Nigerian toon The Ekspats enters Annecy

Nigerian animation The Ekspats: We’re Going to Africa (1×20’) has been selected to enter in the television films competition category at France’s Annecy 2024 animation festival.

The English-language film, which delves into the clash of cultures when an American family moves to Nigeria, is understood to be the pilot for a series.

It was directed by Ron Myrick, Adebisi Adetayo and Mbuotidem Johnson and produced by G2 Animation, led by company partner Ziad Zoueihed, Jeffrey O’Brien and Efeturi Ojonah.

G2 Animation is a Lagos- and US-based animation house that works with Nigerian studios including Johnson’s Basement Animation Studios, as well as Orange VFX, Quadron Studios and 32ad Animation Studios, the prodco behind Nigerian animated feature Lady Buckit & the Motley Mopsters (Netflix).

Marcel Jean, artistic director at the Annecy Festival, set to take place from June 9 to 15, said: “For the very first time, a Nigerian series will be competing, which clearly demonstrates how animation is developing on the African continent, three years after our tribute to African animation.”

The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture & The Creative Economy in Nigeria tweeted: “This is a great feat symbolic of the unprecedented growth of the animation sector. We are rooting for G2 Animation and the amazing team behind this extraordinary project.”