Cartoon Network Invites African Creators To Submit Short-form Comedy

In line with Cartoon Network’s strategy to localise content, the channel is proud to announce the launch of a brand new initiative, Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab, an African creative competition designed to bring innovative, local short form content to Africa through its channel, and digital platforms, while reinforcing the local relevance of the brand.

In this ground-breaking move, the leading network in the kids’ entertainment industry, Cartoon Network is taking another bold step in addressing the gap in locally relevant content which offers a viewing experience that resonates with its African audience. The initiative will encourage African talents: creators, writers, graphic artists, animation students … in fact anyone who loves kids’ content, to explore their creative, animation and production talents and have the chance to produce a short-form animated comedy to make Cartoon Network viewers across Africa laugh out loud!

Ayodele Eleba, CEO of Spoof Animation & Founder of Lagos Comic Con says, “It’s actually a big deal for Nigerian animators and studios having Cartoon Network invest in the local talent we have here. It says a lot about where African animation is now and that Africans consume animated content as well. I can’t wait to see the ideas that will be pitched this year and how it will in turn affect the further rise of animated content in Nigeria.”

Mbuotidem Johnson, CEO of Basement Animation and Chief Coordinator & Founder of Animation Nigeria adds, “Cartoon Network’s involvement in Africa through the Cartoon Network Creative Lab initiative means more exposure and appreciation for African stories told by African animators and storytellers. This is a fantastic opportunity for the Nigerian animation industry to participate.”

Entries for the Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab will be open from 7th June until 31st August 2018 across the continent. African residents, aged 18 and over, or any African-based company, can submit their one-minute to three-minute creative short project which must fall in the comedy genre and fit with Cartoon Network’s values of random, irreverent, smart and contemporary humour. Editorial guidelines can be found on www.CartoonNetworkAfrica.com/CreativeLab.

Ten projects will be short-listed in September, and the local creators will get the opportunity to pitch their work to Cartoon Network Africa’s content programming team. The winner and two runners-up will then be revealed at DISCOP Johannesburg at the end of the year.

The winner and runners-up will be given the opportunity to get their project produced as a pilot with Cartoon Network Africa which will then premiere on Cartoon Network Africa and its digital platforms in 2019.