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Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire

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Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire
Genre
Developed by
  • Shofela Coker
  • Raymond Malinga
  • Ahmed Teilab
Voices of
ComposersAmir Hedayah, Zethu Mashika, Zyon Black, Jordan Bridges, Darlington Chikwewo, Kojo Dodoo, Kay Faith, James Frank, Sek Hao Ho, K.ZIA,

Rethabile Khumalo, Femi Koya, Olaolu Lawal, Prisca Leong, Tinashe Makura, Aero Manyelo, Joe-Louis Marques, Anton Morgan, Tapiwa Mubeda, Mpho Pholo,

Poptain, Ross Sean, James Ssewakiryanga, Oliver Stotz, Pierre-Henri Wicomb, Adrienne Yong, Zap Mama
Country of originSouth Africa
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producerPeter Ramsey
Producers
  • Tendayi Nyeke
  • Anthony Silverston
Running time10-12 minutes
Production companyTriggerfish Animation Studios
Original release
NetworkDisney+
ReleaseJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is an Afrofuturist[4] and Africanfuturist[5][6][7] animated anthology short film series produced by Triggerfish.[8][9] It premiered on July 5, 2023, on Disney+.[10] It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Synopsis

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Each film has an African perspective, from one or more directors, on themes such as social media, duality, disability, self-reflection, shared humanity, and other topics, with stories which include time travel, extraterrestrials, and alternate universes.[4][6][11]

Production

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On June 27, 2021, it was announced that creators from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt would be working on a ten-part series of original animated films, entitled Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire. Peter Ramsey was picked as executive producer, while Tendayi Nyeke and Anthony Silverston were supervising producers, and Triggerfish was the primary studio, along with other animation studios in Africa.[12][13] The release date was described "late 2022," with each film being 10 minutes long.[12][7][14] Some described the series as a "recent breakthrough" for the African animation industry, along with Kiff, Kiya, and Iwájú.[15] Development of the series included a "multi-year research phase" to ensure the films accurately depicted specific cultures.[16]

The release date was later changed to 2023,[17] It was later announced the series would premiere on Disney+ on July 5, 2023.[18][2] A trailer for the series was posted on June 13, 2023.[19][20]

Before the series premiere, Ramsey described the series as displaying films showing "a unique African perspective" on the future and science fiction, while playing "to a broad audience," while directors Lesego Vorster, Isaac Mogajane, and Catherine Green talked about the storylines and animation of their specific films.[11]

Reception

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Critical response

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.30/10, based on 8 critic reviews.[21]

Charles Pulliam-Moore of The Verge said that the series is an indication that Disney is embracing a global audience wanting "fantastical worlds dreamt up by...storytellers working outside of Hollywood." He argued that each of the short films is unique, with the series as a whole as a collection of distinct tales "informed by the sci-fi pop cultural canon," which he compared to Star Wars: Visions, said that none of the shorts are rushed or struggling to find their meaning, and added that the series will put many promising "new talents on your radar."[22] Justin Carter of Gizmodo said that the series blends African philosophy and culture with fantasy and sci-fi elements, with family as a central theme in almost all of the episodes, while others explore the "idea of creation," with personality, in his view, shining through in each episode, along with "a superhero splash" and focus on gentrification, and has the potential to grow into something bigger.[23] Lauren Westbrook of MovieWeb said that the series offers a different perspective than other films and series, and provides a "deeply introspective cultural commentary on modern society."[24] The Root described the series as their "TV Pick Of The Week."[25]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2024 Annie Awards Best Animated Limited Series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (for "Enkai") Won [26][27]
Best Animated Effects - TV/Media Matthew Dunwoody, Dmitry Sarkisov, Podchasha Yuri Anatolyevich, Richard Bothma, and Emile Van Straaten (for "Moremi") Nominated
Best Character Animation - TV/Media Andre DeVilliers (for "Moremi", "Surf Sangoma" and "Stardust") Nominated
Best Character Design - TV/Media Lesego Vorester (for "You Give Me Heart") Nominated
Best Directing - TV/Media Shofela Coker and Andrew McNally (for "Moremi") Nominated
Kidscreen Awards Tweens/Teens Programming – Best Animated Series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire Won [28]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected by [29]Written byOriginal air date [29]
1"Herderboy"Raymond MalingaRaymond Malinga & Mpho Osei TutuJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)
Ndahura jumps off a spaceship over the Chwezi Highlands and meets his sister, Captain Katono, who is herding cattle with two fellow herders named Dushiime and Isingoma. The cattle produce chwezinite and are harvested for their crystals, powering their society. When a Nyamiyonga beast attacks, everyone is pinned down. Later, Ndahura follows it into a cave. After freeing a trapped calf, he fights and tames the Nyamiyonga beast with a crystal. He then returns to Katono and her fellow herders, who welcome him into their group.
2"Mkhuzi: The Spirit Racer"Simangaliso ‘Panda’ Sibaya & Malcom WopeLeslie PulsiferJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)
In the Soweto Super Circuit, Manzo loses the race, but comes face-to-face with Ogun, a super intergalactic racing overlord, who declares that he has purchased their neighborhood, and will begin demolition the following day. Manzo's mother, in her disguise as Mkhuzi, agrees to race. However, Manzo takes his mother's place and despite several setbacks in the race caused by his inexperience, he is able to pull out a tie after merging with the spirit, Jangu, to become all-parts Zulu. Ogun, frustrated he did not win, but valuing the determination that Manzo put forth, agrees to leave the neighborhood alone and looks forward to their next race.
3"Moremi"Shofela CokerShofela Coker & Vanessa KanuJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)
Luo runs back to his home and is greeted by Malimba. He is later saved from soul-stealing monsters by Moremi, and learns the story of how a woman closed a doorway between worlds in hopes of keeping out the monsters. However, this woman couldn't rest until she saved her child. Later, Luo returns and merges his life force with the child, Olu, allowing Moremi to finally be reunited with him.
4"Surf Sangoma"Nthato Mokgata & Catherine GreenNthato Mokgata, Catherine Green & Phumlani PikoliJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)
Ma Zed is ensnared by squids. Her grandson, Njabulo, is unable to save her, and she is pulled down into the ocean's depths. Years later, Njabulo is a surfing coach and he talks to his friend, Mnqobi. Both race one another until they reach a secret spot and are encouraged by locals to enter the dangerous waters and surf. Njabulo refuses, but his friend obliges. Later, Mnjobi helps the locals rob Njabulo and take his surf board, which is all he has left of his grandmother. Following this, he is encouraged by his grandmother's voice to return to the tumultuous ocean and face his fears, where he saves his friend Mnqobi, whom the renegade surfers are holding as a hostage. Mqnobi and Njabulo survive. In a final scene, a huge squid roars and prepares to approach the city.
5"First Totem Problems"Tshepo MocheTshepo MocheJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)
Sheba can't get on a train because it doesn't identify her has an adult and is only helped at the last second by one of her family members. She attends a ceremony to get a totem, but she ends up in a place where her ancestors are living, by accident. Ultimately, she finds the totem printing room, is told that a totem connects to one's community rather than what is manufactured. Somehow she is thrown out of the spirit realm, gets her totem, leaves the ceremony, and is now considered an adult.
6"Mukudzei"Pious Nyenyewa & Tafadzwa HoveTafadzwa HoveJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)
Muku spray paints a ruin of Great Zimbabwe, mocks someone mourning the dead, and is transported to an alternate dimension, due to a timeline glitch. He is saved by a scavenger named Rumbie and finds himself in Muchadenga, a parallel universe where Great Zimbabwe was never colonized. He barely escapes a bird which is trying to catch him, but learns that the bird is trying to help them return to the past. Thanks to the bird, Rumbie and Muku, go through the portal, with Rumbie reuniting with her mother, and Muku talking to his dad.
7"Hatima"Terence Maluleke and Isaac MogajaneIsaac MogajaneJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)
A merboy named Mati, who lives in an underwater society, reflects on his father, and wonders when he will become a warrior. His brother, Sana, says he isn't ready, and won't last a day against the enemy. When Mati proposes they use a Hatima against the foes, Sana says only the air-breathers use those weapons of war. Later, Mati learns that he, and his society, are descended from a woman, Nhela, who combined herself with a Hatima and was shunned by society. As a result, he helps Ntsako, his "foe", and realizes that he, and his "enemy", are related, and shouldn't be fighting one another.
8"Stardust"Ahmed TeilabAhmed TeilabJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)
Nawara reaches the Oracle, who provides people with scrolls based on their given task, and despite a robot declaring that she isn't of the right "kind" to get a scroll, the Oracle gives her one anyway. She later learns there is nothing inside, with no scroll, enraging her, declaring she is going to have to "take" her destiny into her own hands. She later helps the Oracle fight off the Pallids, reclaims the star, and works with the Oracle to save the day at the observatory. In the end, she says she wants to be "nothing, but this", implying she may stay with him.
9"You Give Me Heart"Lesego VorsterNonzi BogatsuJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)
Sundi enters a contest to become the new God of creativity. Although he wins the approval of Maadi, goddess of plenty, he embarrasses the announcer, Tsbinki, with a clay hummingbird, and has to earn one million followers in 24 hours to "truly ascend", or he will be "basic". Tsubinki vows revenge, even as he tries to increase his follower count. Even as he reaches his goal, he embarrasses Maadi, causing her to lose followers and her goddess status. In his anger against the system, he causes everything to fall apart, with each god losing their forms. The system overloads, with Sundi and Maadi locking hands and telling the program to "delete" it all.
10"Enkai"Ng'endo MukiiNg'endo MukiiJuly 5, 2023 (2023-07-05)
Shiro plays with her daughter, Enkai, but insists she isn't ready to create anything yet. Enkai worries that her mom is always working, but Shiro says she isn't ready to come to Earth, yet. She later ventures to Earth and ends up in the slums of Kirinyaga Mega City, where people are rapping about exploitation of a mountain by the Euro-Kenyan corporation. Her mom saves her, but is suffering from internal pain. She insists that the corporation will not succeed in destroying the mountain. As the years past, she gathers what she needs from Earth. She saves her mother in the nick of time and brings her to a new world, named Thayari, saying humans can only save themselves now, and they enjoy their new life.

References

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  1. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (April 6, 2023). "AfroAnimation Diversity & Inclusion Summit Brings First Live Event to Burbank". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Schreibfeder, Lisa (May 25, 2023). ""Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire" Streaming July 5th Exclusively On Disney+" (Press release). Burbank, California: Disney. Disney Plus. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  3. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (June 15, 2022). "Disney Sets Massive TV & Streaming Animation Slate at Annecy". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Cornall, Flo (June 27, 2023). "'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire' brings Afro-futurism to Disney+". CNN. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "Kizazu Moto Generation Fire Showcases 10 Futuristic Visions for Africa". Comicon.com. June 12, 2023. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire adds new stories to African Futurism genre
  6. ^ a b Egan, Toussaint (May 2, 2023). "Afrofuturist animated series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire coming to Disney Plus". Polygon. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023. an animated anthology dedicated to imagining the future from an African perspective.
  7. ^ a b Vourlias, Christopher (June 17, 2021). "Disney Taps Top African Toon Talents for Animated Anthology 'Kizazi Moto' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023. presenting 10 bold, wholly original visions of the future from a distinctly African perspective.
  8. ^ Lang, Jamie (June 15, 2023). "Disney Presents Packed TV Slate With Loads Of New Trailers And Images". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Dudok De Wit, Alex (June 17, 2021). "African Creators Tapped For Disney+ Anthology 'Kizazi Moto'; Peter Ramsey Exec-Produces". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Vourlias, Christopher (June 26, 2023). "Why Disney+ Sci-Fi Anthology Series 'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire' Is a 'Watershed Moment' for African Animation". Variety. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Ramsey, Peter; Vorster, Lesego; Mogajane, Isaac; Green, Catherine (June 26, 2023). "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire's Peter Ramsey and Directors on Disney+'s New African Sci-Fi Series". Comic Book Resources (Interview). Interviewed by Sergio Pereira. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Schreibfeder, Lisa (June 27, 2021). "Animated Anthology "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire" From Leading African Creators Set To Release On Disney+ In 2022" (Press release). Burbank, California: Disney. Disney Plus. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  13. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (June 17, 2021). "Disney+ Sets Animated Sci-Fi Anthology 'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire', Picks Up 'Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes' – Annecy". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (June 17, 2021). "'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire' Animated Anthology from African Creators Coming to Disney+". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Milligan, Mercedes. "Cape Town Goes Global in Hybrid Animation Fest, Triggerfish Teams with E4D to Grow African Talent". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Weiss, John (June 17, 2021). "Disney+ to showcase African creators with 'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire' sci-fi anthology". Syfy. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  17. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (April 3, 2023). "CTIAF Spotlights African Toon Talent for the Global Stage". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (June 13, 2023). "Disney Branded TV & Disney EMEA Kick Off Next 100 Years of Toons at Annecy". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  19. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (June 13, 2023). "Official Trailer Debuts for African Anthology 'Kizazi Moto'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  20. ^ "Disney+ Celebrates Afrofuturism in 'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire' Trailer". Collider. June 13, 2023. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  21. ^ "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  22. ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (July 15, 2023). "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is the next brilliant sci-fi anthology you've been looking for". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  23. ^ Carter, Justin (July 10, 2023). "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire Feels Like the Spark of Something Great". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  24. ^ Westbrook, Lauren (July 10, 2023). "This Disney+ Series Will Completely Redefine Sci-Fi Animation". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  25. ^ "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire Is Our TV Pick Of The Week". The Root. July 2, 2023. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  26. ^ "51st Annual Annie Awards". Annie Awards. January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  27. ^ Lewis, Hilary (February 17, 2024). "Annie Awards: 'Spider-Man: Across the 'Spider Verse' Leads With 7 Wins, Including Best Feature". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  28. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (February 5, 2024). "BREAKING NEWS: Announcing 2024's Kidscreen Awards winners". Kidscreen. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  29. ^ a b "KIZAZI MOTO: GENERATION FIRE Episode Descriptions" (PDF).
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