Disney EMEA has commissioned two animated kids’ shows from Africa, the company revealed at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival last week.
Speaking during an online presentation at the virtual edition of the festival, Orion Ross, Disney EMEA’s VP of original programming, animation, media networks Europe and Africa, announced Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, a 10-part sci-fi anthology series for Disney+, and musical comedy series Kiff for Disney Channel.
Executive produced by Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse co-director Peter Ramsey, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire will feature films from Ahmed Teilab (Egypt); Simangaliso ‘Panda’ Sibaya and Malcolm Wope (South Africa); Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane (South Africa); Ng’endo Mukii (Kenya); and Shofela Coker (Nigeria).
Nthato Mokgata and Terence Neale (South Africa); Pious Nyenyewa and Tafadzwa Hove (Zimbabwe); Tshepo Moche (South Africa); Raymond Malinga (Uganda); and Lesego Vorster (South Africa) will also contribute to the series.
Each film will be roughly 10 minutes long and together will comprise a feature-length anthology of original animation that will be released on Disney+ around the world in late 2022.
South African studio Triggerfish will serve as the lead producer on the anthology, which will launch on Disney+ globally in late 2022. Tendayi Nyeke and Anthony Silverston will be the supervising producers.
“Tapping into the global fascination with Afrofuturism, which was turbocharged by Marvel’s Black Panther, and drawing inspiration from the continent’s rich history and diverse cultures, each 10-minute film presents a wildly entertaining mix of science-fiction, fantasy, future tech, aliens, spirits, gods and monsters, with plenty of action and adrenaline for fans of all ages,” Ross said.
Kiff, meanwhile, is a musical comedy animated series about a “very intense” squirrel and her rabbit best friend. Set in the bustling mountains, where animals and magical creatures live together in harmony, the series sees the duo take the town by storm with their endless adventures and zest for life. Each half-hour episode, comprising two 11-minute stories, will include a new original song.
Developed and produced by Disney Animation in LA, Kiff comes from South African creators and exec producers Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal. Kent Osborne serves as coproducer and story editor on the show, which is slated to premiere in 2023.
tagged in: Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Anthony Silverston, Disney Animation, Disney EMEA, Kent Osborne, Kiff, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, Lucy Heavens, Nic Smal, Peter Ramsey, rion Ross, Tendayi Nyeke, Triggerfish