Representation is the name of the game, and finally South African children are seeing more and more shows where the characters look and sound like them. Kgomotso Moncho–Maripane delves into the nascent local animation industry
Anansi is an urbanised mythical fantasy that borrows from the West African folk tale god-like character who often takes the shape of a spiderRepresentation is the name of the game, and finally South African children are seeing more and more shows where the characters look and sound like them.There’s a dearth of locally produced children’s content on our TVs, and this is both a challenge and an opportunity.
This is why the exploration of other cultures in films such as Moana and Coco, and the recent casting of black leads such as Halle Bailey in the live action adaptation of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, strike a chord. “I’m aware of the fact that South African children have not been exposed to authoritative figures who look like them. Their earliest consumption is bombarded with images of Caucasian and blonde characters achieving the impossible.
Innocent Nkata, managing director of Sesame Workshop SA, says production of new seasons of Takalani Sesame is under way and new episodes are expected to launch later in the year, with the continued support of Sanlam, the Lego Foundation and the Sesame Workshop. Even with the national broadcaster in disarray and needing a bailout, Boesak gives the SABC the benefit of the doubt for trying and highlights its biggest challenge when it comes to children’s programming.
“When we moved into animation production, and looked at the setting, we always knew it was going to be a swimming pool. “Then we looked at Sea Point swimming pool as a reference, which, historically, was always racially inclusive. And so it made sense,” adds Anthony Silverston, head of development at Triggerfish.OF SPIDERS AND BAOBABS
Mogajane’s second project, Junk Pilots, won the coveted Disney Prize at Annecy’s Mifa pitch focus in 2018. Described as a sci-fi comedy action series, it is set in a future where technology has mysteriously disappeared. “The voice of our studio is to create shows that I always wanted to see when I was growing up, which is work that plays in the sci-fi/fantasy space, with a strong African perspective and the high quality that you’d expect from international leaders such as America or Japan.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
LISTEN | South African campuses struggle with rampant crime“Many students enter university with negative family, social and economic experiences in their backgrounds as a result of a shaky high school life that left the student traumatised or even motivated to engage in criminal activity — factors which act as ...
Read more »
Aircraft carrying South African from Wuhan set to arriveAll passengers have been tested prior to the flight back from China and none were positive for COVID-19.
Read more »
Kenya, Ethiopia join expanding list of African states with coronavirus - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Guinea and Mauritania all confirmed their first cases of the new coronavirus on Friday, giving the disease a foothold in 19 countries on the African continent.
Read more »
LIVE: Arrival of South Africans repatriated from China - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.The SAA chartered plane carrying over a hundred repatriated South Africans from the Chinese city of Wuhan and members of the SANDF has landed at the Gateway Airport in Polokwane in Limpopo.
Read more »
South Africans repatriated from China arrive at Gateway Airport - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.The SAA chartered plane carrying over a hundred repatriated South Africans from the Chinese city of Wuhan and members of the SANDF has landed at the Gateway Airport in Polokwane in Limpopo. covid19SA CoronaVirusUpdates
Read more »
South Africa calls for travel bans due to coronavirus increases - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.The number of South Africans calling for government to issue travel ban into South Africa from countries hardest-hit by the coronavirus (COVID-19) is growing. COVID-19
Read more »