(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
Iwájú is an original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, co-produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The exciting coming-of-age story follows Tola – a young girl from the wealthy island, and her best friend, Kole, a self-taught tech expert, as they discover the secrets & dangers hidden in their different worlds. Kugali Media filmmakers, including director Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, production designer Hamid Ibrahim & cultural consultant Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku, take viewers on a unique journey into the world of Iwájú, bursting with unique visual elements and technological advancements inspired by the spirit of Lagos. Iwájú is an animated series created & directed by Nigerian filmmaker Ziki Nelson (aka Olufikayo Ziki Adeola), co-founder of Nigeria’s Kugali studio. It’s produced by Disney Animation’s Christina Chen with a screenplay by Ziki Nelson and Halima Hudson. (courtesy First Showing)
One of the most welcome recent trends in storytelling has been the diversity in storytelling available on streaming platforms.
There’s still a long way to go, of course, with global media giants still skewing too much to White and Western, even in heavily multicultural societies, but the fact that it’s happening, and with increasing speed and intensity, is a very good thing.
Evidence in the narrative richness to be found in such a diversified approach is Iwájú, a new animated series from Nigeria which First Showing says is a “‘love letter to Lagos and Nigeria’, and the first ever co-production between Disney Animation and an outside studio – Kugali.”
It looks wondrously colourful, exciting and fun, with just the right balance between comedy and action, and the best part is all the episodes drop at once on its release day.
What a wonderful way to spend the succeeding weekend that will be!
Iwájú premieres on Disney+ on 28 February.