Studios. Told the story. Iwaju.
Ibrahim spoke about the need for African talent and the stories behind their rise to global fame. “There are over a billion people on the continent. Can you tell me two African stories, film or animation, that most people know?” he challenged. “I want to see African stories rise to the top of the world, and we have so much talent to share. If we do things a little differently, we will get there. Today, the next big company is born. But trying to copy what already exists won't get you noticed. It's important to be original and set your own trends.”