On November 4, a free webinar organized by Animate Africa will share key info and first-hand case study accounts with animators and storytellers across the continent, exploring what it takes to develop a TV series for worldwide distribution. The webinar will be presented via YouTube Live, featuring speakers from Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa and Zambia.
During the first half of the webinar, Triggerfish will share insights from the two years of TV series development undertaken during The Story Lab initiative (supported by The Walt Disney Company and Department of Trade and Industry), which has lead to two worldwide distribution deals for shows set and made in Africa.
The Story Lab began with a call for animation writers to submit projects in 2015, generating more than 1,300 entries representing 30 African countries. Eight were chosen to undergo full development, and Triggerfish reps will discuss what made these concepts stand out, and share some of the feedback they’ve received from international distributors.
Story Lab producer Vanessa Sinden will also give some keen practical tips on how to turn a concept into a strong pitch document that can be shown to distributors.
“If you have ever thought about bringing your own characters to life as an animated TV series, this webinar is for you,” says Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest. “The Triggerfish Story Lab proved again that Africa is full of amazing stories, at a time when there’s a global demand for more diverse content, so it feels like African animation is at a tipping point.”
Also on the schedule are four case studies on projects generating international interest, including Mama K’s Super 4, which is being co-produced by Triggerfish and CAKE. Creator Malenga Mulendema and character designer Malcolm Wope will discuss the girl-powered action-comedy’s journey and encouraging international response.
The schedule is:
Nov. 4, 13h00 SAST: Creating an animated TV series
Session 1: The global stage and where Africa fits in (Stuart Forrest, CEO Triggerfish)
Session 2: Content that is local but global (Anthony Silverston, Head of Development, Triggerfish)
Session 3: Putting together a TV pitch package on a budget (Vanessa Sinden, Story Lab Producer)
Session 4: Writing for children (Raffaella Delle Donne, Head of Story Lab TV series)
Session 5: From Africa to the world: challenges and opportunities (Babalwa Baartman & Thulani Simantov, Sanusi Chronicles)
Session 6: Art without agenda: why frivolity and fun are important (Wanuri Kahiu, award-winning Story Lab alumni)
Session 7: Q&A
[20 minute break]
15h00 SAST: Case studies
Session 1: Ninja Princess (Kelly Dillon & Marc Dey)
Session 2: Mama K’s Super 4 (Malenga Mulendema)
Session 3: Designing Mama K’s Super 4 (Malcolm Wope)
Session 4: Musi and Cuckoo (Tim Argall & Candice Argall)
Session 5: Cloud Life (Andrew Phillips)
Session 6: Q&A
The webinar is organized by Animate Africa, with the support of M-Net 101, Toon Boom Animation, Triggerfish Animation Studios and the Walt Disney Company Africa, in partnership with African Digital Art, AnimationSA, Animation West Africa, Animation Xchange, Arterial Network, Association of Animation Artists, Cape Town International Animation Festival, Cape Town International Film Market and Festival, CGAfrica, Comexposed, Design Indaba, Digital Lab Africa, Fan Con, Kawkab El Rasameen (Painter’s Planet), Kwazulu-Natal Film Commission, Lagos Comic Con, Lusaka Comic Con, Naiccon, Tanzania CGI Artists, The Animation Club Africa, The National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, Wesgro, and Writers Guild of South Africa.
Animators and storytellers in Africa are invited to register for the free webinar at www.animateafrica.org.
