Animation South Africa (ASA) is on a mission to create a sustainable pipeline for the animation industry. The industry association and non-profit company representing the interests of animation, VFX, and gaming professionals in South Africa is spearheading significant initiatives with the goal being multiple series and multiple seasons on those series that will allow people to be in jobs for a long period of time.

Isabelle Rorke, Head of ASA’s Social Impact and Human Capital Innovation, envisions a comprehensive “cradle to grave” strategy. Progress is being made through three key projects: the Township Youth Animation Programme, the KZN Animation Strategy, and ASA’s Market and Broadcast Readiness Incubator.

Township Youth Animation Programme

Animation SA has partnered with The Beehive Culture Worx, a film and animation education and production collective based in Kliptown and Eldorado Park, to develop the Township Youth Animation Programme.

Building on a series of workshops run by current ASA Vice Chair Mocke J van Veuren in 2023, the Programme for 2024 includes Trainer Training for animation workshops in township and community contexts, combining five community arts facilitators and five animation graduates in a skill-sharing programme focused on developing animation education methodologies and production pipelines suited to township and peri-urban areas and communities.

This programme, supported by the NFVF, will flow directly into the production of an animated title sequence for The Beehive’s feature film, “Mense Phola Hier”, currently in post-production. The animation work will be done by workshop participants from ages eight to 30, under the guidance of the trained facilitators. Thereafter the Beehive collective will engage in the development phase of an animated Feature Film, again supported by NFVF. 

Van Veuren states, “The approach taken in this extensive chain of work is research-based, where methodologies are tested and documented for replication in similar contexts. Material from all these projects will be compiled into a Resource Pack developed by Animation SA, which will be made available to schools, libraries, and arts centres nationwide.”

KZN’s 5-Year Animation Strategy

Van Veuren collaborated with Rorke on another project, the KZN 5-Year Animation Strategy. The then-KZN Film Commission, now known as the KZN Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTFA), appointed ASA in 2023 to develop this strategy, partnering with Red Ibis Education for research and development.

A spokesperson for KZNTFA commented, “We conducted an open and transparent supply chain process to find a qualified company to help bring this project to fruition. Animation SA was selected based on their alignment with our needs and their ability to deliver on the required work.”

The strategy, formally adopted and launched at this year’s Durban Film Market (DFM), takes a grassroots approach to animation development in the province. It emphasises the establishment of a Partnership Network that spans the province, involving arts centres,   schools, universities, studios and technology innovation partners. The strategy also promotes diverse animation techniques, including stop-motion, to eliminate high costs as a barrier to entry, and reconceptualises the value chain to prioritise merchandising, marketing, and distribution during the development phase.

The Animation Strategy will begin its rollout in 2024 with the appointment of an Implementation Agent and the development of the Partnership Network, taking full effect under the new KZNTAFA budget in March 2025.

Market and Broadcast Readiness Incubator

Animation SA’s Market and Broadcast Readiness Incubator is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the animation sector. The programme focuses on helping established studios scale their operations and transition into producing television series.

The incubator offers a range of services, including business model development, marketing strategies, and infrastructure support. By providing these resources, ASA aims to reduce the high failure rate of businesses in the animation industry, which often struggle to survive beyond their fifth year.

Rorke highlights that one significant hurdle faced by new producers is the reluctance of investors to fund first-time projects due to perceived risks. ASA’s incubator programme addresses these risks by preparing studios for the demands of producing high-quality content. This preparation includes training in scriptwriting, licensing, and merchandising, ensuring that studios are well-equipped for success.

Headquartered at Transwerke Studios, Constitution Hill, Braamfontein, the incubator has facilitated 10 projects over the past three years, focusing on business skills and project development. Six projects have received development funding, with one currently in pre-production and being prepared for market access.

*To learn more about these initiatives, visit the Animation SA stand at Fame Week Africa, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from September 1-7.