Animation

  • FINDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY AND  CREATIVE FREEDOM

    Animation sits between imagination and identity. It is both a space for endless creativity and a mirror that reflects the cultures behind it. Yet within this lies a quiet struggle of how animators can stay true to cultural authenticity while enjoying the freedom to create something new. As animation continues […]

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  • MYTH AS MEMORY

    In African storytelling, myth is not a relic of the past, it is memory in motion. Every tale of gods, tricksters and ancestors carries within it a collective remembering of who we were, how we lived and what we continue to dream about. In the context of African animation, these […]

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  • THE PSYCHOLOGY OF COLOUR IN AFRICAN ANIMATION

    Colour in animation is more than how things look, it is how we feel and connect. In African animation, this means reclaiming a visual language rooted in environment and culture, rather than simply adopting Euro-American colour theory. African environments and cosmologies carry deeply emotional and symbolic colour systems. For example, […]

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  • AFRICAN SOUNDSCAPES IN ANIMATION

    Designing The Invisible Environment If you close your eyes during a great animated film, the sound alone should still tell you where you are. You should feel the space, sense the emotion and recognize the culture. Yet, in many African animated projects today, while visuals receive most of the attention, […]

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  • SOME POCKETS OF TIME YOU NEVER KNEW YOU HAD (Part I)

    Not everyone has the luxury of finding long stretches of time to write, as real life often intervenes. If you happen to be one of those lucky writers who can dedicate large amounts of time to your craft, that’s wonderful! Even if you have plenty of time on your hands […]

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  • THE JOURNEY OF AFRICAN ORAL TRADITIONS INTO ANIMATION

    For centuries, African cultures have preserved their histories, values and beliefs through oral traditions. Today, many are finding new life through animation, bridging heritage and innovation. This journey from spoken word to animated image is helping communities hold onto their past while also showing the world stories that are fresh, […]

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  • PROMISES YOU MAKE YOUR READER (PART 2)

    We promised we would be back with a few more promises (ha!) and here we are. Enjoy! 1) You make a promise about your world. Promise the world? As in the entire world? It may seem vast, but it’s not just any world you’re vowing to share; it’s your world, […]

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  • WHY HISTORICAL ACCURACY MATTERS IN AFRICAN STORYTELLING

    Playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner once said during an interview on writing historical narratives, “Accuracy is paramount in every detail of a work of history. Here’s my rule: Ask yourself, ‘Did this thing happen?’ If the answer is yes, then it’s historical. Then ask, ‘Did this thing happen precisely this […]

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  • THE RENAISSANCE OF AFRICAN MYTHOLOGY IN GLOBAL ANIMATION

    The renaissance of African mythology in animation is more than a trend, it is a reclamation. It is about restoring voice to stories silenced for too long and reshaping how the world sees Africa: not just as a place of struggle but as a source of timeless legends that can […]

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  • Promises Every Writer Makes to Their Readers (Part I)

    Beginning a novel or short story is akin to making a commitment to your audience.  You establish guidelines and expectations that your readers will depend on as they engage with your work.  You take your audience by the hand and lead them into your narrative.  You cultivate a relationship of […]

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