Tinga Tinga – African folk tales soon to find a wider audience.

The simple African folk tales that your grand-ma or grand-pa told you a long time ago as a child are now being animated and produced in East-Africa for BBC Channel CBeebies in the UK and Disney’s Playhouse channel in the US. While in Kenya early last spring I got to see an episode of the animation which I thought was fantastic. The character drawings are a contribution of a few artists mainly in Tanzania and the animation Art Direction lead by Kwame Nyongo.
With this being an extended production timeline (started late 2007) its set to launch sometime this December.

XYZ show on the BBC

Cartoonist Godfrey Mwampembwa aka Gado created a show called XYZ which satires Kenyan politicians and features them as extra giant puppets. Here’s a brief interview that the BBC highlighted on their site and a short video of making the show behind the scenes. Check out the XYZ’ssite for more info and clips on the show.

A burst of Fanta by Pollen

Pollen (based in South Africa) creates a great new commercial for Fanta. In-line with the brand created by Psyop, Pollen spreads the cheer with fizzing Fanta. Talented Darren Macpherson pulled off some amazing character animation and compositing work put together by Graeme Carr. Pollen also updated their reel and is worth checking out! (Thanks to Darren for this update).

The Amazing Extra Golden

I first heard of Extra Golden a yr or so ago when their song about the, then Sentor Obama caught on someone’s ears at NPR and they soon warmed my heart. Any Kenyan realises Benga tends to have an ear to an older audience and isn’t seen as trendy by the youth. This band reckons to change that. Authentic in its tunes and style of benga and now fused with rock gives this band an extra sting!  At a concert at the Middle East in Cambrige, MA, Sunday night, I now have a new respect and love for this band. With a pretty mixed and vibrant audience it was easy to catch on to their music. Extra Golden makes great harmony fusing two worlds so separate (East African Benga & alternative rock) that its a marvel to watch these african and white guys take at heart the worlds apart and bring it together on stage in a manner that’s new and refreshing. I’m thrilled this band brings world music closer at heart. (ON TOUR catch them at a city near you!)

Access Leo Burnett help Orange say Hello

Glimpses of a young married couple trail back to the first shy moment they met. Directed by Bo Piatt – who’s represented by Nicholas Berglund (Paris, France), we tag along to see different parts of the scenery in Nairobi. Also cast as the budding bride is Neema Mawiyoo. View here and see full credits as well.

Conduit: Pilsner (with a refreshed look)

Knock off the 3 star rating – East African Breweries – Pilsner Lager now has a 5 star rating, a different bow, rounded edges and the lion has turned on its side. Mhh very minimal rebrand – to warrant a 5 gold star rating. Meh! Condiut delivers for them a fresh commercial – I think worthy of the stars.

What can your creativity do asks Design Indaba

Over the past 11 years, Design Indaba has exploded to be one of the top 10 conferences to attend. Set in South Africa, Design Indaba pushes creativity to solve solutions and ease financial crunches by innovation and design. Animation created by Wicked Pixels – SA

Rex adopts a new grid look

Design house Rex Creative in South Africa gets fancy by adopting the new grid look! I like!

Brett McManus: 09 Reel

Motion Designer / Art Director Brett McManus updates with a nifty reel. After freelancing in Capetown, South  Africa, McManus is now working in Europe. (via motionographer)

African Bands at SXSW

Of the array of great music and delectable bands playing in Austin, TX I highlight  The Parlotones & BLK JKS.  The Parlotones an indie rock band, have found themselves successful in SA and Europe. Their music is expressive and in no way have they left their music videos flat and boring. In 2005 they released an EP of “Dragonflies & Astronauts”, and in 2006 a memorable video directed by Claudio Pavan made way to be screened in RES FEST 2006 in South Africa. “Overexposed” is their new EP release. Animated in similar fashion yet pushing boundaries, making the band members animated characters, edited with some live action animation and film. 

Overexposed was directed by Claudio Pavan & Arri Reschke  of Lung Animation with some help from Darren Macpherson who always has outstanding work. Full video credits here. 

BLK JKS!!

Having been featured in last years Fader issue on African Music I found this band refreshing to my ears. Their psychedelic rock and dub, hits a new high with a mix of that distinctive South African rhythm making this band fresh & rad. Take a listen, buy their EP on itunes and here are some performance pics from Kamau Mucoki’s flickr page.