South Africa’s leading Triggerfish Animation Studios has partnered up with CAKE, one of the world’s leading independent entertainment companies specializing in the production, distribution, development, and financing of kids’ and family properties, to co-produce a new comedy action animated series titled Mama K’s Super 4.
Triggerfish, whose credits include acclaimed animated features previously covered on the blog, Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba, as well as Stick Man and Revolting Rhymes, will partner with CAKE to further develop, finance and produce the 26-episode 2D animated series, with CAKE ultimately leading the international roll-out and distribution.
Mama K’s Super 4 is set in Lusaka (the capital of Zambia, the landlocked Southern African country), where four teenage girls are recruited by former secret agent Mama K to help her save the world. Fighting rich and powerful opponents with limited resources means Mama K’s Super 4 will have to be smart and resourceful, in a series in which taking down the bad guys and turning in your homework is all in a day’s work!
Created by Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema and aimed at a pre-teen audience, Mama K’s Super 4 will pay animated homage to the superhero genre, and will draw visual inspiration from retro 90’s RnB and hip hop girl groups, the production companies state.
“We have been admiring Triggerfish’s work for some time now and are delighted to have been invited to join Mama K’s Super 4, a unique and entertaining project which brings a fresh look and approach to a classic action cartoon format,” says Tom van Waveren, CAKE CEO and creative director.
“Mama K’s Super 4 stood out among hundreds of TV shows that we reviewed during the Triggerfish Story Lab, a continent-wide call for animated projects,” says Triggerfish’s head of development, Anthony Silverston. “In her pitch, Malenga said that, growing up, she’d never seen herself reflected on screen in an animated show, and with CAKE, we’re glad to have found a bold partner who has embraced her vision for a show centered on four innovative African girls.”
No ETA on the series at this time.
Established in 1996, Triggerfish Animation Studios is a Cape Town-based film and entertainment company. The studio has produced two feature films: Adventures in Zambezia (2012), starring Jeremy Suarez, Abigail Breslin and Samuel L. Jackson, and Khumba (2013), starring Jake T. Austin, AnnaSophia Robb and Liam Neeson. The two films have been distributed in over 150 countries and dubbed into over 27 languages, making them among the top five highest-grossing South African films of all time. Triggerfish is finishing production on their third BBC Christmas animation with Magic Light, The Highway Rat.
An award-winning company based in London, CAKE works with renowned producers of animation and live-action content, including Rovio Entertainment Ltd, Channel X, Fresh TV, Komixx and Scholastic on the worldwide roll out of their brands. In addition, CAKE partners with production companies such as TeamTO, Thuristar, Paper Owl, Cheeky Little Media, Mighty Nice and Kickstart Productions, co-producing new entertainment properties and turning them into aspiring brands, including the award-winning Bottersnikes & Gumbles, currently being introduced on TV, in publishing and on gaming platforms.
