Movies, animation, comics, gaming and tech. Want to know what’s happening in Africa and beyond? Here’s the Run Down for this week.
NEWS OUT OF AFRICA – Gaming/Animation
Meet Estelle Makhoba
A past contributor to the renowned South African digital innovation festival, Fak’ugesi, Estelle Mmathapelo Makhoba is also a distinguished video game developer. Renowned for her knack of creating indie projects inspired by personal experience, the Pretoria- based developer, who has made quite a name for herself.
And now, she has two upcoming projects in the works.
Introducing Ambi and Dungeon Crawler
The first game on Estelle list is Ambi.
Dubbed as a dungeon crawler, Ambi is a game that focuses largely on puzzle solving and combat. In the game, the character moves through the game enlisting the help of other NPC’s (Non Playable Character) along the way to progress and overcome enemies.
The second game in development is Dungeon Crawler, one that requires players to alter their view using their imagination as a mechanic to solve puzzles and defeat their enemies.
The game is currently still on the lookout for publishers and no release dates have been revealed for either games as yet.
Find out more https://gamesindustryafrica.com/2021/09/08/estelle-makhoba-teases-two-new-projects/
Who Are Komotion Studios?
Lagos-based, Komotion Studios is a digital media content production company that is breaking boundaries when it comes to digital media, animation and entertainment.
Using art and technology, this studio has set out to deliver authentic and powerful African stories to the globe and this animated film is one of the ways their doing that.
Look out for Dawn of Thunder
A 3D animated short film, Dawn of Thunder is a retelling of the ancient story of Sango produced by Komotion Studios.
Renowned as Nigeria’s god of thunder, Sango is also the third Alaafin (King) of Oyo Kingdom in Nigeria. He has made a number of appearances in the media, most notably in a 1982 Marvel Thor comic as one of the Orishas and in 1990 in DC Firestorm. However, despite this, little remains known of the character’s origins.
That is why in 2017, Komotion Studios took the liberty to create a short film that chronicles his story.
Watch it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nflL9FWaf6s
But that was only the beginning.
Komotion Studios plans to release a full feature length film focusing on Sango’s legacy, battles and conquest and his eventual disappearance. Following that, they will create an animated series and hopefully, follow up with a mobile and video game as well.
The studio had originally announced a 2020 release date but it appears that work on the feature film is still in progress. But who knows, we might still see Sango on screen sooner than we think.
Check out more on the Komotion Studios social media pages
NEWS BEYOND AFRICA – Movies/Entertainment
The Matrix Has Been Resurrected!
Its official, The Matrix is back!
After over a decade from the last film’s release, the fourth instalment of the sci-fi classic, The Matrix, has been revealed.
The new movie’s trailer was initially unveiled at the CinemaCon during the Warner Bros. presentation. But, Matrix fans and curious bystanders alike have now also been given the opportunity to finally see the rumoured trailer for new movie, titled The Matrix: Resurrections.
Once again starring Keanu Reeves as Neo and Carrie Moss as Trinity, The Matrix: Resurrections will see our protagonist returning, after all these years, to the place it all began.
Check out the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ix7TUGVYIo
Sadly, it appears that Laurence Fishburne will not be reprising his role as Morpheus. But viewers can expect the appearance of newcomer to the Matrix universe, Yaha Abdul-Mateen II and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as well.
The Matrix: Resurrections is scheduled for release on 22 December, 2021.
Find out more https://www.space.com/matrix-resurrection-first-trailer-video