The African Animation Network (AAN), the pro-profit, talent-driven social enterprise, embarked on a journey 18 months ago to bridge the global animation community. And today, the first day of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival & Market (Annecy/MIFA), represents the accomplishment of this goal.
Imperial Palace, Annecy
AAN, as a pro-profit, talent-driven social enterprise, set an ambitious goal for itself when it was established 18 months ago. On the top of its priority list is, to create a place for its members on the global stage. Today, the first day of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival & Market (Annecy/MIFA), represents the accomplishment of this goal.
Core Mission:
Our core mission is to empower African animators and build a sustainable sector for them to work in. Our strategy is built on on 4 key pillars, i.e. skills development, access to audience (which leads to revenue generation), investment partnerships, and intellectual property ownership.
Open Networks:
To facilitate this core mission AAN has created a plethora of open networks that allow a wide diversity of African animation professionals and organisations to participate in its events and initiatives and create and distribute content. These include; Animation Unites Africa, Annecy – MIFA Pitches Animation du Monde, Annecy – MIFA Animation du Monde – Skills Programme, African Animation Network SVOD Mobile Channel, FupiToons Festival and the African Animation Network Digital Publication.
The African Animation Network Booth @ Annecy
Partnerships:
AAN’s quarter-on-quarter, double digit growth is as a result of 2 key partnerships. Firstly, with the foremost content market in Africa, DISCOP Markets. And, secondly, with the [biggest and] most prestigious animation festival and market in the world, Annecy/MIFA. It is through their support that AAN has been able to interface with key decision makers in the African and global content and animation industries whilst simultaneously raising the profile and validating AAN and its institutional partners.
Animation du Monde:
Perhaps the biggest testament to AAN’s core mission and validation for its efforts is the fact that AAN is a custodian of the Annecy – MIFA Pitches Animation du Monde brand in Africa. This is the foremost talent identification and skills development platform globally with a very high percentage of projects pitched at Annecy/MIFA pitch platforms finding the investment and co-production partners to further develop and produce their content.
Historic:
Furthermore, the 12th of June 2018 is an historic moment in African digital arts history as Association Ivoirienne du Film d’Animation (AIFA), Association Burkinabè du Cinéma d’Animation (ABCA), Association of Animation Artistes of Kenya (A3K), Association of Comic Makers of Nigeria (ACMON), Lagos Comic Con (LCC), Nairobi Comic Con (NAICCON) & ICON Comics & Gaming Convention (ICON CGC) are represented at Annecy/MIFA for the first time. Along with Animation South Africa (ASA), this collective is the widest representation of African animation at any global trade show.
The African Animation Network is a pro-profit, talent-driven social enterprise and open network with a core mandate to empower African animation professionals and build a sustainable African animation industry.