Nigeria's Animation Industry Is Inspiring The New West African Creatives

Until recently, the animation industry in Nigeria was referred to as the next unwinding “potential” for Nollywood and the animation community at large. All that is changing, with the steady increase of quality production in animation films and skits emerging from the creative sector. While the industry still has some work and exposure to attain, the future looks very promising. Here are some of the Animation hubs in Nigeria brewing the new generation of west African creatives.

Komotion Studios

Pushing boundaries and applying competent creative skills into production, Komotion Studios delivers unique solutions for advertising, film, retail, broadcast and entertainment. The 3D short film Dawn of Thunder, created by the Nigerian animation hub, tells the ancient mythology of Sango,the Yoruba god of thunder from a true African perspective. Before that, the first ever animated version of Sango appeared in a Marvel Thor Comic from 1982 and then in a DC comic titled New Earth in 1990.

Komotion Studios had this to say:
“Sango is a popular god of thunder from Oyo State in Nigeria with his signature thunderbolt axe that causes lightning and disruption when used by him. We explored his childhood a bit, from where it all started, the questions he asked, the answers he was given, the visions about his future encounters and ultimately how these experiences will shape his future.

“Having heard and known all this, what will his approach be towards events as they unfold? The series will look at his life from birth to his mysterious disappearance.

“During the course of the series, we will explore the functionality of the civilization that existed during his time, bringing out key lessons about preservation of nature, healthy living, natural and herbal medicine, dangers of deforestation, preservation of water bodies and wildlife in the most creative way.

“Our goal is to educate and align with the sustainable development goals while also entertaining our audience.”

Orange VFX Studios

Orange VFX has successfully exposed the Nigerian Animation industry in new light of professional animation and visual effects services right at the heart of Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos. Orange VFX offers a broad range of services, including but not limited to 3D animations, television commercials, original animation series, interactive media, corporate presentations, branding and training.

The comedy series featuring characters Wale and Ovie, recorded major success at its launch with a viral reception nationwide.

Smids Animation Studios

Smids Animation Studios—founded by woman-in-tech Dami Solesi—is a Lagos-based design studio specializing in computer animation, motion graphics and visual effects. Creating high-quality entertainment such as TV series, CG animated feature films and short film is a major focus for the creative hub.

The CEO Dami Solesi has this to say:

“My passion for animation dates back to when I was a child. I love cartoons, and producing them has always been my dream. Smids provides that platform and I’m grateful. I have a background in animation with a certificate in Autodesk 3D max, which helps me work on various animation pipelines.

“At Smids Animation Studios I am privileged to work on some amazing projects where I bring in my creative and organizing skills. Smids Animation Studios combines creative talent and innovative technology to create excellent entertaining computer animation. It has a culture of excellence.”