Triggerfish, the renowned animation studio behind Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (Disney+) and Supa Team 4 (Netflix), has partnered with UNESCO to launch “The Creator Labs”, a groundbreaking capacity-building program designed specifically for African women in animation.
This collaboration, driven through Triggerfish’s non-profit arm, the Triggerfish Foundation, aims to tackle the gender disparities that persist in the animation industry. Carina Lücke, Director of the Triggerfish Foundation, explains, “By partnering with UNESCO, we seek to foster gender equality in animation. By prioritizing leadership roles across the industry pipeline, we’re not only encouraging creativity and innovation but also breaking down barriers for a more inclusive and diverse field.”
“The Creator Labs” will be open to aspiring animators across Africa, offering a Director Lab for future directors and an Animation Art Lab for emerging artists. Participants will gain access to masterclasses from award-winning industry professionals, personalized mentorship sessions in small groups, and valuable networking opportunities. These initiatives are aimed at empowering participants to take on leadership roles in the animation sector.
UNESCO’s report on the African film industry reveals that the sector contributes approximately $5 billion to the continent’s GDP and provides employment to over 5 million people. Despite this, it highlights a significant education and training gap that disproportionately affects women, limiting their representation in leadership roles within the industry.
Although challenges remain, the animation industry in Africa is rapidly growing, propelled by the efforts of women like Ebele Okoye. Okoye is the first female animator to win the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for her film The Legacy of Rubies, and she has also founded Anijollygirls, a program dedicated to supporting women in animation. Similarly, Damilola Solesi’s award-winning short film Hadu, produced by her company Smids Animation Studios, is gaining international attention and furthering the cause of female representation in the field.
UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone R., emphasizes the importance of training, saying, “Through technical and vocational education in animation, we aim to enhance career opportunities for women in TV and filmmaking.”
The training resources from “The Creator Labs” will be made available online through the Triggerfish Academy. These materials, developed with input from industry leaders such as Caroline Vos (Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire), Cinzia Angelini (Hit Pig! Mila), and Nadia Darries (Star Wars: Visions Vol. 2), will provide aspiring animators with valuable knowledge and tools.
Applications for the program will open on December 9, 2024, and close on January 5, 2025. Online masterclasses and mentoring sessions will run from March to May 2025. For more information and to apply, visit the Triggerfish Academy Creator Labs website.
Triggerfish, an award-winning animation studio, has produced acclaimed films like “Adventures in Zambezia” and “Aau’s Song” for “Star Wars: Visions Volume 2”. The studio’s work has earned multiple accolades, including International Emmys, a BAFTA, and an Academy Award nomination.
