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 – Animation/Tech
African Creatives Can Stand With the World
To quote a phrase spoken by YouNeek Studios’ Founder, Roye Okupe, during WonderCon at Home 2021, “When it comes to talent, Africa can stand with the world.”
One couldn’t agree more. In the past two years African creatives from actors to gamers and animators have been showing the world that there is talent in Africa worth seeing and stories worth hearing. One such creative is animator, Lwazi Msipha.
Lwazi Msipha’s My Cartoon Friend
Inspired by cartoons similar to The Simpsons, self-taught animator Lwazi Msipha set out to create something both adults and children could enjoy. His semi-animated series, My Cartoon Friend, was the end result.
The show follows the story of a cartoon character named Themba, who is accidently exported to the human world. Once there Mispha and Themba are drawn together and stuck in a frenemy relationship.
Msipha desired to create something uniquely South African with his animation, whilst simultaneously inspiring the future generation of animators. His show, which debuted in August, 2021, is the first to earn a place on satellite television.
Dubbed as “promising” by Cartoon Network’s Head of Kids Content for Africa, Arian Suveg, My Cartoon Friend is going a long way to show the potential of the African creative industry.
Check out more https://youtu.be/L3xIiU_XvTY
Fak’ugesi Digital Innovation Festival is Back!
An innovation festival celebrating and showcasing digital technology, arts and culture within Africa, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival offers attendees the opportunity to see showcases, exhibitions and be part of insightful discussions with leading African creatives.
An annual festival, Fak’ugesi is back with its 8th Edition this year with the theme “#BuildCoz YouHaveTo” and will take place from 14th to 24th, October, 2021.
This year’s edition will include workshops, screenings and will be focused on celebrating and exploring immersive media, mobile tech and women in animation.
Register and get a firsthand look at where the world is going in tech, art, animation and music and what place Africa is going to take in it.
Find out more https://fakugesi.co.za/fakugesi-festival-2021-buildcozyouhaveto/
NEWS BEYOND AFRICA – Movies/Entertainment
Pixar Veterans Team Up for a Brand New Project
Oscar-winning director, Mark Andrews has had key roles in creating several phenomenal animated features including the culture defying Brave, The Incredibles and Ratatouille. Now, the Pixar veteran is going to be part of a brand new project.
Teaming up with fellow Pixar veteran, Andrew Gordon (Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo and The Incredibles) and President of Operating Room, Oded Turgeman, the trio will be developing a new fantasy series titled, Hawkmaster.
Hawkmaster
In a world where knights ride giant birds of prey, a young woman named Kess dreams of flying. But after encountering a rider-less hawk, Kess is unwittingly caught up in a wild adventure and a dangerous plot to kill the Queen.
To aid her on her treacherous journey, Kess will be joined by a group of outlawed knights and set out on a journey to discover what it truly means to be a knight.
Hawkmaster will be written and executive produced by Mark Andrews and executive produced by Andrew Gordon and Oded Turgeman. A Fox Entertainment production, the project is part of the company’s new animation strategy that will focus on creating more mature, adult-targeted stories.
Check out more https://www.cbr.com/fox-hawkmaster-fantasy-animated-drama/