Walt Disney Animation Studios and the Pan-African British-based entertainment company, Kugali Media, are getting set to release the first ever Nigerian animation series Iwájú.
Iwájú, a new animated series coming to Disney+ in 2023, will be the first co-production between Disney Animation and an outside studio. The founders of that studio, African animation company Kugali, were on hand at the D23 Expo in Anaheim to show what’s in store.
D23 Expo is the ultimate Disney fan event which brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. This includes Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and more.
Iwaju, which roughly translates to “the future” in Yoruba is a science fiction series and will be an original long-form animated series. The is produced by Toluwalakin Olowofoyeko, and spearheaded by Olufikayo Adeola (Ziki), the managing director and co-foundr of Kugali.
Written and directed by Kugali co-founder Ziki Nelson, “Iwaju” is set in a futuristic version of Lagos, Nigeria, and follows two kids, Tola and Kole, who grow up on opposite sides of a city sharply divided by the haves and have-nots. Their friendship is tested by Bode, a tech pioneer whose futuristic advances hide a criminal underworld he runs with an iron fist.
A sneak preview of the series shows an Afrofuturist tale that Nelson says will have plenty of color and action, and like so many Disney tales, there’s an animal companion along for the ride in the form of a robotic salamander named Otin. But the series also tackles social themes facing Lagos in real-life, most notably the widening inequality facing its residents.
Iwájú was announced back in 2020, along with concept art for Tola and Kole, though the protagonists in the earlier announcement appeared much older than they are in the more recent artwork. While details are scare, VFX editor Marlon West previously explained the art style will be unique and distinct among Disney films. He said, “It may not look like a Disney film, but it has to look Disney-quality.”
The D23 event also saw updates and announcements concerning a number of other animated titles, including Elio, a space-adventure featuring America Ferrera; Inside Out 2, the sequel to the beloved 2015 film; Elementals and more.
Iwájú is expected to release on an undetermined date sometime in 2023.
