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 – Movies/Animation
Zimbabwe Seeks New And Inventive Films
In the words of Zimbabwean born filmmaker, Daniel Lasker, “Zimbabwe’s film industry has been craving something new and inventive, which pushes the envelope further and raises the standard”.
Lasker is most notable for his time acting in BBC’s Raised by Wolves and has appeared in BBC One’s series Noughts and Crosses, The Telling Room, Vagrant Queen.
According to this young filmmaker, his upcoming sci-fi film may just be that new and inventive endeavour that Zimbabwe needs.
Listen Out For The Signal
The film is set in Zimbabwe where a deadly sound transmitted from space known as “The Signal”, corrupts the minds of all who hear it, turning them into soulless Demons under it’s control.
Apart from aiming to raise the standards of local filmmaking, the team behind this sci-fi short film were intentional about shooting it in Ndebele with accompanying English subtitles.
Watch the trailer https://youtu.be/SN5JTmfG1VA
The Signal stars, Tawanda Denga, Dumie Manyathela and Natasha Dlamini, is written by Oscar K. Reyers and is directed by Daniel Lasker.
Find out more https://www.chronicle.co.zw/actor-whets-bulawayos-appetite-with-sci-fi-trailer/
Ada Animation Helps Aspiring Animators
Kenya- based studio, Ada Animation Studio have only been in the field for a short time. But since it was founded in September 2020, this Pan-African Animation studio has managed to make quite an impact on the Kenyan local and African animation industry.
One of the key ways that they have managed to do this is through their Animation Bootcamp held in 2021 that saw aspiring animators from across Africa receive training ad mentorship from industry veterans within Africa and the USA.
Because of their impact, Ada is now being dubbed as Africa’s most promising animation studio and the continent’s next Pixar Studios.
Ada Telling Authentic African Stories
Whilst the studio is renowned as one of Africa’s most successful studios, Ada Animation isn’t simply seeking recognition. The studio aims to continue to nurture talent, open markets and create business for future animators throughout Kenya.
They desire to realise this dream by training 1000 animators in the next three years and continually tell their own authentic, African stories.
Check out more https://youtu.be/vb1zaKs5u24
NEWS BEYOND AFRICA – Entertainment/Movies
Marvel Moves Into Phase 4
Following the release of The Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, the MoonKnight television series and most recently released and critically acclaimed, Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Marvel has since (could we say successfully?) rolled into Phase 4.
Whilst fans still eagerly await the release of even more titles including sequels to the quirky Guardians of the Galaxy and the Afrofuturistic, Black Panther, Marvel has teased the production of some of their Phase 4 projects.
Marvel Tease Production of New Projects
Executive producer, Kevin Feige revealed details on the upcoming She Hulk: Law Attorney at the The Walt Disney Company’s 2022 Upfron presentation on Tuesday, 17 May 2022.
The series follows 30 year old, Jennifer Walters as she navigates life as an attorney whilst also happening to be a super-powered hulk.
The series air exclusively on Disney Plus on 16 August.
Watch trailer https://youtu.be/gim2kprjL50
Feige also revelead that Loki season 2 is in production and Marvel shared a first-look image of Echo actress Alaqua Cox, on their social media pages. The Echo series will follow Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) as she faces the consequences of her ruthless past and comes to terms with her Native American heritage.
Echo is currently now in production and is scheduled for release in 2023 exclusively at Disney Plus.
Find out more https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/kevin-feige-marvel-disney-upfront-presentation-1235270016/