Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire Explained

Genre:
Composer:Amir Hedayah, Zethu Mashika, Zyon Black, Jordan Bridges, Darlington Chikwewo, Kojo Dodoo, Kay Faith, James Frank, Sek Hao Ho, K.ZIA, Rethabile Khumalo, Femi Koya, Olaolu Lawal, Prisca Leong, Tinashe Makura, Aero Manyelo, Joe-Louis Marques, Anton Morgan, Tapiwa Mubeda, Mpho Pholo, Poptain, Ross Sean, James Ssewakiryanga, Oliver Stotz, Pierre-Henri Wicomb, Adrienne Yong, Zap Mama
Country:South Africa
Language:English
Num Episodes:10
Executive Producer:Peter Ramsey
Runtime:10-12 minutes
Company:Triggerfish Animation Studios
Network:Disney+

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is an Afrofuturist and Africanfuturist[3] animated anthology short film series produced by Triggerfish.[4] [5] It premiered on July 5, 2023, on Disney+.[6] It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Synopsis

Each film has an African perspective, from one or more directors, on themes such as social media, duality, disability, self-reflection, shared humanity, and other topics, with stories which include time travel, extraterrestrials, and alternate universes.[7] [8]

Production

On June 27, 2021, it was announced that creators from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt would be working on a ten-part series of original animated films, entitled Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire. Peter Ramsey was picked as executive producer, while Tendayi Nyeke and Anthony Silverston were supervising producers, and Triggerfish was the primary studio, along with other animation studios in Africa.[9] [10] The release date was described "late 2022," with each film being 10 minutes long.[11] [12] Some described the series as a "recent breakthrough" for the African animation industry, along with Kiff, Kiya, and Iwájú.[13] Development of the series included a "multi-year research phase" to ensure the films accurately depicted specific cultures.[14]

The release date was later changed to 2023,[15] It was later announced the series would premiere on Disney+ on July 5, 2023.[16] [17] A trailer for the series was posted on June 13, 2023.[18] [19]

Before the series premiere, Ramsey described the series as displaying films showing "a unique African perspective" on the future and science fiction, while playing "to a broad audience," while directors Lesego Vorster, Isaac Mogajane, and Catherine Green talked about the storylines and animation of their specific films.[20]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.30/10, based on 8 critic reviews.[21]

Charles Pulliam-Moore of The Verge said that the series is an indication that Disney is embracing a global audience wanting "fantastical worlds dreamt up by...storytellers working outside of Hollywood." He argued that each of the short films is unique, with the series as a whole as a collection of distinct tales "informed by the sci-fi pop cultural canon," which he compared to , said that none of the shorts are rushed or struggling to find their meaning, and added that the series will put many promising "new talents on your radar."[22] Justin Carter of Gizmodo said that the series blends African philosophy and culture with fantasy and sci-fi elements, with family as a central theme in almost all of the episodes, while others explore the "idea of creation," with personality, in his view, shining through in each episode, along with "a superhero splash" and focus on gentrification, and has the potential to grow into something bigger.[23] Lauren Westbrook of MovieWeb said that the series offers a different perspective than other films and series, and provides a "deeply introspective cultural commentary on modern society."[24] The Root described the series as their "TV Pick Of The Week."[25]

Accolades

!Year!Award!Category!Nominee(s)!Result!Ref.
2024Annie AwardsBest Character Animation - TV/MediaKizazi Moto: Generation Fire[26]
Kidscreen AwardsTweens/Teens Programming – Best Animated SeriesKizazi Moto: Generation Fire[27]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Milligan. Mercedes. AfroAnimation Diversity & Inclusion Summit Brings First Live Event to Burbank. Animation Magazine. April 6, 2023. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230406183852/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/04/afroanimation-diversity-inclusion-summit-brings-first-live-event-to-burbank/. April 6, 2023. live.
  2. Web site: Milligan. Mercedes. Disney Sets Massive TV & Streaming Animation Slate at Annecy. Animation Magazine. June 15, 2022. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230423235440/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2022/06/disney-sets-massive-tv-streaming-animation-slate-at-annecy/. April 23, 2023. live.
  3. Web site: Kizazu Moto Generation Fire Showcases 10 Futuristic Visions for Africa. Comicon.com. June 12, 2023. July 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230705015759/https://www.comicon.com/2023/06/12/kizazi-moto-generation-fire-showcases-10-futuristic-visions-for-africa/. July 5, 2023. live. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire adds new stories to African Futurism genre.
  4. Web site: Lang. Jamie. Disney Presents Packed TV Slate With Loads Of New Trailers And Images. Cartoon Brew. June 15, 2023. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230617044811/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/series/disney-tv-animation-lineup-annecy-229724.html. June 17, 2023. live.
  5. Web site: Dudok De Wit. Alex. African Creators Tapped For Disney+ Anthology 'Kizazi Moto'; Peter Ramsey Exec-Produces. Cartoon Brew. June 17, 2021. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230316101742/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/series/african-creators-tapped-for-disney-anthology-kizazi-moto-peter-ramsey-exec-produces-206141.html. March 16, 2023. live.
  6. Web site: Vourlias. Christopher. Why Disney+ Sci-Fi Anthology Series 'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire' Is a 'Watershed Moment' for African Animation. Variety. June 26, 2023. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230627022658/https://variety.com/2023/streaming/global/disney-plus-kizazi-moto-african-animation-1235651705/. June 27, 2023. live.
  7. Web site: Cornall. Flo. 'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire' brings Afro-futurism to Disney+. CNN. June 27, 2023. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230627093205/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/27/africa/kizazi-moto-generation-fire-brings-afro-futurism-to-disney-spc-intl/index.html. June 27, 2023. live.
  8. Web site: Egan. Toussaint. Afrofuturist animated series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire coming to Disney Plus. Polygon. May 2, 2023. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230503072351/https://www.polygon.com/23708513/kizazi-moto-trailer-afrofuturist-series-disney-plus-animated. May 3, 2023. live. an animated anthology dedicated to imagining the future from an African perspective. .
  9. Schreibfeder . Lisa . June 27, 2021 . Animated Anthology "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire" From Leading African Creators Set To Release On Disney+ In 2022 . Burbank, California . . Disney Plus . June 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230410221620/https://press.disneyplus.com/news/disney-plus-animated-kizazi-moto-generation-fire-releases-2022 . April 10, 2023 . live.
  10. Web site: Tartaglione. Nancy. Disney+ Sets Animated Sci-Fi Anthology 'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire', Picks Up 'Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes' – Annecy. Deadline. June 17, 2021. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230520023911/https://deadline.com/2021/06/disney-plus-kizazi-moto-generation-fire-kiya-and-the-kimoja-heroes-annecy-1234776961/. May 20, 2023. live.
  11. Web site: Vourlias. Christopher. Disney Taps Top African Toon Talents for Animated Anthology 'Kizazi Moto' (EXCLUSIVE) . Variety. June 17, 2021. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230509204143/https://variety.com/2021/film/global/disney-plus-kizazi-moto-annecy-1234998580/. May 9, 2023. live. presenting 10 bold, wholly original visions of the future from a distinctly African perspective..
  12. Web site: Milligan. Mercedes. 'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire' Animated Anthology from African Creators Coming to Disney+. Animation Magazine. June 17, 2021. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20221226011434/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2021/06/kizazi-moto-generation-fire-animated-anthology-from-african-creators-coming-to-disney/. December 26, 2022. live.
  13. Web site: Milligan. Mercedes. Cape Town Goes Global in Hybrid Animation Fest, Triggerfish Teams with E4D to Grow African Talent. Animation Magazine. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230203171302/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2021/10/cape-town-goes-global-in-hybrid-animation-fest-triggerfish-teams-with-e4d-to-grow-african-talent/. February 3, 2023. live.
  14. Web site: Weiss . John . June 17, 2021 . Disney+ to showcase African creators with 'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire' sci-fi anthology . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220928101215/https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/kizazi-moto-generation-fire-disney-plus . September 28, 2022 . June 28, 2023 . Syfy.
  15. Web site: Milligan. Mercedes. CTIAF Spotlights African Toon Talent for the Global Stage. Animation Magazine. April 3, 2023. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230411043646/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/04/ctiaf-spotlights-african-toon-talent-for-the-global-stage/. April 11, 2023. live.
  16. Web site: Milligan. Mercedes. Disney Branded TV & Disney EMEA Kick Off Next 100 Years of Toons at Annecy. Animation Magazine. June 13, 2023. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230619041109/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/06/disney-branded-tv-disney-emea-kick-off-next-100-years-of-toons-at-annecy/. June 19, 2023. live.
  17. Schreibfeder . Lisa . May 25, 2023 . "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire" Streaming July 5th Exclusively On Disney+ . Burbank, California . . Disney Plus . June 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528120234/https://press.disneyplus.com/news/disney-plus-kizazi-moto-generation-fire-streaming-july-5 . May 28, 2023 . live.
  18. Web site: Milligan. Mercedes. Official Trailer Debuts for African Anthology 'Kizazi Moto'. Animation Magazine. June 13, 2023. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230614195119/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/06/official-trailer-debuts-for-african-anthology-kizazi-moto/. June 14, 2023. live.
  19. Web site: Disney+ Celebrates Afrofuturism in 'Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire' Trailer. Collider. June 13, 2023. June 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230614202433/https://collider.com/kizazi-moto-generation-fire-trailer/. June 14, 2023. live.
  20. Ramsey . Peter . Sergio Pereira . Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire's Peter Ramsey and Directors on Disney+'s New African Sci-Fi Series . Vorster . Lesego . Mogajane . Isaac . Green . Catherine . June 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230628073908/https://www.cbr.com/kizazi-moto-generation-fires-peter-ramsey-interview/ . June 28, 2023 . live . . June 26, 2023.
  21. Web site: Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire - Rotten Tomatoes . 2023-08-04 . . . en.
  22. Web site: Pulliam-Moore. Charles. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is the next brilliant sci-fi anthology you've been looking for. The Verge. July 15, 2023. July 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230715174013/https://www.theverge.com/23794032/kizazi-moto-generation-fire-disney-plus-animation-streaming. July 15, 2023. live.
  23. Web site: Carter. Justin. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire Feels Like the Spark of Something Great. Gizmodo. July 10, 2023. July 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230715174144/https://gizmodo.com/kizazi-moto-generation-fire-review-disney-african-scifi-1850619118. July 15, 2023. live.
  24. Web site: Westbrook. Lauren. This Disney+ Series Will Completely Redefine Sci-Fi Animation. MovieWeb. July 10, 2023. July 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230711005801/https://movieweb.com/disney-plus-kizazi-moto-sci-fi-animation/. July 11, 2023. live.
  25. Web site: Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire Is Our TV Pick Of The Week. The Root. July 2, 2023. July 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230710234929/https://www.theroot.com/kizazi-moto-generation-fire-is-our-tv-pick-of-the-week-1850597524. July 10, 2023. live.
  26. Web site: January 11, 2024 . 51st Annual Annie Awards . 2024-01-20 . . en.
  27. Web site: Dickson . Jeremy . February 5, 2024 . BREAKING NEWS: Announcing 2024’s Kidscreen Awards winners . 2024-07-06 . Kidscreen.

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