Annecy, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year with a hybrid edition, starts this Monday, 14 June 2021. This year’s festival is spotlighting African animation, with Triggerfish featuring prominently across the screenings and sessions.

Khumba and Stick Man are two of the closing night films on Saturday, 19 June 2021. Stick Man won the Cristal for Best TV Production at Annecy in 2016, while Khumba competed for Best Film at Annecy in 2013. Also, screening is Belly Flop, a closing night short film at Annecy 2018, which went on to win 15 awards around the world. It’s part of Annecy’s African Animation, Today anthology, a selection of 11 contemporary animations from South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana and the Congo.

On Thursday, 17 June 2021, Annecy presents a Focus Session on Triggerfish, looking back at their 25-year journey since opening in Cape Town in 1996, just two years into South Africa’s democracy. As part of the session, they will discuss their experience opening their first international office last year in Galway, Ireland, and share a sneak peek at their upcoming feature Seal Team.

Triggerfish is partnering with WIA on the 2021 Women In Animation World Summit, themed “The Business Case For Diversity”, and on Monday, 14 June 2021.

WIA Vice President Jinko Gotoh said, “We must democratize animation on all fronts: education, art, technology, and industry. Along those lines, we are thrilled to partner with Triggerfish to present this year’s Summit, as they have been doing such tremendous work over the years to diversify storytelling and bring better representation to the African animation industry.”

“We’re honoured to be partnering with WIA on this important summit,” says Triggerfish producer Vanessa Sinden. “Triggerfish has a vision for a world where stories are predominantly told and created by the people the stories belong to, and WIA’s work in gender inclusivity and diversity takes huge steps towards that goal, particularly as it applies to the continent of Africa.”

At the WIA World Summit, Triggerfish will present a panel on African creators in animation, a conversation with African women taking centre stage with shows they have created, written, and directed. Vanessa will moderate the session, which will feature Mama K’s Team 4 creator Malenga Mulendema, Kiya co-creator Kelly Dillon, Triggerfish development executive Tendayi Nyeke, and Triggerfish collaborators Omotunde Akiode (Nigeria) and Ng’endo Mukii (Kenya). Triggerfish Foundation director Carina Lücke will also participate in a WIA World Summit panel on Alternative Career Paths and Opportunities for Talent.

On Tuesday, 15 June 2021, a Wacom Live Session will explore Troll Girl, Kay Carmichael’s upcoming short film with Giantslayer Studios and Triggerfish, with a particular focus on its use of the Blender Grease Pencil.

About Seal Team

Seal Team is the story of Quinn, a seal who spends his days relaxing in the sun, splashing in the beautiful waters off the coast of Cape Town, and swimming for his life from Great White Sharks. When he decides it’s time for the food chain to bite back, Quinn recruits a ragtag team of like-minded seals brave, stupid and crazy enough to try to teach those sharks a lesson - once and for all. Jaws will drop.

The VIP voice cast includes Oscar winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Justice League); Emmy winner Matthew Rhys (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, The Americans, Perry Mason); animation legends Kristen Schaal (Gravity Falls, Toy Story 3 and 4, Despicable Me 2) and Patrick Warburton (Family Guy, Ted, Bee Movie); action star Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier, Aquaman, The Expendables franchise); Grammy winner Seal; and Jessie T. Usher (Shaft, Independence Day: Resurgence, The Boys) as Quinn, not to mention South African stars John Kani (The Lion King, Black Panther, Captain America: Civil War) and Sharlto Copley (District 9, Chappie, Maleficent).

About Kiya

Meet Kiya, a 7-year-old African girl whose passions in life are dancing and martial arts. When Kiya and her two best friends put their magical crystal headbands on, they become superheroes, ready to defend their community against villains.

Kiya’s world features a diverse cast of characters inspired by the varied landscape, natural beauty and culture of Southern Africa.

Produced by eOne, Triggerfish and Frog Box, in partnership with Disney Junior and France Télévisions, the series is based on an original concept from South African-based production company Triggerfish and developed for Television by Frog Box and eOne.

Kelly Dillon and Marc Dey created the characters for Kiya, then developed for television by Robert Vargas. The production features a diverse creative team, including writers, designers, and composers from Africa, France, the US, and the UK.

Kiya joins eOne’s successful slate of preschool properties, including award-winning shows like Peppa Pig and PJ Masks.

About Mama K’s Team 4

Mama K’s Team 4 tells the story of 4 teen girls living in the neo-futuristic African city of Lusaka, Zambia. They are recruited by a retired secret agent still committed to saving the world.

Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema, one of eight winners in the Triggerfish Story Lab initiative in 2015, a pan-African talent search, created Mama K’s Team 4.

Designed by Cameroonian-South African artist Malcolm Wope, it draws visual inspiration from retro-’90s R&B and hip hop girl groups.

Netflix collaborated with Triggerfish and CAKE to launch a continent-wide search for local female writing talent for the show.

Malenga grew up watching cartoons on TV and found herself asking why no heroes looked like her and why they didn’t live in a world that felt like her own. “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,” says Malenga. “Most importantly, I want to illustrate that anyone from anywhere can be a superhero.”