Turner Broadcasting System is looking toward new horizons with the release of their latest international project: the Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab, which looks to cultivate short-form storytelling for all its platforms in the region. Meanwhile, Gulli, a Lagardère-owned children's network, has made a move with a more immediate impact with purchasing the distribution rights to L’arbre à Palimpseste (The Tree of Palimpsest), created by Ingrid Agbo, for it's Gulli Africa network as it was announced in Annecy on June 14th.
"It is very important for Gulli Africa to initiate different projects with local producers...Series that reflect the values of the Gulli brand (open-mindedness and tolerance) and that are directed especially at African kids. We think African kids will sincerely appreciate this program, which relates the lives of men and women who shaped Africa, such as the Queen Sheba or the Moshoeshoe sage." -Caroline Mestik, Head of Programming, Gulli
Agbo's story tells of a village elder who finds herself in the middle of two young rambunctious brother's quarrels, and rather than a straight forward answer, she likens their problems with those of the very historical figures who helped found the Africa. This show, produced from Togo, joins a network list that already includes a handful of other African produced animations including: Ubongo Kids (from Tanzania), Tinga Tinga Tales (from Kenya), and Jabu's Jungle and Supa Strika, both of which are produced in South Africa.
For Cartoon Network Africa, this isn't the first contest being held for it's local market. Cloud Life, a South African-produced 2D animation, won a 'Turner Kids' Animation Pitching Competition' back in 2016, and is currently being produced by their Asia Pacific production team. They more recently held an 'African Animation Village' at last years DISCOP TV and Film market in Joannesburg. The results of the Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab will be released at this years DISCOP TV and Film market in November.
Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab Guidelines
Goal: Make African kids laugh out loud!
Target Audience: 6-12 years old - core target: boys 7-10
Ten finalist will be selected by a panel of experts and professionals from September - November 2018, who will then select a 'Main Winner', and two 'Runners up' from the finalists.
Those winners having a chance to enter a pilot development process with Turner, at it's discretion.
This more importantly follows an International trend Turner has been heading towards with their children's network, as it is just on the heels of their largest venture into Southeast Asia, after an interactive event which was held from May 26th-June 10th at the famous Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Cartoon Network hosted a slew of workshops from some of their best producers, including John Fang (Producer of Ben 10), and Vaibhav Kumaresh (Producer of Award-winning Lamput), all the way from their Cartoon Network India studios in Mumbai. Animation can only continue to go up from here, as these media giants begin tapping all sources around the globe for imaginative and new stories to tell.
Lamput (Source: Cartoon Brew)