- Triggerfish has announced a new initiative looking to nurture animation talent on the African continent in partnership with UNESCO.
- The Creator Labs as they have been called will comprise two components looking at both young directors and animators.
- Masterclasses and mentoring sessions are scheduled to run from March 2025.
Few animation studios have done more on the African continent than Triggerfish. Now its latest endeavour is to help nature talent, and in particular that of African women.
To assist in this regard, Triggerfish has announced that applications are now open for what it calls The Creator Labs, which is a training and skills development/sharing initiative being conducted in partnership with UNESCO.
Applications for the initiative have opened up this week, and Triggerfish is calling on female animation talent from all across Africa to apply, as the planned sessions will be delivered remotely via videoconferencing platforms.
Unpacking how the initiative will work, Triggerfish explained that the Creator Labs will offer a Director Lab for aspiring directors and an Animation Art Lab for artists. Through the Labs, participants will have access to masterclass sessions led by award-winning industry professionals, as well as small group mentorship sessions, and networking opportunities designed to help develop their talent and grow into leadership roles within the animation sector.
The studio also pointed out that training materials developed through the Labs will be made freely accessible online through the Triggerfish Academy, in an effort to ensure that aspiring African creatives can also benefit from these resources.
“The Labs are being crafted with guidance from award-winning Directors and Art Directors to ensure impactful and enriching sessions. Esteemed contributors include Ng’endo Mukii, Tshepo Moche, and Caroline Vos (Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, Disney+), Cinzia Angelini (Hit Pig!, Mila), Nadia Darries (Star Wars Visions Vol. 2, Lucasfilm), and many more pioneering African creators,” shared Triggerfish in a release with Hypertext.
“Empowering African women in animation is not just a goal; it’s a necessity. Through this collaboration with UNESCO, we aim to advance gender equality in animation. By prioritizing leadership positions throughout the pipeline, we’re not only cultivating creativity and innovation but also dismantling obstacles for a more inclusive and diverse industry,” added Carina Lücke, director of Triggerfish Foundation.
As mentioned, applications are currently open and close on 5th 2025. If selected, female participants will take part in online masterclasses and mentoring sessions, which are scheduled to run from March 2025 through to the end of May 2025.
Those wanting to find out more about the Creator Labs, along with applying for the initiative, can head here.
