ANIMATING THE FUTURE

Animation has come a long way since its humble beginnings in France, back in July 1887. However, despite 133 years of such creativity, African stories – with the exception of The Lion King – have remained underrepresented in this medium.

So, the excitement was paramount when, last December, Walt Disney Animation Studios announced it was partnering with Kugali Media, an African animation studio, to make a sci-fi long series. It was truly a historical moment. Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Iwájú is scheduled to debut on Disney+ in 2023.

Speaking at the time, Disney Animation’s chief creative officer Jennifer Lee called the collaboration a “first-of-itskind” – and she was right. Normally, Disney projects feature its iconic logo in the opening scenes of its movies and series, as well as on marketing materials. This time, Kugali Media’s logo will also feature prominently, alongside Disney’s.

Nigeria, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, is home to the second-largest film industry on the planet, Nollywood –