FUPiTOONS FESTiVAL, the first “Made in Africa for Kids” animation short film festival, is touring Africa in 2018 starting at DISCOP Abidjan
The African Animation Network’s (AAN) FUPiTOONS FESTiVAL, debuted in October 2017 in partnership with Ster-Kinekor, Cartoon Network and The Animation School. A total of 114 submissions were received from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.
AAN’s 2017 content curation team, which comprised award winning African animation experts; Comfort Arthur (Ghana), Clea Mallinson (South Africa) and Wendy Spinks (South Africa), selected the best shorts for inclusion in the final 90min edit. Inclusive of this edit are Cartoon Network’s 4 Imagination Studios shorts.
Imagination Studios:
Cartoon Network’s Imagination Studios, was a drawing contest run in April 2017, aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 12-years-old, allowing them to conceptualise and create their very own Cartoon Network friendly character duo. The first place competition winners, from each of four categories, had their animated creations premiere at the FUPiTOONS FESTiVAL in Johannesburg, South Africa before appearing live on TV on Cartoon Network across Africa in December 2017.
Cartoon Network contracted African studios; My Child TV (exec-producer), Punch Monkey Studios (writing), Mindseye Creative (producer) and Audio Militia (sound & post-production) to produce the 4 animated shorts. This represents Cartoon Network’s first foray into 100% African produced animated content.
Expanded Footprint:
DISCOMICS is a new enterprise founded by AAN and DISCOP Markets in partnership with ICON Comics & Gaming Convention (ICON CGC), Nairobi Comic Con (NAICCON) and Lagos Comic Con (LCC). It is through this expanded footprint of markets and conventions that FUPiTOONS FESTiVAL will be touring Africa.
ICON CGC, Johannesburg, South Africa, 29 June – 01 July
DISCOP Zanzibar, Tanzania, 11 July – 13 July
NAICCON, Nairobi, Kenya, 11 August – 12 August
LCC, Lagos, Nigeria, 15 September
Call for Content:
Said Nick Wilson, Head of Projects at AAN and DISCOMICS Co-founder; “We’re exceptionally excited about touring FUPiTOONS FESTiVAL around the continent. This is a unique platform to get eyeballs on Africa’s best animated short form content and a unique value proposition for content producers and the festival in the long term.”
The call for FUPiTOONS FESTiVAL 2018 will launch at DISCOP Zanzibar (11 -13 July, 2018). Animation producers are reminded to join the AAN newsletter and keep abreast of news and calls HERE.
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.