Triggerfish Animation Studios
 | |
| Industry | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Cape Town, South Africa |
Key people |
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| Website | triggerfish |
Triggerfish Animation Studios, or simply Triggerfish, is a computer animation film studio based in Cape Town, South Africa and Galway, Ireland. The studio is best known for its animated feature films Adventures in Zambezia[1] (2012), Khumba (2013), and the work they have done on television specials created for UK producers Magic Light Pictures. In 2016, Stick Man was awarded the Cristal for best TV production at the Annecy International Animation Festival.[2] In 2017, Revolting Rhymes again won the Cristal for best TV production at the Annecy Festival,[3] and was nominated for the Best Short Film (Animated) Oscar at the 2018 Academy Awards.[4] In 2019, Netflix [5] announced that Triggerfish would produce its first African animated TV series. In 2020, Zog won the International Emmy for Best Kids Animation.[6] In 2021, The Snail and The Whale won Best Special Production at The Annie Awards,[7] while Triggerfish received the Mifa Animation Industry Award at Annecy for "the pioneering role that the company has played in animation in South Africa, and Africa most widely.”[8]
History[]
Triggerfish was established in 1996 by Jacquie Trowell and Emma Kaye in Cape Town, South Africa.[9] As a stop-motion animation studio, it produced multiple commercials for South African ad agencies. From 1998 through 2008, Triggerfish produced animation for Sesame Workshop for the South African version of Sesame Street, Takalani Sesame, as well as the US domestic and international versions of the pre-school kids' program.
Stuart Forrest joined as a junior animator in 2002 to work on Takalani Sesame for seasons two and three. In 2004, Forrest and James Middleton became partners in Triggerfish and in 2005 became the sole partners when the original founders left the company. In 2007 Anthony Silverston joined as creative director, and Mike Buckland joined as head of production. At the same time, the company moved away from stop-frame animation and relaunched as a computer animation studio.
In 2015, at the Premier’s Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards (PERA), Triggerfish was named Business of the Year by the Western Cape Government.[10]
In 2021, Triggerfish received the Mifa Animation Industry Award at Annecy for "the pioneering role that the company has played in animation in South Africa, and Africa most widely.” [11]
Short films[]
In 2008, Triggerfish created a 30-minute short entitled The Rise and Fall of Tony the Frog. The short was produced by Ambient Animation in Cape Town[12] for Isaac Entertainment.
In 2018. Triggerfish released a 4-minute short entitled Belly Flop, co-directed by Jeremy Collins and writer Kelly Dillon. This was one of four shorts screened during the closing ceremony at Annecy 2018. [13]
Feature Films[]
From 2006, the team began to shift focus to motion pictures by writing their first script Adventures in Zambezia, with US-based rights company Wonderful Works. The script went into production in 2009 and was released in 2012. In 2010, the studio started production on Khumba which started its worldwide release in Q3 2013. Triggerfish are now working in their third feature provisionally called Seal Team.[14]
Television animated series[]
On April 16, 2019, it was announced that Netflix had given a series order for the animated superhero series Mama K's Team 4.[15] The series is expected to be produced by the studio in collaboration with CAKE.[15] Malenga Mulendema will be credited as an executive producer and writer of the series.[5]
In February 2021, it was announced that eOne had greenlit the animated superhero series Kiya, about a seven-year-old African girl whose passions in life are dancing and martial arts. The original idea for Kiya was created by Kelly Dillon and Marc Dey, then developed for television by Robert Vargas. Kiya will launch in 2023 across linear and streaming platforms including Disney Jr., Disney + globally, and France Télévisions.[16]
In June 2021, it was announced that Disney+ had greenlit Triggerfish's anthology series Kizazi Moto. Inspired by the continent’s diverse histories and cultures, the 10-part anthology brings together a slate of rising animation talents from six African nations to produce action-packed sci-fi and fantasy stories that will present bold visions of advanced technology, aliens, spirits and monsters imagined from uniquely African perspectives.
Oscar-winning director Peter Ramsey (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”) will serve as executive producer, with Tendayi Nyeke and Anthony Silverston as supervising producers. Triggerfish will be the lead studio for the anthology, working in collaboration with animation studios across the continent and globally. The development process was curated and produced by the team at Triggerfish, including supervising producer Tendayi Nyeke, head of development Anthony Silverston, and Kevin Kriedemann, who proposed the initial idea for the anthology.
The final 10 films are from Ahmed Teilab (Egypt), Simangaliso “Panda” Sibaya and Malcolm Wope (South Africa), Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane (South Africa), Ng’endo Mukii (Kenya), Shofela Coker (Nigeria), Nthato Mokgata and Terence Neale (South Africa), Pious Nyenyewa and Tafadzwa Hove (Zimbabwe), Tshepo Moche (South Africa), Raymond Malinga (Uganda) and Lesego Vorster (South Africa).
Each film will be roughly 10 minutes long, and together will comprise a feature-length anthology of original animation that will be released as a Disney Plus Original across the globe.[17]
Story Lab[]
In mid-2015, Triggerfish announced the Triggerfish Story Lab, a program that aimed to develop African writers and directors. The initiative had the support of the Walt Disney Company.[18] Mama K's Team 4, the first Netflix Original animation series from Africa, was one of the projects unearthed by the Triggerfish Story Lab.[19] A second TV series from the Triggerfish Story Lab, Kiya! (previously Ninja Princess), was announced in February 2021 to have been picked up by Disney+.[20]
Triggerfish Academy[]
In June 2019 Triggerfish launched a free online learning platform aimed at encouraging young creatives to create their first animated film.[21]
Filmography[]
- Feature films
| # | Title | Release date | Budget | Gross | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adventures in Zambezia | July 3, 2012 | $20,000,000 | $34,428,345 | 25% | N/A |
| 2 | Khumba | October 25, 2013 | $20,000,000 | $27,000,000 | 44% | 40 |
| 3 | Seal Team[14] | 2022 |
- Television specials
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stick Man[22] (for Magic Light Pictures) | December 25, 2015 |
| 2 | Revolting Rhymes[23][24] (for Magic Light Pictures) | December 26, 2016 |
| 3 | The Highway Rat[25] (for Magic Light Pictures) | December 25, 2017 |
| 4 | Zog[26] (for Magic Light Pictures) | December 25, 2018 |
| 5 | The Snail and the Whale[27] (for Magic Light Pictures) | December 25, 2019 |
- Television series
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mama K's Team 4[15] (for Netflix) | TBA |
| 2 | Kiya[15] (for Disney+)[28] | 2023 |
| 3 | [15] (for Disney+)[29] | 2022 |
Feature Film Awards & Nominations[]
Adventures in Zambezia[]
- 2012 Best South African Feature Film at The Durban International Film Festival[1]
- 2012 Best Animation at South African Film and Television Awards
- 2013 Best Animation at Africa Movie Academy Awards
- 2013 Best Children's Feature at Anima Mundi
- Nominated for Best Music in An Animated Feature (Bruce Retief) and Voice Acting In An Animated Feature (Jim Cummings) at the 2013 Annie Awards
- Nominated for Best Male Vocal Performance in An Animated Feature (Jim Cummings) at the 2013 Behind The Voice Actors Awards
- Nominated for Best Director (Wayne Thornley) & Best Original Score (Feature Film) at the 2013 South African Film and Television Awards[30]
Khumba[]
Prior to its release, Khumba screened in competition at Annecy International Animation Festival 2013, where it was nominated for the Cristal, and was in the Official Selection of Durban International Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival 2013.
- Gold Panda Award for Best Foreign Animation (2013)
- Gold Panda Award for Grand Prize (2013)
- 2014 Best Animation at South African Film and Television Awards
- 2014 Best Music Composition for a feature film at South African Film and Television Awards
- 2014 Best Animation at Africa Movie Academy Awards
- Nominated for Best Male Vocal Performance (Liam Neeson and Steve Buscemi), 2015 Behind The Voice Actor Awards[31]
Short Films Awards & Nominations[]
Belly Flop[]
- 2018 Gryphon Award for Best Short 6+ at Giffoni[32]
- 2018 Best Animation, Africa Movie Academy Awards[33]
- 2019 Audience Prize: Favorite Short Animated Film, Children's Film Festival Seattle
- 2018 Children's Jury Award at Cinemira in Budapest[32]
- 2018 Best In Show and Best In 3D at Longwood Animation Film Festival[32]
- 2018 Czech TV Audience Award at Zlin Film Festival[32]
- 2018 Special Mention at Cinema In Sneakers Film Festival in Warsaw
- 2018 Best Local Film at Kleinkaap Short Film Festival
- 2018 Family Shorts Award at Tenerife International Short Film Festival
- 2018 Audience Award: Best Short Film at Animatopia ICAF
- 2019 Special Jury Award at CMS International Children's Film Festival
- 2019 2nd Place: Best Short Film at Kingstoon International Animated Film Competition
- 2019 Grand Prize: Short Film at Seoul Guro Kids Film Festival
- 2019 Audience Award for Best Short Animation at Festival Internacional de Cine para Niños
- 2019 Audience Award for Best Short Animation at Madrid Film Festival FCM-PNR
TV Series Awards and Nominations[]
| Production | Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Snail and The Whale | [34] | Best Special Production | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won |
| [35] | Best Voice Performance | Sally Hawkins | Won | |
| [35] | Best Longform, Best Use of Sound | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Nominated | |
| [36] | Audience Award: Ages 3–5 | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [37] | Best Children’s Animation | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [38] | Children/Youth award | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [39] | Punchinello Award for Best Short Film | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [40] | International Competition: Children’s Short Bronze Award | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| Silver Award, Best Animated Short Film | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won | ||
| 2nd Prize, Animated TV[41] | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won | ||
| Zog | [42] | Best Kids Animation | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won |
| [43] | Children's Programme Award | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [44] | Best Animation | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [42] | Audience Award: 3-6 | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [45] | Best Special Production and Best Storyboarding (Max Lang) | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Nominated | |
| [46] | Best Longform | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Nominated | |
| [46] | Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | Nominated | |
| The Highway Rat | Rose d'Or[47] | Children and Youth | Magic Light Pictures | Won |
| [46] | Audience Award: 3-6 | Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [46] | Curtinhas Prize | Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [46] | Best TV Special | Magic Light Pictures | Nominated | |
| [46] | Best Animated Special Production | Magic Light Pictures | Nominated | |
| Revolting Rhymes | 90th Academy Awards[48] | Best Animated Short Film | Jakob Schuh
Jan Lachauer |
Nominated |
| 70th British Academy Film Awards[49] | Best Animation | Jakob Schuh
Jan Lachauer Martin Pope Michael Rose |
Won | |
| 6th International Emmy Kids Awards[50] | Kids: Animation | Michael Rose
Martin Pope Magic Light Pictures |
Won | |
| [51] | Best TV Special | Jakob Schuh
Jan Lachauer Magic Light Pictures |
Won | |
| [51] | Best Animated Special Production | Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [51] | Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie: Kids | Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [51] | Best Storytelling: Animation | Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| Stick Man | 69th British Academy Film Awards[52] | Best Animation | Production Team | Nominated |
| British Animation Awards[53] | Best Use of Sound | Adrian Rhodes
Magic Light Pictures |
Won | |
| Best Voice Performance | Martin Freeman
Magic Light Pictures |
Won | ||
| Best Long Form | Jeroen Jaspaert
Daniel Snaddon Magic Light Pictures |
Nominated | ||
| Annecy International Animated Film Festival[54] | Best TV Production | Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| Kidscreen Awards[54] | Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie: Kids; Best Directing (Jeroen Jaspaert); Best Music (Adrian Rhodes); and Best Design (Sam King) | Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| Banff Television Festival[54] | Best Animation | Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| Shanghai International TV Festival[54] | Best Animation | Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [54] | Audience Choice Award | Magic Light Pictures | Won | |
| [54] | Best Animation | Magic Light Pictures | Won |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Teo Kermeliotis (April 22, 2012). "Zambezia 3D animation puts South Africa film in the picture". CNN. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- ^ "SA animation 'Stick Man' wins top TV prize at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival". Times Live. 26 June 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Magic Light Pictures Celebrates Success at Annecy". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
- ^ "2018". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Vourlias, Christopher (April 16, 2019). "Netflix Picks Up Its First Animated Series From Africa, 'Mama K's Team 4'". Variety. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ "Zog wins International Emmy for Best Kids Animation". www.iol.co.za.
- ^ "South African director wins top global animation prize".
- ^ "Annecy: Triggerfish Wins MIFA Industry Award". 11 June 2021.
- ^ Mfonobong Nsehe (October 1, 2012). "Meet The Man Behind Triggerfish". Forbes. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
- ^ https://www.westerncape.gov.za/general-publication/pera-winners-announced
- ^ "Annecy: Triggerfish Wins MIFA Industry Award". 11 June 2021.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ https://directorsnotes.com/2018/11/21/belly-flop/
- ^ Jump up to: a b Szalai, Georg (November 15, 2013). "South African Animation Studio Triggerfish Gets Funding, Plans Action-Comedy 'Seal Team' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Netflix announces first original African animated series Mama K's Team 4". Netflix Media Center. April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ "'Peppa Pig' Studio eOne Greenlights Pre-School Series 'Kiya'; Disney+ Picks Up Show Globally". 25 February 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "Disney Taps Top African Toon Talents for Animated Anthology 'Kizazi Moto' (EXCLUSIVE)". 17 June 2021.
- ^ "South African Animation Studio Triggerfish Launches Story Lab With Disney Support". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
- ^ Chutel, Lynsey. "Netflix's first children's animation from Africa is an all-girl spy team written by women". Quartz Africa.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (February 25, 2021). "eOne Greenlights African Pre-K Superhero 'Kiya' to Save the Day".
- ^ "Triggerfish launches free career-focused learning platform for animators". Gauteng Film Commission. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
- ^ "Triggerfish's 'Stick Man' to screen on BBC". Screen Africa. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Dominic West leads an all star cast to bring Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl to BBC One this Christmas". BBC. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- ^ Wright, Jonathan (26 December 2016). "Boxing Day's best TV: Revolting Rhymes; The Witness for the Prosecution". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (September 8, 2016). "Magic Light Producing 'The Highway Rat' for BBC One". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- ^ "BBC - BBC One and Magic Light announce Zog for 2018 - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
- ^ "BBC - BBC One and Magic Light announce The Snail and the Whale for Christmas 2019 - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
- ^ "Disney+ picks up Triggerfish/eOne co-pro".
- ^ "Disney Taps Top African Toon Talents for Animated Anthology 'Kizazi Moto' (EXCLUSIVE)". 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Zambezia - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ "Khumba - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Lindeque, Brent (November 25, 2018). "Must Watch: Belly Flop… a South African short film that has won 7 international awards!".
- ^ Chutel, Lynsey. "This award-winning short film is an adorable metaphor for Africa's animation industry". Quartz Africa.
- ^ "South African director wins top global animation prize". News24. April 28, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "BAA 2020 Finalists Announced". British Animation Awards. February 14, 2020.
- ^ "New York Children's Film Festival Awards". New York International Children's Film Festival. March 2, 2021.
- ^ "Rockie Awards". BANFF Rockie's Awards. March 2, 2021.
- ^ "Venice TV Awards". Venice TV Awards. March 2, 2021.
- ^ "Cartoons on the Bay announces winners". Animation World Newtork. March 2, 2021.
- ^ "SAPPORO SHORT FEST 2020". Sapporo International Short Film Festival. March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ "Awards 2020". Chicago International Children’s Film Festival. March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "SA animated show 'Zog' gets International Emmy nomination". www.iol.co.za.
- ^ "Royal Television Society Honors 'Zog' with Children's Programme Award". Animation World Network.
- ^ "Zog - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ "48th Annual Annie Awards". annieawards.org.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "The Highway Rat - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ "News". www.rosedor.com. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
- ^ "2018". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
- ^ "Children's Awards Winners 2017". www.bafta.org. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
- ^ "'Revolting Rhymes' Wins International Emmy for Best Kids' Animation". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Revolting Rhymes Part One - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ "2016 Children's Animation | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
- ^ "British Animation Awards (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Stick Man - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
External links[]
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- South African animation studios
- Companies based in Cape Town
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