AfrikaToon, an Ivorian animation studio that produces 2D and 3D toons, has created an animated children’s series titled Koka Kitoumbou.
The 13-episode series is for international broadcaster TV5 Monde and is aimed at kids aged three years and above. It follows the adventures of two characters: 10-year-old Malisha and her woollen doll, Rikitou.
Together, they face many trials and tribulations in search of the Koka Kitoumbou stone, a magical and powerful stone capable of transforming everything she touches into confectionery of all kinds.
The Koka Kitoumbou series is filled with magic, sweets and a fantastic universe and portrays human values such as love, tolerance, honesty and hard work.
Abidjan-based AfrikaToon is thought to be the first animation studio in French-speaking Africa to have produced an animated feature film. The company also operates SVoD service AfrikaToonTV.
French broadcaster TV5 Monde is looking to pre-buy more animated series from Africa as the continent’s animation industry continues to grow.
Denise Epote
Global players such as Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube are investing in animation from Africa, while local studios are developing more of their own IP.
This has not gone unnoticed at TV5 Monde, which seeks to represent French-speaking populations around the world and operates children’s channel TiVi5 Monde, which already features some original productions from Africa.
The broadcaster is now keen to step this up as part of its mission to teach French to young children through educational but entertaining programming.
Denise Epote, the Cameroonian journalist who became director of marketing, distribution and commercialisation at TV5 Monde earlier this year, told C21 that programming from North African countries such as Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia is of particular interest.
Epote added that TiVi5 Monde offers an alternative to Arabic children’s channels in parts of Africa for French-speaking families.
The broadcaster’s streaming platform, TV5 Monde Plus, launched in the French-speaking African market in 2020, offering thousands of hours of content from shareholders France Télévisions, RTS, RTB and Télé Quebec.
Animated series TV5 Monde has recently pre-bought include preschool show Pompon Little Bear (39×7′), based on picture books by French author and illustrator Benjamin Chaud.
The series, commissioned by France Télévisions, is produced by French animation company Supamonks Studio and distributed by Dandelooo. It follows a mischievous, cheerful and playful bear who brings enjoyment to his best friend and his parents thanks to his imagination and creativity.
TV5 Monde executives including Epote, TV5 Monde CEO Yves Bigot and TV5 Monde USA USA CEO Patrice Courtaban were in Cannes last week for MipTV as TiVi5 Monde celebrated 10 years on air in the US.
Late last year, the principality of Monaco joined TV5 Monde as its sixth donor government alongside Canada, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, France, Quebec and Switzerland.
This meant that the newly created Monegasque public broadcaster, Monte Carlo Riviera, became a shareholder of TV5 Monde and has a seat on its board of directors.
