Disney+ has announced the upcoming anthology series, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire. It is a collection of 10 original, animated films helmed by creators from Zimbabwe, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt. The films will premiere in late 2022 on Disney+. Additionally, Peter Ramsey will be an executive producer for the anthology series. Tendayi Nyeke and Anthony Silverston are supervising producers, while Triggerfish is the lead studio.
This animated anthology “brings together a new wave of animation stars to take you on a wildly entertaining ride into Africa’s future. Inspired by the continent’s diverse histories and cultures, these action-packed sci-fi and fantasy stories present bold visions of advanced technology, aliens, spirits and monsters imagined from uniquely African perspectives.”
The films are from The final 10 films are from Ahmed Teilab (Egypt), Simangaliso ‘Panda’ Sibaya and Malcolm Wope (South Africa), Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane (South Africa), Ng’endo Mukii (Kenya), Shofela Coker (Nigeria), Nthato Mokgata and Terence Neale (South Africa), Pious Nyenyewa and Tafadzwa Hove (Zimbabwe), Tshepo Moche (South Africa), Raymond Malinga (Uganda) and Lesego Vorster (South Africa). Each film will be roughly ten minutes long, and together will comprise a feature-length anthology of original animation that will be released as a Disney+ Original across the globe.
“We are bringing the work of a visionary new generation of African filmmakers to Disney+. In addition to delivering thrilling animation for fans of all ages, this collection of ten original films taps into the Afrofuturism phenomenon which was turbo-charged by Marvel’s Black Panther and reflects Disney’s ongoing commitment to partnering with leading global talent to tell the stories of the world from fresh and authentic points of view,” said Michael Paull, President, Disney+ and ESPN+ at The Walt Disney Company, in a statement received by S&A.
Kizazi Moto derives from the Swahili phrase ‘kizazi cha moto’ which literally translates as ‘fire generation’, capturing the passion, innovation and excitement this new cohort of African filmmakers is ready to bring to the world,” said Nyeke, Supervising Producer at Triggerfish. ‘Moto’ also means fire in several other African languages, from Rwanda’s Kinyarwanda to Shona, a Zimbabwean language, speaking to the pan-African spirit we hope this anthology embodies.”
“I’m really pleased to part of a ground-breaking, fresh and exciting project that’s aimed at exposing the world to a whole new wave of creativity and invention from a place that is just ready to explode onto the world animation scene. The films in the anthology kind of run the gamut when it comes to science fiction. There are stories that touch on other worlds, time travel, and alien beings, but all of these genre conventions are seen through an African lens that makes them totally new. I can’t wait for people to have their minds blown and say ‘I want more!’” said Ramsey.
Each film will be about 10 minutes. 70 directors and creators pitched ideas during a multi-year research phase that included input from Ghanian comic book blogger Kadi Tay, Congolese animation supervisor Sidney Kimbo-Kintombo and Namibian-South African producer Bridget Pickering.
