If animation is your thing, you are in luck! Africa’s leading animation studio, Triggerfish, is introducing aspiring African animators to the principles of animation and the tools they need to make their first short film. The best part? You can do it all through your smartphone!

Triggerfish, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation, has developed a step-by-step guide for spiring animators. The guide can be used to learn how to write and animate short stories. These short stories can then be posted to YouTube and sent to Triggerfish. The studio will then choose the best animations and “make them famous across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube”.

Any and all animators who wish to be eligible for this opportunity must enter by Thursday 31 January 2019. By doing this, animators will be in the game to run for Africa’s Next Top Animator. Winning animated films will be screened at the most important event for the African animation industry – Cape Town International Animation Festival.

Animators aged 13 and under, and animators aged 20 and under, each have their own categories. There is also an additional “all ages” category for everyone else. In addition to being screened at the Cape Town International Animation Festival, and to get their work streamed on all social networks, winners will also receive mentorship from animation professionals working at Triggerfish. The only caveat is that films must be local, and must not be longer than three minutes in length.

Animators who have not yet entered the scene need not fret. According to Triggerfish CEO, Stuart Forrest, it is now “easier than ever” to get started in animation. According to Forrest, Triggerfish has “been amazed by the quality of films” they have received from children “as young as 11”. Eleven! He continued that “today’s visual world” demands animation, which means that it is a valuable skill to have.

Triggerfish has set up a guide for anyone who wants to start out in animation. The guide has been set up to double as an action plan for teachers, NGO’s, and after-school programmes. Furthermore, Schools, organisations and other animation studios who are interested in using it can also contact the Triggerfish Academy for additional resources.

[Sources: All Africa, Mark lives]

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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.