Tag Archives: Tendayi Nyeke

Disney orders African toon anthology

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Sci-fi anthology series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire

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.

Kiff is a musical comedy about a squirrel and her rabbit friend.

“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.

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Triggerfish, Netflix open Story Artist Lab

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South African studio Triggerfish Animation and global streaming platform Netflix have partnered to launch an animation talent incubator for African citizens.

Tendayi Nyeke

The Story Artist Lab initiative is sponsored by Netflix, produced by Triggerfish and will give shortlisted applicants an opportunity to take part in three months of paid skills development with international industry experts as well as be trained by Nathan Stanton, a story artist from Oscar-winning animated feature films like Brave, Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc.

The Story Artist Lab builds on the success of animated series Mama K’s Team 4, a Triggerfish Story Lab writers’ initiative in 2015 that saw nine African women placed in the writing room for the first animated Netflix series from Africa.

African citizens with concept art and/or storyboarding portfolios can apply here before July 23, 2021. They must be available full-time for three months from August. Remote working is encouraged.

Triggerfish’s Zimbabwean development executive Tendayi Nyeke said: “Story artists translate screenplays into animatics, the loose first version of the movie that then shapes every step of animation that follows.

“So having skilled story artists from the continent in control of how their stories are told is a gamechanger, not only in grooming the next African directors but also in giving pre-production artists the opportunity to establish their own voice as they bring African stories to life.”

Triggerfish is currently producing three Africa-set TV series, namely Mama K’s Team 4 for Netflix; Kiya for Entertainment One, Disney Junior and Disney+; and the recently announced anthology Kizazi Moto, for Disney+.

The company also featured prominently at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival last week, winning the 2021 Mifa Animation Industry Award for the pioneering role that the company has played in animation in South Africa, and Africa more widely.

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Showmax employs Working Wives

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Working Wives centres on a group of Harare women

MultiChoice Group-owned South African SVoD service Showmax has picked up Zimbabwean scripted series Working Wives, produced last year by Ndiani Studios.

Working Wives is a 13-episode dramedy inspired by the Real Housewives franchise that follows the lives of a group of Harare women from a Millennial perspective. It also explores the challenges faced by a modern African woman tied to tradition in an urban world.

The series was adapted from a blog created by Sharon Bwanya and was produced by Tendayi Nyeke. It stars Tendaiishe Chitima, Dikelo Mamiala, Tendai Nguni, Nyasha Grace Munangatire, Maritawana Dhliwayo, Chipo Mugovewedenga Chikara and Megan Victor-Carelse.

“The series is an exciting pan-African collaboration shot between Zimbabwe and South Africa, starring a crew and talent from both countries in a time that sees borders fall as far as storytelling and viewing experience is concerned. Brace yourselves for a comedy drama because as crazy as life gets, it’s easier to swallow the hard pill with a good laugh,” said Nyeke.

Ndiani Studios launched Working Wives independently in 2020, with episodes available over the web via sites including Vimeo, and is available to air to international audiences with Showmax access. The series is distributed by Cote Ouest Audiovisuel.

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