Animation du Monde 2020 returns to DISCOP Abidjan

Animation du Monde 2020 returns to DISCOP Abidjan

Animation du Monde 2020 returns to DISCOP Abidjan in partnership with the African Animation Network (AAN) will host the 3rd annual Animation du Monde pitching competition next month.

 

ANNECY FESTIVAL ANIMATION DU MONDE


As Africa’s animation industry continues to develop, and  in recognition of the challenges that creators face in being able to reach a market, there will be a strong focus on animated short film and series.

DISCOP Abidjan is the second of 5 preliminary rounds of the Pan-African Animation du Monde 2020. Through the DISCOMICS footprint– an initiative run by DISCOP Markets and AAN– and which includes partnerships with 3 of Africa’s longest running comic conventions, AAN will be hosting 4 regional prelims in Johannesburg (at ICON CGC), Abidjan (DISCOP Abidjan), Lagos (at Lagos Comic Con), and Nairobi (Nairobi Comic Con).  Because the partners are always looking to create new opportunities for creators across Africa, AAN has partnered with the Accra Animation Film Festival (AAFFia) to add a 5th regional preliminary round.

ANIMATION DU MONDE 2020 @ DISCOP ABIDJAN

The MIFA Pitches are arguably the biggest animation focused pitching forum in the world and take place against the backdrop of the Annecy Int. Animated Film Fest’ & Market/MIFA (Annecy/MIFA). A place where filmmakers can celebrate the craft while building relationships and a deeper understanding of the industry. Contestants have until the 17th of May to submit their project and can do so by clicking HERE.

Animation du Monde’s mission is to give animation projects in developing animation industries from across the world the opportunity to participate at the highest level internationally during the MIFA Pitches.  Video pitches will be accepted for those not able to attend the preliminary regional round at DISCOP Abidjan however, candidates who are able to attend the event will be given preference.  The competition regulations can be viewed HERE.

“The value of entering a pitch competition like Animation du Monde goes far beyond winning or losing. Through it you build relationships, your confidence to sell your project, and most of all the insight of industry professionals with years of experience with projects from around the world.” says Nick Wilson, Head of Projects & Content at AAN.

During the 2018 Animation du Monde finals in Annecy Ingrid Agbo, from Togo, secured a pre-sale for her project L’arbre à Palimpseste which is currently in pre-production.  Ingrid qualified with her project through the 2017 regionals run by AAN at DISCOP Abidjan and won one of two places to represent Africa at Annecy/MIFA 2018 via the Animation du Monde 2017 Continental Finals at DISCOP Johannesburg Through her journey she was able to connect with other African animation filmmakers who were able to help her refine her project through to the 2018 finals in France.

Ingrid shared her Annecy experience with us,  “My Annecy experience was so unexpected. Winning the opportunity to pitch my project there was a huge pleasure but also a real challenge for me.  This festival was like a gauge for my project. There were so many and different, great projects coming from all around the world.”

Jerome Soffo Simo, President of Tous’Anime Association & Organizer of CANIMAF in Cameroon, had this to say about his about his experience, “Firstly, the Annecy Pitch Contest taught me that you have to write, draw, structure, and then put together your animation project and that story is the most important part, because, a successful animation is a well-told story. The story will guide you in choosing the style to adopt and the rest will follow.”

Subscribe to our newsletter and keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for news on when the preliminary rounds will be in your region!


Animation du Monde 2020 retourne à DISCOP Abidjan:  DISCOP Abidjan, en partenariat avec African Animation Network (AAN), organisera le mois prochain le 3ème concours annuel de pitching Animation du Monde.

L’industrie africaine de l’animation continuant de se développer et en reconnaissance des défis auxquels les créateurs sont confrontés pour pouvoir accéder au marché, l’accent sera mis sur le court métrage et les séries animées.

DISCOP Abidjan est la deuxième des 5 phases préliminaires de l’Animation du Monde panafricaine 2020. A travers l’empreinte de DISCOMICS – une initiative gérée par DISCOP Markets et AAN – et qui comprend des partenariats avec 3 des conventions de la bande dessinée les plus anciennes d’Afrique, AAN accueillera 4 événements préliminaires régionaux à Johannesburg (ICON CGC), Abidjan (DISCOP Abidjan), Lagos (Lagos Comic Con) et Nairobi (Nairobi Comic Con). Parce que nos partenaires cherchent toujours à créer de nouvelles opportunités pour les créateurs à travers l’Afrique, AAN s’est associé au Festival du film d’animation d’Accra (AAFFia) pour ajouter un 5ème tour préliminaire régional.

Les Pitchs MIFA sont sans doute le plus grand forum de pitching d’animation au monde et se déroulent dans le contexte du Festival International du film d’animation d’Annecy et du MIFA (Annecy/MIFA). Un lieu où les cinéastes peuvent célébrer le métier tout en établissant des relations et une compréhension plus profonde de l’industrie. Les candidats ont jusqu’au 17 mai pour soumettre leur projet et peuvent le faire en cliquant ICI.

La mission d’Animation du Monde est de donner aux projets d’animation des industries en développement du monde entier la possibilité de participer au plus haut niveau international lors des Pitchs MIFA.  Des pitchs vidéo seront acceptés pour ceux qui ne pourront pas assister à la ronde régionale préliminaire à DISCOP Abidjan. Toutefois, les candidats ayant la possibilité d’assister à l’événement auront la priorité. Le règlement de la compétition peut être consulté ICI.

«La valeur de participer à un concours de pitch comme Animation du Monde va bien au-delà de gagner ou de perdre. Grâce à cela, vous développez des relations, votre confiance pour vendre votre projet et, surtout, la perspicacité des professionnels du secteur ayant des années d’expérience a travers des projets du monde entier », déclare Nick Wilson, Responsable des Projets et du Contenu chez AAN.

Lors des finales Animation du Monde 2018 à Annecy, Ingrid Agbo, du Togo, a assuré la pré-vente de son projet L’arbre à Palimpseste, actuellement en pré-production.  Ingrid s’est qualifiée pour son projet via les tournois régionaux 2017 dirigés par AAN au DISCOP Abidjan et a remporté l’une des deux places pour représenter l’Afrique à Annecy/MIFA 2018 via la finale continentale Animation du Monde 2017 au DISCOP Johannesburg. Elle a ainsi pu se connecter à d’autres réalisateurs africains qui ont pu l’aider à peaufiner son projet jusqu’à la finale 2018 en France.

Ingrid a partagé son expérience d’Annecy avec nous: «Mon expérience à Annecy était tellement inattendue. Gagner l’opportunité de présenter mon projet a été un immense plaisir, mais également un véritable défi pour moi. Ce festival était comme une jauge pour mon projet. Il y avait tellement de projets différents venant du monde entier.»

Jerome Soffo Simo, président de l’association Tous’Anime et organisateur de CANIMAF au Cameroun, a partagé son expérience: «Tout d’abord, le concours de pitch d’Annecy m’a appris qu’on doit écrire, dessiner, structurer, puis enfin assembler votre projet d’animation et que le script constitue la partie la plus importante, car une animation réussie est une histoire bien racontée. L’histoire vous guidera dans le choix du style à adopter et le reste suivra.»

Abonnez-vous à notre newsletter et gardez un œil sur notre page Facebook et notre site Web pour savoir quand les tours préliminaires auront lieu dans votre région!

 

Animation du Monde 2020 and Pop Culture at ICON CGC 2019

Animation du Monde 2020 and Pop Culture at ICON CGC 2019

Animation du Monde 2020 and Pop Culture take center stage at ICON Comics & Games Convention 2019!

 

ANNECY FESTIVAL ANIMATION DU MONDE


In 2018 the
African Animation Network (AAN), through its partnership with DISCOP Markets, partnered with Africa’s longest running pop culture events, ICON CGC (South Africa), NAICCON (Kenya), and Lagos Comic Con (Nigeria) to create DISCOMICS. This open network platform’s goal is to create opportunities through which these events can work together to grow and increase opportunities for Africans who create pop culture content. These events, over the past 2 years, have hosted some of the preliminary rounds for the Pan-African animation pitching competition Animation du Monde.

“Pop culture” has made great inroads into mainstream media over the last decade. This in part due to the ways through which the stigma around nerd and geek culture has fallen away. Social media has come to play a big role in this with some of the most popular Instagram accounts belonging to active cosplayers. Animation is a genre that has inspired many a cosplayer. Its role in popularising the subculture is undeniable.

Animation again played a big role at ICON CGC 2019. The event’s 27th edition. This could be seen in almost every facet of the event, from cosplayers dressed as their favourite characters, to some of the entertainment, and panel discussions. This was the backdrop wherein the first of five Pan-African preliminary rounds for Animation du Monde 2020 kicked off.

Over 4,000 people interacted with multiple aspects of ICON CGC over the Easter long weekend, which took place at Emperors Palace. People from various backgrounds and ages shared their love for pop culture through the various events that took place. These included panel discussions around the business aspects of the pop culture phenomenon, as well as a full and frank unpacking of the challenges that the South African and African industry’s built around this genre are facing.

An article by Rob Salkowitz, the author of Comic Con & the Business of Pop Culture, digs deeper into these challenges. Rob also hosted a panel discussion on the role that Africa has to play in the entertainment economy, which includes animation as one of the key components of this changing landscape.

As a Pan-African custodian of the Animation du Monde pitching competition brand, AAN, through a partnership with Annecy Int. Animated Film Fest’ & Market/MIFA, is always looking for opportunities that will empower creatives, and to showcase African talent. The winners of this year’s preliminary rounds will go through to the Continental Final held at DISCOP Johannesburg in late November, where they will be mentored by some of the best in the business.

Some of the most talented African animation creators presented their work both live and through video presentations at ICON CGC. In the end the 3 projects chosen were; Pixel’s Plan by Cate Wood Hunter (South Africa), Into the Odd by Moshood Shades Ridwan (Nigeria), and Flying Low by Sean Steinberg & Sean Braam (South Africa). African storytelling through animation is gaining confidence and whilst these projects are unique and very different they have an authentic African voice.

The Animation du Monde preliminary round was one of 3 international competitions taking place at ICON CGC this year. It included the region final for the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) competition which saw two teams being selected to represent South Africa (and by extension Africa) at WCS held in Nagoya, Japan in both 2019 and 2020. 8 teams competed but in the end it will be KinNeko Cosplay who will attend WCS 2019 and Team BakaYama who will attend in 2020.

World Cosplay Summit South Africa

These kinds of competitions provide contenders with access to compete on a global stage at the highest level– opportunities that were not available several years ago. It makes it possible for Africa to change the opinion the world has of it. It also means that new audiences are able to appreciate what the continent has to offer. WCS and Animation du Monde are opening doors for creators that were previously only available outside the continent.

The call for the second prelim of the Pan-African Animation du Monde taking place at DISCOP Abidjan is currently open. Francophone Africa has in the past proven it has what it takes to compete internationally. Ingrid Agbo (Togo), a DISCOP Abidjan 2017 semi-finalist, would later go on to win an historic pre-sale at MIFA Pitches 2018 via the Continental Final at DISCOP Johannesburg 2017. Contestants have until the 17th of May to submit their project and can do so by clicking HERE.  Video pitches will be accepted for those not able to attend the preliminary regional round at DISCOP Abidjan however, candidates who are able to attend the event will be given preference.  The competition regulations can be viewed HERE.

ANIMATION DU MONDE 2020 @ DISCOP ABIDJAN

We look forward to seeing your project for this leg of the prelims!

Subscribe to our newsletter and keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for news on when the preliminary rounds will be in your region!

 

Animation du Monde / ICON Deadline Extension / First Judge & Mentor Announced

Animation du Monde / ICON Deadline Extension / First Judge & Mentor Announced

Animation du Monde / ICON Deadline Extension / First Judge & Mentor Announced!

During a press conference on Monday, 15 April in Paris, Annecy Int. Animated Film Fest’ & Market/MIFA announced their exciting animation film line-up whilst also welcoming Nora Twomey as MIFA Campusfirst female patron. Twomey, a partner at Cartoon Saloon, directed the critically acclaimed The Breadwinner.

The MIFA Campus is an exciting opportunity for students and professionals from around the world to meet with recruiters, attend various master-classes and discuss initiatives and schemes in the animation industry.  As a custodian of the Animation du Monde brand in Africa, the African Animation Network (AAN) are proud to be associated with an organisation that places such great importance on empowerment, a cornerstone of AAN’s mandate as a social enterprise.

ANIMATION DU MONDE DEADLINE EXTENSION ICON

African animators are therefore invited to take part in the first preliminary round of the Pan-African Animation du Monde pitch season that will take place at ICON Comics & Games Convention (ICON CGC) from the 20th to the 22nd of April at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa.  The deadline for project registrations have been extended.  Contestants have until the 18th of April (8AM CAT) to submit their project and can do so by clicking HERE

Video pitches will be accepted for those not able to attend the preliminary regional round at ICON CGC however, candidates who are able to attend the event will be given preference.  The competition regulations can be viewed HERE.

AAN have also assembled an exciting panel of international judges & mentors for this year’s Animation du Monde Continental Final that will take place at DISCOP Johannesburg in November 2019.

RATHAN SAM GEORGE, COO TOONZ MEDIA GROUP INDIA

The first of the judges & mentors to be announced is Rathan Sam George (Chief Operating Officer, Toonz Media Group), who has the following to say of his involvement; “We at Toonz Media Group produce over 10,000 minutes of animation a year and have recently seen the raw potential of African creators. Partnering with AAN has created opportunities for us to share our knowledge, as well as reach out to these creatives in a way that will grow the animation industry locally. I am personally excited to find co-production and IP investment opportunities in Africa”.

 

Animation du Monde 2020 at ICON

Animation du Monde 2020 at ICON

Animation du Monde 2020 at ICON Comics & Games Convention!

ANNECY FESTIVAL ANIMATION DU MONDE

The 27th edition of
ICON Comics & Games Convention (ICON CGC) is taking place from the 20th to the 22nd of April at Emperors Palace. It will host the first preliminary round of the Pan-African Animation du Monde pitch season. Contestants have until 15th of April to submit their project and can do so by clicking HERE.  Video pitches will be accepted for those not able to attend the preliminary regional round at ICON CGC however, candidates who are able to attend the event will be given preference.  The competition regulations can be viewed HERE.

ANIMATION DU MONDE 2020 @ ICON CGC

Although this is only the 3rd edition of the competition, it has already created opportunities for African producers that haven’t existed before. During the Animation du Monde 2018 finals at Annecy Int. Animated Film Fest’ & Market/MIFA, Ingrid Agbo (from Togo) secured a pre-sale for her project L’arbre à Palimpseste which is currently in pre-production. Ingrid qualified with her project through the 2017 regionals run by the African Animation Network (AAN) at DISCOP Abidjan and won one of two places to represent Africa at the Animation du Monde 2017 Continental Finals at DISCOP Johannesburg.

Animation du Monde focuses on developing animation territories across the world and gives contestants the opportunity to participate at the highest level internationally during the MIFA Pitches programme. The MIFA Pitches are arguably the biggest animation focused pitching forum in the world and take place against the backdrop of the Annecy Int. Animated Film Festival/MIFA (Annecy/MIFA) in France.

The Pan-African Animation du Monde preliminary pitch season also creates opportunities for creators to build relationships with other African animation filmmakers. Ingrid is using the platform that the pre-sale she won has given her, to recruit talent from across the continent to work on first season of L’arbre à Palimpseste as she builds partnerships with broadcasters from across the world.

South African producer Isaac Mogojane, a MIFA Pitches Finalist in 2015 and MIFA Pitches Winner in 2018 (Disney Prize) shared with us his experiences in pitching at MIFA. “ I have had the privilege of presenting projects at MIFA twice. The first time I was there was in 2015 when I presented the action/adventure series, Anansi. Last year, our second project, Junk Pilots was accepted into the global TV pitches category and this time round, it took home the Disney Prize. Presenting your ideas at Annecy and MIFA is a great way to build a profile around your project. Each year, the market gets bigger, more projects are picked up and more deals are concluded in Annecy. This makes it therefore a great platform to engage with the world about your creative vision and how you imagine it coming to life.”

ISAAC MOGOJANE MIFA PITCHES WINNER 2018

Animated short films and TV series have shown great potential to foster partnerships across the continent and globally. At the 2017 Animation du Monde Continental Final, Wendy Spinks’ & Clea Mallinson’s short film Mumue was selected, alongside Ingrid Agbo, to represent Africa at Annecy/MIFA 2018.  Although Mumue didn’t win during the pitch sessions in 2018, Wendy went on to win the Digital Lab Africa NEF Animation – Nouvelles Ecritures pour le Film d’Animation International Residency with another project of hers I am Chuma. Wendy had the following to share about her Animation du Monde experience: “Pitching at Annecy/MIFA has been a personal goal for me for some years and it was a real humbling moment that it would come via Mumue, which is a project I know to have allowed myself, for the first time, to really bring forward my personal creative and authentic voice to rise above the priority for commercial viability of the project and to address a social cause I care deeply about.”

WENDY SPINKS ANIMATION DU MONDE CONTINENTAL WINNER 2017

At the 2018 Continental Finals held at DISCOP Johannesburg, The Troublemakers presented by Nildo Essa (of Mozambique) and The Makerbolts presented by Dami Solesi (of Nigeria) won the two places to represent Africa at the 2019 Animation du Monde Finals in Annecy.  Nildo shared some insights on his journey thus far: “We wanted to create little heroes that our children could relate to… and ever since then has been a very rough and hard road to go on because we don’t have the ability to get aid from local entities or the government. We were able to compete in the prelims of the Pan-African Animation du Monde competition for Annecy 2019, we were one of the 10 chosen projects to compete in the Continental Finals… after some very needed guidance by the event’s judges and mentors we were one of the winners and now we are going to pitch our series project Os Pestinhas or The Troublemakers at Animation Du Monde at Annecy this year!”

NILDO ESSA ANIMATION DU MONDE CONTINENTAL WINNER 2018

At the Continental Finals held at DISCOP Johannesburg 2018, all the finalists got to work on their projects with industry heavy hitters who were both judges and mentors. These included names like Alexis Ducord & Arthur de Pins (Co-directors of Zombillenium), Mike de Seve (Creative Director at Baboon Animation), Rathan Sam George (CCO of Toonz Media Group), and Géraldine Baché (Head of Projects at MIFA). As part of the Annecy – MIFA Animation du Monde – Skills Programme, a programme of workshops, masterclasses, one-on-one project evaluations and pitch practice sessions were run at DISCOP Johannesburg ahead of the Continental Final. Participants were given valuable insights into both improving their projects and their pitching techniques.

Through the DISCOMICS footprint– an initiative run by DISCOP Markets and AAN– and which includes partnerships with 3 of Africa’s longest running comic conventions, AAN will be hosting 4 regional prelims in Johannesburg (at ICON CGC), Abidjan (DISCOP Abidjan), Lagos (at Lagos Comic Con), and Nairobi (Nairobi Comic Con).  Because, the partners are always looking to create new opportunities for creators across Africa, AAN has partnered with the Accra Animation Film Festival (AAFFia) to add a 5th regional prelim.

Subscribe to our newsletter and keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for news on when the preliminary rounds will be in your region!