To understand the success of Triggerfish, the fast-rising, Cape Town-based animation house, which won the prestigious MIFA Animation Industry Award this week in Annecy, one need look no further than the circumstances of its birth 25 years ago.
South Africa was finally emerging from the shadows of apartheid, a cruel and exploitive system of institutionalized racism that had oppressed its Black-majority population for nearly 50 years. Nelson Mandela was elected the country’s first Black president, and after years of being ostracized on the world stage, South Africa was finally rejoining the global community.
“I think it was a very heady time for the country,” says Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest. “Everyone was very excited. We were the ‘Rainbow Nation,’ and we really felt we could do anything.”
That boundless optimism—a sense that, as in the world of animation, even the impossible could be rendered possible—was baked into the company’s DNA.
South Africa was finally emerging from the shadows of apartheid, a cruel and exploitive system of institutionalized racism that had oppressed its Black-majority population for nearly 50 years. Nelson Mandela was elected the country’s first Black president, and after years of being ostracized on the world stage, South Africa was finally rejoining the global community.
“I think it was a very heady time for the country,” says Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest. “Everyone was very excited. We were the ‘Rainbow Nation,’ and we really felt we could do anything.”
That boundless optimism—a sense that, as in the world of animation, even the impossible could be rendered possible—was baked into the company’s DNA.
- 6/18/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Women In Animation has unveiled the program for its fifth World Summit, which is part of the virtual programming for the hybrid version of the Annecy International Animation Festival taking place this year.
The event, produced in concert with South African animation studio Triggerfish, will also be available exclusively to Wia members from Monday, June 14th at 12:00 a.m. Pst through Saturday, June 19th. On the 20th, it will become available to the general public via Women in Animation’s website and YouTube channel.
Centered on the theme of “The Business Case For Diversity,” the 2021 virtual Summit will feature panels on topics including “Alternative Career Paths and Opportunities for Talent,” “Greenlighting Diverse Voices” and more. Highlights will include a Keynote speech presented by Justice Rx’s Vice President of Creative Affairs, Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin, as well as Fireside Chat with Marvel Studios’ Executive Vice President of Production, Victoria Alonso.
The event, produced in concert with South African animation studio Triggerfish, will also be available exclusively to Wia members from Monday, June 14th at 12:00 a.m. Pst through Saturday, June 19th. On the 20th, it will become available to the general public via Women in Animation’s website and YouTube channel.
Centered on the theme of “The Business Case For Diversity,” the 2021 virtual Summit will feature panels on topics including “Alternative Career Paths and Opportunities for Talent,” “Greenlighting Diverse Voices” and more. Highlights will include a Keynote speech presented by Justice Rx’s Vice President of Creative Affairs, Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin, as well as Fireside Chat with Marvel Studios’ Executive Vice President of Production, Victoria Alonso.
- 5/26/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
South Africa’s Triggerfish has announced it’s setting up its first international studio in Galway, Ireland.
The award-winning animation studio is a rising powerhouse behind projects like the Oscar-nominated Roald Dahl adaptation “Revolting Rhymes,” as well as the International Emmy-winning “Zog,” the British Animation Awards winner “The Snail and the Whale” (pictured), and the Rose d’Or-winning “The Highway Rat,” all produced by Magic Light Pictures.
“To keep up with demand, we started outsourcing work to Irish animators in 2019 and were quickly won over by both the quality of the work and the dedication to the craft,” says Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest. “In many ways, Irish creatives seem very similar to what we always look for in South Africa: a passion for animation, a love of story and the deeply felt ambition to create award-winning and entertaining work.”
Triggerfish is currently producing Netflix’s first original African animated TV series,...
The award-winning animation studio is a rising powerhouse behind projects like the Oscar-nominated Roald Dahl adaptation “Revolting Rhymes,” as well as the International Emmy-winning “Zog,” the British Animation Awards winner “The Snail and the Whale” (pictured), and the Rose d’Or-winning “The Highway Rat,” all produced by Magic Light Pictures.
“To keep up with demand, we started outsourcing work to Irish animators in 2019 and were quickly won over by both the quality of the work and the dedication to the craft,” says Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest. “In many ways, Irish creatives seem very similar to what we always look for in South Africa: a passion for animation, a love of story and the deeply felt ambition to create award-winning and entertaining work.”
Triggerfish is currently producing Netflix’s first original African animated TV series,...
- 6/17/2020
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Sheriff leaves Aardman Animations after 25 years.
Cape Town-based Triggerfish Animation has appointed Arthur Sheriff as an advisor to the company.
London-based Sheriff has been Aardman’s Head of Communications for the past 25 years and will now step down from that post.
Sheriff said: “While I’m sad to be moving on from Aardman, I see in Triggerfish an exciting young company bursting with creative ideas. They remind me very much of Aardman before their huge worldwide success.
“I’ve had the pleasure of advising their management team in a ‘non-official’ capacity for the last few years, and now that I spend a considerable portion of the year in Cape Town, I’m looking forward to contributing in a more active role.”
Triggerfish has worked on Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba and is currently in production (with Magic Light) on Stick Man; more features are in development.
“Our first two feature films took us through the whole process...
Cape Town-based Triggerfish Animation has appointed Arthur Sheriff as an advisor to the company.
London-based Sheriff has been Aardman’s Head of Communications for the past 25 years and will now step down from that post.
Sheriff said: “While I’m sad to be moving on from Aardman, I see in Triggerfish an exciting young company bursting with creative ideas. They remind me very much of Aardman before their huge worldwide success.
“I’ve had the pleasure of advising their management team in a ‘non-official’ capacity for the last few years, and now that I spend a considerable portion of the year in Cape Town, I’m looking forward to contributing in a more active role.”
Triggerfish has worked on Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba and is currently in production (with Magic Light) on Stick Man; more features are in development.
“Our first two feature films took us through the whole process...
- 9/29/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Sheriff leaves Aardman after 25 years.
Cape Town-based Triggerfish Animation has appointed Arthur Sheriff as an advisor to the company.
London-based Sheriff has been Aardman’s Head of Communications for the past 25 years and will now step down from that post.
Sheriff said: “While I’m sad to be moving on from Aardman, I see in Triggerfish an exciting young company bursting with creative ideas. They remind me very much of Aardman before their huge worldwide success. I’ve had the pleasure of advising their management team in a ‘non-official’ capacity for the last few years, and now that I spend a considerable portion of the year in Cape Town, I’m looking forward to contributing in a more active role.”
Triggerfish has worked on Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba and is currently in production (with Magic Light) on Stick Man; more features are in development.
“Our first two feature films took us through the whole process of conceiving...
Cape Town-based Triggerfish Animation has appointed Arthur Sheriff as an advisor to the company.
London-based Sheriff has been Aardman’s Head of Communications for the past 25 years and will now step down from that post.
Sheriff said: “While I’m sad to be moving on from Aardman, I see in Triggerfish an exciting young company bursting with creative ideas. They remind me very much of Aardman before their huge worldwide success. I’ve had the pleasure of advising their management team in a ‘non-official’ capacity for the last few years, and now that I spend a considerable portion of the year in Cape Town, I’m looking forward to contributing in a more active role.”
Triggerfish has worked on Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba and is currently in production (with Magic Light) on Stick Man; more features are in development.
“Our first two feature films took us through the whole process of conceiving...
- 9/29/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Edward Noeltner’s Cinema Management Group has licensed rights on the animation and Toronto selection to Transmission in Australia, Kaleidoscope in the UK and Eagle for Italy.
Kaleidoscope is eying a first quarter 2014 release for the story about a half-striped zebra who embarks on a quest for his origins, accompanied by an overprotective wildebeest, narcissistic ostrich and plucky young zebra.
Khumba follows hot on the heels of Zambezia, which became the biggest hit at the South African box office in 30 years.
The film gets its first theatrical release when it opens in South Africa on October 25.
Jake T Austin, Steve Buscemi, Loretta Devine, Laurence Fishburne, Richard E Grant, AnnaSophia Robb, Catherine Tate and Liam Neeson comprise the key voice cast.
“We’re delighted to be in business with these three powerhouse independent distributors” said Noeltner.
Triggerfish writers Raffaella Delle Donne and Anthony Silverston wrote the original screenplay in consultation with Jonathan Roberts, co-writer of [link...
Kaleidoscope is eying a first quarter 2014 release for the story about a half-striped zebra who embarks on a quest for his origins, accompanied by an overprotective wildebeest, narcissistic ostrich and plucky young zebra.
Khumba follows hot on the heels of Zambezia, which became the biggest hit at the South African box office in 30 years.
The film gets its first theatrical release when it opens in South Africa on October 25.
Jake T Austin, Steve Buscemi, Loretta Devine, Laurence Fishburne, Richard E Grant, AnnaSophia Robb, Catherine Tate and Liam Neeson comprise the key voice cast.
“We’re delighted to be in business with these three powerhouse independent distributors” said Noeltner.
Triggerfish writers Raffaella Delle Donne and Anthony Silverston wrote the original screenplay in consultation with Jonathan Roberts, co-writer of [link...
- 9/11/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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