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Iwájú

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Historyday01 (talk | contribs) at 15:52, 27 July 2022 (Is it too soon? I don't think so. Anyway, I'd argue there are enough sources to make this a live article especially with the coverage its getting this year.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Iwájú
Genre
Created byZiki Nelson
Written byZiki Nelson
Directed byZiki Nelson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer
Producer
  • Toluwalakin "Tolu" Olowofoyeko[a]
Production companies
Original release
NetworkDisney+

Iwájú is an American animated series produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and the Pan-African British-based entertainment company Kugali Media.[1][2][3] Nelson is the creator of the series, calling it "my story."[4][5] The series is the first "original long-form animated series" produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios in its history.[6] The series is scheduled to debut in 2023.[7][8] The title of the series roughly translates to "The future" in the Yoruba language.[9][10]

Synopsis

Set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, the series will explore "deep themes of class, innocence and challenging the status quo".[11][12][13][14]

Production

Development

Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jennifer Lee read an article on BBC about Kugali Media, a British-based company founded by African artists, saying that they wanted to "kick Disney's arse".[15][16] Intrigued by the company's desire to create and tell African stories, she approached them to develop together an original long-form science fiction animated project for The Walt Disney Company's streaming service, Disney+.[17] The producers originally planned to create a series of shorts, but "each idea was an epic feature", so they choose to create a series instead.[18]

On December 10, 2020, Lee announced that WDAS and Kugali Media would be co-producing a new original animated series for Disney+, titled Iwájú.[11] It will be WDAS' first original animated series, as most of Disney's television projects - original or based on pre-existing IP - are produced by Disney Television Animation.[11] She described the collaboration between both companies as a "first of its kind collaboration".[11] The show will be directed by Ziki Nelson.[19]

In February 2021, the Kugali Media team said that Iwájú is not like World of Wakanda, with Kugali Media CEO Ziki Nelson saying they "took a real African city" (Lagos, Nigeria) and found ways to adapt it using their imagination, with Hamid Ibrahim, the creative director, clarifying that Disney Animation let them "be ourselves and...be true to ourselves," working with Disney with "a certain amount of autonomy and creative freedom." SYFY said this could "open the doors for other post-pandemic collaborations around the world."[6] Toluwalakin "Tolu" Olowofoyeko, Chief Technology Officer of Kugali, is a creative consultant and consulting producer on the show, and Ziki Nelson, CEO of Kugali, wrote the story.[6]

At the 2021 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Olowofoyeko said that the story was inspired by the city of Lagos, Nigeria, due to Lagos being "the culture capital of Nigeria", and due to both its mainland and island areas having "a unique, distinct feel" that the creative team felt provided "an interesting base for the story".[18] Nelson said that the series would be an "opportunity to give people a more holistic view of Nigeria" througth its "strange but wonderful city".[18] Producers worked with several nations for the series, with visual effects director Marlon West saying that members of the team were hired from several departments, while head of story Natalie Nourigat described having a "virtual story room" composed of both Kugali and Disney employees as "a great way to introduce new people".[18]

In September 7, 2021, it was reported that Cinesite will also co-produce the series, with pre-production already underway at Cinesite Montereal.[20][21] It was also reported that Christina Chen and Joel MacDonald will produce the series.[20]

In May 2022, EWN described the series as "in production" along with Kizazi Moto.[22]

In July 2022 it was announced that the series would be featured among other upcoming Disney projects at the D23 Expo in September.[23]

Animation

Animation will be handled in both Cinesite's Montereal and London facilities,[20] and Disney Animation's Vancouver studio, with pre-production and storyboards supervised at Disney's Burbank studio.[24] Hamid Ibrahim, the Creative Director of Kugali, is the production designer for the show.[6] Ibrahim said that the show's animation style would differ from previous Disney productions with director Ziki Nelson saying that it will instead be inspired by African, Eastern, and Western animation styles, and visual effects director Marlon West adding that it will still have the same quality as other Disney projects.[7] Ibrahim also said that the towers composing the mainland are of the series' main setting is meant to represent overcrowding, while the island area contains a bigger "space and room for creative expression".[18] He added that technology is a crucial aspect of the setting, with the series featuring several advanced technologies, such as augmented reality glasses substituting smartphones and featuring "spherical flying cars" that were "designed spherical flying cars".[18]

Themes

Iwájú will explore themes of inequality and class divide, which director and Kugali co-founder Ziki Nelson described as "the everyday reality of life in Nigeria and other parts of the world". It will also explore how those issues affect everyday society, as well as "challenging the status quo".[18] Nelson also described the show as about "inspiration, or aspiration and desire, to try and engineer society for living in a more positive way."[25] Ibrahim also argued that the series represents a "personal childhood dream of mine to tell my story and that of my people."[10]

Release

Iwájú was originally set to debut in 2022, exclusively on Disney's streaming service, Disney+.[11][26][27][28]

At the 2021 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, on June 16, 2021 the crew behind the show discussed how the cartoon stands out, along with concept art for the series.[7] The series was described by Ibrahim as a "Kugali-Disney mash-up," a collaboration between both companies, to which Jennifer Lee, the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, agreed, while Olowofoyeku said the show had a "very unique set-up for storytelling already built into the DNA of the real-life Lagos." Additionally, Nelson said the show's creative team built "a futuristic world rooted in the contemporary setting."[25] In June 2021, it was said that the show would not be expected to premiere on Disney+ until 2023.[7][29] The series is one of the two animated series based on Africa which will be released by Disney, with the other being Kizazi Moto: Generation of Fire, which will premiere in 2022.[30][31]

In December 2021, at the Investors Day for Disney, details about the show's characters and plot will be revealed.[7]

In January 2022, it was revealed that the series will consist of six parts.[32] This was further confirmed in July 2022, when it was announced that a behind-the-scenes look at the series would be shown in a documentary series produced by ABC News Studios, a division of ABC News.[33]

Reception

Pre-release

LuxeKurves Magazine praised the series for featuring "black African characters written and created by an African team," describing it as Afrofuturist. [34] BBC News noted that the series will be the first time that Disney "will work with African storytellers to create an animated series set on the continent," implying the series is Afrofuturist.[35] Business Insider said that the series is "set in a Wakanda-like world"[9] while IOL called the series "steeped in science fiction."[36] Native Magazine said the series will "highlight poignant West African stories told through animation and comic-book format," saying it is very important at a time with continued police brutality and government corruption in Nigeria, and will be "further cement the talent of African creatives on a global scale," with a story told through "African lenses."[37] Tor.com described the series as Africanfuturist and said that by partnering with Disney, Kugali Media can "reach an ever broader audience, bringing their message around the globe."[38] Deadline said that the series would "explore themes of class, innocence and challenging the status quo."[39]

Notes

  1. ^ He is a creative consultant and consulting producer on the show

References

  1. ^ Salaudeen, Aisha. "Disney announces 'first-of-its-kind' collaboration with African entertainment company". CNN. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; December 14, 2020 suggested (help)
  2. ^ Ito, Robert (February 7, 2021). "Beyond 'Black Panther': Afrofuturism Is Booming in Comics". New York Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  3. ^ Perry, Spencer (December 11, 2020). "Disney Announces Afro-Futurist Series Iwaju for Disney+". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  4. ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (December 12, 2020). "Tiana, Moana, and More: All Walt Disney Animation Studios Series Synopses". comicbook.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2020.
  5. ^ Johnston, Rich (December 12, 2020). "Kugali Teams Up With Disney for the Original Series Iwájú for Disney+". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Horne, Karama (February 27, 2021). "Indie comics Spotlight: How African comic creators Kugali called out Disney and won a collaboration". SYFY. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e Baron, Reuben (June 16, 2021). "Iwájú Won't Be 'Disney-Style' But Promises 'Disney Quality' Animation". CBR. Archived from the original on June 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "Disney and Africa's Kugali to unleash a futuristic Lagos in the upcoming series 'Iwaju'". AnimationXpress. June 17, 2021. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Oluwole, Victor (December 11, 2020). "Disney teams up with pan-African company to release sci-fi series set in Lagos, Iwaju". Business Insider. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Liu, Narayan (December 12, 2020). "Disney, African Company Kugali Announce Sci-Fi Series Iwájú". CBR. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d e White, Peter (December 10, 2020). "Disney+ Preps African Comic Book Series Iwájú In Partnership With Kugali". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  12. ^ Gillespie, Daniel (December 11, 2020). "Disney Announces Iwájú, Sci-fi Show Set In Wakanda-Like World". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020.
  13. ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (December 11, 2020). "Disney and Pixar's New Animation Announcements Were Wild". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021.
  14. ^ Inman, DeMicia (December 11, 2020). "Disney+ sets 'Tiana' and 'Iwaju' animated series". The Grio. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; December 12, 2020 suggested (help)
  15. ^ "The African comic hoping to take on Disney". BBC News. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  16. ^ "Pan-African comic book hoping to 'kick Disney's arse'". YouTube. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  17. ^ "'Iwájú': Disney's Upcoming Pan-African Series That No One's Talking About". Rotoscopers. December 24, 2020. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g Giardina, Carolyn (June 16, 2021). "Annecy: Disney, Africa's Kugali Reveal a Futuristic Lagos in 'Iwaju'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; June 16, 2021 suggested (help)
  19. ^ Fox, Caroline (December 11, 2020). "All 9 New Disney+ Animated TV Shows Explained (Disney & Pixar)". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021.
  20. ^ a b c Milligan, Mercedes (September 7, 2021). "Disney Taps Cinesite to Deliver CGI for 'Iwájú'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  21. ^ "Walt Disney Animation Taps Cinesite for 'Iwájú' 3DCG Work". Animation World Network. September 9, 2021. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021.
  22. ^ "Disney+ is here: 5 things you need to know before subscribing". EWN. May 19, 2022. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  23. ^ Sharpe, Josh (July 17, 2022). "D23 Expo 2022 Announces 'Strange World', 'Elemental', and 'Zootopia+' Panels". Collider. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022.
  24. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 4, 2021). "Walt Disney Animation Amps Up Production With New Vancouver Studio, First Project Is 'Moana' Musical Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Vourlias, Christopher (June 17, 2021). "Disney, Africa's Kugali Reveal First Look at Sci-Fi Series 'Iwaju'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  26. ^ Maas, Jennifer (December 10, 2020). "Disney+ Orders 'Moana,' 'Tiana,' 'Zootopia' and 'Baymax' Animated TV Series". The Wrap. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  27. ^ Nwogu, Precious 'Mamazeus' (December 11, 2020). "African animation set in Lagos, 'Iwájú' gears up for Disney+ release in 2022". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020.
  28. ^ Valverde, Hector (December 12, 2020). "Disney Animation: Every New Project Announced at Investors Day". CBR. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020.
  29. ^ "Disney and Africa's Kugali to unleash a futuristic Lagos in the upcoming series 'Iwaju'". AnimationXpress. June 17, 2021. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  30. ^ Kryza, Andy (June 17, 2021). "Disney will launch two animated Afrofuturist series". Time Out. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  31. ^ Matiashe, Farai Shawn (December 14, 2020). "Disney is partnering with a Nigerian-Ugandan animation studio for an African sci-fi series". Quartz. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021.
  32. ^ "Brownstein: Montreal animation studio dancing on Netflix". The Province. January 27, 2022. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  33. ^ Weprin, Alex (July 16, 2022). "ABC News Launches Studio to Expand Documentary Efforts". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  34. ^ Powell, Jr., Hunter (January 4, 2021). "Iwájú om Disney+". LuxeKurves Magzine. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  35. ^ "Disney announces landmark African collaboration with Kugali". BBC News. December 11, 2020. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021.
  36. ^ Makiunde, Tami (December 11, 2020). "Disney teams up with Pan-African directors to create 'Iwájú'". IOL. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  37. ^ Makiunde, Tami (December 11, 2020). "Disney Plus is set to launch sci-fi series set in Lagos, Iwaju". The Native Magazine. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021.
  38. ^ Liptak, Andrew (December 11, 2020). "Disney Announces Animated Africanfuturism Sci-Fi Series Iwájú". Tor.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
  39. ^ Grobar, Matt (June 8, 2021). "'Iwájú' Creator Ziki Nelson Inks With David Neumann's Newmation For Management". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
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