Creators of award-winning 3D animation feature film Adventures in Zambezia, Triggerfish Animation Studios in Cape Town, continue to deliver the goods as their new feature Khumba has been acquired by a well-known French production company at the recent Cannes Film Festival and has been selected for competition at Annecy International Animation Festival that runs until 15 June 2013.
“We expected that Adventures in Zambezia would do well, but I don’t think anyone could have predicted how well it’s been doing in some territories where we’ve beaten many of the big studio animated films,’ says Stuart Forrest, producer and CEO of Triggerfish.
“We’ve been in the Top 20 in the Netherlands for more than three months. As of mid-March 2013, Zambezia has either beaten or earned at least half the box-office of its rivals in 50% of the territories in which it’s been released. This includes major studio films like Frankenweenie, The Pirates!, ParaNorman, Brave, Wreck-It Ralph, Rise of the Guardians and Hotel Transylvania. So it’s a great accomplishment for our first film made on a fraction of the budget of its rivals.’
Khumba, which releases on 25 October 2013 is Triggerfish’s latest 3D offering. The animated feature is about a half-striped zebra that is rejected by his superstitious herd. Then he embarks on a daring quest to earn his stripes, but finds the courage and self-acceptance to save all the animals in the Great Karoo.
Director Anthony Silverston, who co-wrote the script with Raffaella Delle Donna, was inspired by the discovery of the quagga which was thought to be extinct and turned out to be a sub-species of zebra.
Silverston found it fascinating how a name or identity could be defined by skin markings, so the zebra became a visual metaphor that spoke to themes of difference as well as our common humanity.
“The name Khumba comes from the word “isiKhumba’ which means skin, so essentially it’s a story about a hero growing into his own skin and accepting his difference. Anthony and I were both inspired to tell this story because it’s a theme that everyone can relate to – we all have that one thing about ourselves that we wish we could change,’ says Delle Donna.
She continues: “Locally we hope to break records. Khumba should have huge appeal to a South African audience so we’re aiming to hit this out of the park. Khumba is also in competition at the Annecy Animation Festival this year and we’re sure that it will raise the profile of the South African animation industry.’
Delle Donna says they are currently developing the script for the sequel to Adventures in Zambezia with director Wayne Thornley. “We all cut our teeth on Zambezia so it will be exciting to apply what we’ve learnt to make an even better sequel. I can’t reveal too much at this stage, but I could probably best sum it up as an Indiana Jones-type adventure set in ancient southern African ruins against the backdrop of epic 3D flying sequences.
“I believe that animation is South Africa’s greatest hope for a worldwide breakout hit – simply because it travels so easily. So I think it is imperative that we develop storytellers who grasp this medium and what it can do for the way they tell their stories.’
Triggerfish’s latest feature, Sea Monster, which is currently in production, is one of the selected projects at this year’s Durban FilmMart which runs in conjunction with the Durban International Film Festival from 19 to 22 July.
By Martie Bester
screen africa magazine – june 2013
