Cartoon Network is one of the world’s leading animation and cartoon studios, and now it is looking for fresh new local talent! Cartoon Network is looking for new African talent via a new program called the Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab, which brings locally produced content to the network’s Africa channel and digital platforms.

Until now, Cartoon Network Africa’s programming has relied heavily on shows aired on international Cartoon Network channels. The company has decided to initiate this “ground-breaking” move, in order to produce more locally relevant content that resonates with African audiences. The aim for the Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab is to encourage African creators, writers, graphic artists, animation students, and just about anyone who loves to surround themselves with children-oriented media, to come forward and submit their work.

If you are interested in participating in the Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab; all you need to do is submit ideas for 1-3 minutes comedy-oriented sketches, short projects, or animations, that fit with the studio’s values of “random, irreverent, smart, and contemporary humour”. They also ask that all ideas should target children aged between six and twelve, with the core target market being boys aged seven through ten.

According to Head of Programming and Acquisition Turner Kids Africa, Ariane Suveg, Cartoon Network appreciated the potential of local animation projects when they sponsored DISCOP 2016 Animation Pitching Programme. Suveg says that Cartoon Network Africa was “so impressed by Cape Town-based Punch Monkey Studio’s amazing creative energy” with their winning entry, Cloud Life, that the project has been traveling through the Turner Group and is at present in a development process with the Turner Asia Pacific production team”. Suveg closes the statement by enforcing the network’s belief that this move reinforces the need for local content and commitment in the African animation industry.

Entries for the Cartoon Network Africa Creative Lab are open until 31 August 2018 across the entire continent of Africa. Participants should be African residents, aged 18 and over, or alternatively, must be a part of any African-based company. Entries should follow the aforementioned guidelines, which can also be found on the official Creative Lab webpage.

In September, ten projects will be chosen and short-listed. The creators involved will then get the opportunity to pitch their work to Cartoon Network Africa’s content programming team, after which the winner and two runners-up will be revealed at DISCOP 2018. The winner and runners-up will also be given the opportunity to get their project pilots produced and aired with Cartoon Network Africa in 2019.

This is a pretty big deal for local talent to break out and demonstrate to the world what Africa has to offer. Whether you think you have what it takes or not, why not throw your ideas out there anyway? You might be the next big thing airing on Cartoon Network, all around the continent and possibly even the world.

[Sources: Business Day, Cartoon Brew, Nigerian Voice]

Junior Editor at Vamers. From Superman to Ironman; Bill Rizer to Sam Fisher and everything in-between, Edward loves it all. He is a Bachelor of Arts student and English Major specialising in Language and Literature. He is an avid writer and casual social networker with a flare for all things tech related.