Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Africa’s first animated series on Netflix
A CAPE Town studio has produced the first African animation series to be picked up by Netflix Originals.
Mama K’s Team 4 is a superhero series about four teenage girls living in a futuristic Zambia, who are recruited by a retired secret agent to save the world.
It has been produced by award-winning local studio Triggerfish with London children’s entertainment specialist CAKE.
Mama K emerged as part of Triggerfish’s Story Lab competition in 2015, with writers from across Africa submitting as many as 1 400 pitches.
Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema, one of the winners, wrote Mama
K. She grew up watching cartoons and wondered why none of the heroes looked like her.
“In creating a superhero show set in Lusaka, I hope to introduce the world to four strong African girls who save the day in their own fun and crazy way,” Mulendema said.
“Most importantly, I want to illustrate that anyone from anywhere can be a superhero.”
Triggerfish chief executive Stuart Forrest said the idea for Mama K was an instant favourite but they weren’t sure it would be funded. “Fortunately, Netflix were bold enough to take a chance on it,” he said.
“We’re hoping that African children can get the experience of connecting with a group of heroes that they can more closely identify with.
“But we’re also hoping that the rest of the world will empathise and connect with the lead characters in a way that helps close some of the perception gaps between the rest of the world and Africa, and in a small way bring the world together a little closer than it was before.”
Netflix’s vice president of original animation, Melissa Cobb, said Mama
K would create a platform for African writers. “Mama K’s Team 4 has the potential to give a whole new generation of African children the opportunity to see themselves on screen in the powerful, aspirational characters they can look up to,” she said.
Triggerfish’s head of development, Anthony Silverston, added: “We are excited about this ground-breaking milestone, not only for our company, but for the African animation industry as a whole.
“We have so many stories that have never been heard, and so many talented artists that have never been able to showcase their talents to the world.
“A project of this scale allows us to begin to build a stable infrastructure for more work to come, so we can attract even more artists into this exciting career opportunity.”
Meanwhile, Netflix is searching for black female writers from Africa to join the creative team for Mama K.
If you think you meet the criteria and would like to help shape the adventures of four teenagers navigating high school while also trying to save the world, see careers.triggerfish.com.