Triggerfish Animation Studios
South African animation studio
title: "Triggerfish Animation Studios" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["south-african-animation-studios", "irish-animation-studios", "companies-based-in-cape-town", "mass-media-companies-established-in-1996", "mass-media-in-cape-town", "south-african-companies-established-in-1996"] description: "South African animation studio" topic_path: "geography/south-africa" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triggerfish_Animation_Studios" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary South African animation studio ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Triggerfish Animation Studios |
| logo | [[File:Triggerfish Animation Studios Logo.jpg |
| location_city | Cape Town |
| location_country | South Africa |
| founded | |
| key_people | |
| industry | |
| homepage | |
| :: |
| name = Triggerfish Animation Studios | logo = [[File:Triggerfish Animation Studios Logo.jpg|alt Triggerfish Animation Studios]] | location_city = Cape Town | location_country = South Africa | founded = | founder = | key_people = | industry = | parent = | homepage = Triggerfish is a computer animation film studio based in Cape Town, South Africa and Galway, Ireland.
The studio is best known for its animated feature films Adventures in Zambezia (2012), Khumba (2013), and Seal Team (2021), as well as the work they have done on television specials created for UK producers Magic Light Pictures.
History
Triggerfish was established in 1996 by Jacquie Trowell and Emma Kaye in Cape Town, South Africa. As a stop-motion animation studio, it produced multiple commercials for South African ad agencies. From 1998 through 2008, Triggerfish produced animation for Sesame Workshop for the South African version of Sesame Street, Takalani Sesame, as well as the US domestic and international versions of the pre-school kids' program.
Stuart Forrest joined as a junior animator in 2002 to work on Takalani Sesame for seasons two and three. In 2004, Forrest and James Middleton became partners in Triggerfish and in 2005 became the sole partners when the original founders left the company. In 2007, Anthony Silverston joined as creative director, and Mike Buckland joined as head of production. At the same time, the company moved away from stop-frame animation and relaunched as a computer animation studio.
In 2015, at the Premier's Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards (PERA), Triggerfish was named Business of the Year by the Western Cape Government.
In 2021, Triggerfish received the Mifa Animation Industry Award at Annecy for "the pioneering role that the company has played in animation in South Africa, and Africa most widely.”
Short films
In 2008, Triggerfish created a 30-minute short entitled The Rise and Fall of Tony the Frog. The short was produced by Ambient Animation in Cape Town for Isaac Entertainment.
In 2018, Triggerfish released an original 4-minute short entitled Belly Flop, co-directed by Jeremy Collins and writer Kelly Dillon. This was one of four shorts screened during the closing ceremony at Annecy 2018. A second original short film,Troll Girl premiered at the Cape Town International Animation Festival in 2021.
Triggerfish was one of nine studios selected around the world to produce a short for Star Wars Visions: Volume 2 anthology. The short, entitled "Aau's Song", was released on 4 May 2023.
Feature films
From 2006, the team began to shift focus to motion pictures by writing their first script Adventures in Zambezia, with US-based rights company Wonderful Works. The script went into production in 2009 and was released in 2012. In 2010, the studio started production on Khumba which started its worldwide release in Q3 2013. Triggerfish's third feature, called Seal Team., premiered on Netflix on 31 December 2021. In 2022, Seal Team made the Netflix Top 10 Films global list for its launch week.
Television animated series
On April 16, 2019, it was announced that Netflix had given a series order for the animated superhero series Mama K's Team 4. The series is expected to be produced by the studio in collaboration with CAKE. Malenga Mulendema will be credited as an executive producer and writer of the series.
In February 2021, it was announced that eOne had greenlit the animated superhero series Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes, about a seven-year-old African girl whose passions in life are dancing and martial arts. The original idea for Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes was created by Kelly Dillon and Marc Dey, then developed for television by Robert Vargas. Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes launched in March 2023 across linear and streaming platforms including Disney Jr., Disney + globally, and France Télévisions.
In June 2021, it was announced that Disney+ had greenlit Triggerfish's animated anthology series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire. Inspired by the continent's diverse histories and cultures, the 10-part anthology brings together a slate of rising animation talents from six African nations to produce action-packed sci-fi and fantasy stories that will present bold visions of advanced technology, aliens, spirits and monsters imagined from uniquely African perspectives.
Oscar-winning director Peter Ramsey (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) is as executive producer, with Tendayi Nyeke and Anthony Silverston. Triggerfish is the lead studio for the anthology, working in collaboration with animation studios across the continent and globally. The development process was curated and produced by the team at Triggerfish, including Tendayi Nyeke, Anthony Silverston, and Kevin Kriedemann, who proposed the initial idea for the anthology.
The final 10 films are from Ahmed Teilab (Egypt), Simangaliso “Panda” Sibaya and Malcolm Wope (South Africa), Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane (South Africa), Ng’endo Mukii (Kenya), Shofela Coker (Nigeria), Nthato Mokgata and Terence Neale (South Africa), Pious Nyenyewa and Tafadzwa Hove (Zimbabwe), Tshepo Moche (South Africa), Raymond Malinga (Uganda) and Lesego Vorster (South Africa).
Each film is 10-15 minutes long, and together comprises a feature-length anthology of original animation that will be released as a Disney Plus Original across the globe. The series will release on July 5, 2023.
Story Lab
In mid-2015, Triggerfish announced the Triggerfish Story Lab, a program that aimed to develop African writers and directors. The initiative had the support of the Walt Disney Company. Mama K's Team 4, the first Netflix Original animation series from Africa, was one of the projects unearthed by the Triggerfish Story Lab. A second TV series from the Triggerfish Story Lab, Kiya! (previously Ninja Princess), was announced in February 2021 to have been picked up by Disney+.
Triggerfish Academy
In June 2019, Triggerfish launched a free online learning platform aimed at encouraging young creatives to create their first animated film.
Filmography
;Feature films ::data[format=table]
| # | Title | Release date | Budget | Gross | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adventures in Zambezia | $20,000,000 | $34,428,345 | 25% | N/A | |
| 2 | Khumba | $20,000,000 | $27,000,000 | 44% | 40 | |
| 3 | Seal Team | $23,000,000 | $905,428 | 68% | N/A | |
| :: |
;Television specials ::data[format=table]
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stick Man (for Magic Light Pictures) | |
| 2 | Revolting Rhymes (for Magic Light Pictures) | |
| 3 | The Highway Rat (for Magic Light Pictures) | |
| 4 | Zog (for Magic Light Pictures) | |
| 5 | The Snail and the Whale (for Magic Light Pictures) | |
| :: |
;Television series ::data[format=table]
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes (for Disney Jr.) | March 22, 2023 |
| 2 | Kizazi Moto (for Disney+) | July 5, 2023 |
| 3 | Supa Team 4 (for Netflix) | July 20, 2023 |
| :: |
Feature Film Awards & Nominations
''Adventures in Zambezia''
- 2012 Best South African Feature Film at The Durban International Film Festival
- 2012 Best Animation at South African Film and Television Awards
- 2013 Best Animation at Africa Movie Academy Awards
- 2013 Best Children's Feature at Anima Mundi
- Nominated for Best Music in An Animated Feature (Bruce Retief) and Voice Acting In An Animated Feature (Jim Cummings) at the 2013 Annie Awards
- Nominated for Best Male Vocal Performance in An Animated Feature (Jim Cummings) at the 2013 Behind The Voice Actors Awards
- Nominated for Best Director (Wayne Thornley) & Best Original Score (Feature Film) at the 2013 South African Film and Television Awards
''Khumba''
Prior to its release, Khumba screened in competition at Annecy International Animation Festival 2013, where it was nominated for the Cristal, and was in the Official Selection of Durban International Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival 2013.
- Gold Panda Award for Best Foreign Animation (2013)
- Gold Panda Award for Grand Prize (2013)
- 2014 Best Animation at South African Film and Television Awards
- 2014 Best Music Composition for a feature film at South African Film and Television Awards
- 2014 Best Animation at Africa Movie Academy Awards
- Nominated for Best Male Vocal Performance (Liam Neeson and Steve Buscemi), 2015 Behind The Voice Actor Awards
Short Film Awards & Nominations
''Belly Flop''
- 2018 Gryphon Award for Best Short 6+ at Giffoni
- 2018 Best Animation, Africa Movie Academy Awards
- 2019 Audience Prize: Favorite Short Animated Film, Children's Film Festival Seattle
- 2018 Children's Jury Award at Cinemira in Budapest
- 2018 Best In Show and Best In 3D at Longwood Animation Film Festival
- 2018 Czech TV Audience Award at Zlin Film Festival
- 2018 Special Mention at Cinema In Sneakers Film Festival in Warsaw
- 2018 Best Local Film at Kleinkaap Short Film Festival
- 2018 Family Shorts Award at Tenerife International Short Film Festival
- 2018 Audience Award: Best Short Film at Animatopia ICAF
- 2019 Special Jury Award at CMS International Children's Film Festival
- 2019 2nd Place: Best Short Film at Kingstoon International Animated Film Competition
- 2019 Grand Prize: Short Film at Seoul Guro Kids Film Festival
- 2019 Audience Award for Best Short Animation at Festival Internacional de Cine para Niños
- 2019 Audience Award for Best Short Animation at Madrid Film Festival FCM-PNR
TV Series Awards and Nominations
::data[format=table]
| Production | Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Snail and the Whale | url=https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/winners-2022-bafta-children-young-people-awards#:~ | title=Winners announced: 2022 BAFTA Children & Young People Awards | date=November 27, 2022 | website=Bafta |
| BAFTA Children and Young People Awards, 2022 | Best Director | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Annie Awards, 2021 | Best Special Production | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | ||
| url=https://www.britishanimationawards.com/baa-2020-finalists-announced/ | title=BAA 2020 Finalists Announced | date=February 14, 2020 | website=British Animation Awards | access-date=February 28, 2020 |
| British Animation Awards, 2020 | Best Longform, Best Use of Sound | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | ||
| url=https://nyicff.org/festival/about-the-festival/awards/ | title=New York Children's Film Festival Awards | date=March 2, 2021 | website=New York International Children's Film Festival | access-date=March 2, 2021 |
| url=https://rockies.playbackonline.ca/winners/winner/2020/?e=99373&n=The+Snail+and+the+Whale | title=Rockie Awards | date=March 2, 2021 | website=BANFF Rockie's Awards | access-date=March 2, 2021 |
| url=https://venicetvaward.com/winners-2020/ | title=Venice TV Awards | date=March 2, 2021 | website=Venice TV Awards | access-date=March 2, 2021 |
| url=https://www.awn.com/news/24th-edition-cartoons-bay-announces-pulcinella-award-winners | title=Cartoons on the Bay announces winners | date=March 2, 2021 | website=Animation World Network | access-date=March 3, 2021 |
| url=https://sapporoshortfest.jp/20/en/awards/ | date=March 2, 2021 | website=Sapporo International Short Film Festival | title=SAPPORO SHORT FEST 2020 | url-status=live |
| Xiamen International Animation Festival, 2020 | Silver Award, Best Animated Short Film | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Chicago International Children's Film Festival, 2020 | url=https://festival.facets.org/awards-2020 | date=March 3, 2021 | website=Chicago International Children's Film Festival | title=Awards 2020 |
| Zog | International Emmy Awards, 2020 | Best Kids Animation | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | |
| Royal Television Society, 2020 | Children's Programme Award | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Shanghai International TV Festival, 2019 | Best Animation | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | ||
| url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/tv/streaming/sa-animated-show-zog-gets-international-emmy-nomination-35004210 | title=SA animated show 'Zog' gets International Emmy nomination | website=www.iol.co.za | access-date=2020-02-28 | archive-date=2020-02-28 |
| Annie Awards, 2020 | Best Special Production and Best Storyboarding (Max Lang) | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | ||
| url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7546096/awards | title=The Highway Rat | work=IMDb | access-date=2021-02-28 | archive-date=2023-06-29 |
| Kidscreen, 2020 | Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie | Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | ||
| The Highway Rat | Rose d'Or | Children and Youth | Magic Light Pictures | |
| New York International Children's Film Festival, 2018 | Audience Award: 3-6 | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Vila do Conde International Short Film Festival, 2018 | Curtinhas Prize | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Annecy International Animated Film Festival, 2018 | Best TV Special | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Annie Awards, 2019 | Best Animated Special Production | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Revolting Rhymes | 90th Academy Awards | Best Animated Short Film | Jakob Schuh & Jan Lachauer | |
| 70th British Academy Film Awards | Best Animation | Jakob Schuh, Jan Lachauer, Martin Pope & Michael Rose | ||
| 6th International Emmy Kids Awards | Kids: Animation | Michael Rose, Martin Pope & Magic Light Pictures | ||
| url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6386210/awards | title=Revolting Rhymes Part One | work=IMDb | access-date=2021-02-28 | archive-date=2023-03-14 |
| Annie Awards, 2018 | Best Animated Special Production | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Kidscreen Awards, 2018 | Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie: Kids | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Shanghai International TV Festival, 2017 | Best Storytelling: Animation | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Stick Man | 69th British Academy Film Awards | Best Animation | Production Team | |
| British Animation Awards | Best Use of Sound | Adrian Rhodes & Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Best Voice Performance | Martin Freeman & Magic Light Pictures | |||
| Best Long Form | Jeroen Jaspaert, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures | |||
| url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5095510/awards | title=Stick Man | work=IMDb | access-date=2021-02-28 | archive-date=2017-03-20 |
| Kidscreen Awards | Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie: Kids; Best Directing (Jeroen Jaspaert); Best Music (Adrian Rhodes); and Best Design (Sam King) | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Banff Television Festival | Best Animation | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Shanghai International TV Festival | Best Animation | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Singapore International Children's Film Festival | Audience Choice Award | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| Bangalore Shorts Film Festival | Best Animation | Magic Light Pictures | ||
| :: |
References
References
- Teo Kermeliotis. (April 22, 2012). "Zambezia 3D animation puts South Africa film in the picture". [[CNN]].
- (18 January 2022). "TV & Streaming Bytes: 'Star Trek' Universe Expands,' 'Dragon Riders' Ride Again, 'Smiling Friends' Rolls on & More".
- Mfonobong Nsehe. (October 1, 2012). "Meet The Man Behind Triggerfish". [[Forbes]].
- "Pera Winners Announced".
- (11 June 2021). "Annecy: Triggerfish Wins MIFA Industry Award".
- "Milestone in South African Animation | Animation SA".
- (21 November 2018). "Belly Flop by Jeremy Collins & Kelly Dillon | A Triggerfish Animated Short Film".
- "Troll Girl (2021)".
- (February 2, 2023). "Star Wars: Visions".
- Szalai, Georg. (November 15, 2013). "South African Animation Studio Triggerfish Gets Funding, Plans Action-Comedy 'Seal Team' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- (April 16, 2019). "Netflix announces first original African animated series Mama K's Team 4". Netflix Media Center.
- Vourlias, Christopher. (April 16, 2019). "Netflix Picks Up Its First Animated Series From Africa, 'Mama K's Team 4'". Variety.
- (25 February 2021). "'Peppa Pig' Studio eOne Greenlights Pre-School Series 'Kiya'; Disney+ Picks Up Show Globally".
- Milligan, Mercedes. (June 25, 2021). "Triggerfish Launches Pan-African Story Artist Lab Backed by Netflix".
- Schreibfeder, Lisa. (June 27, 2021). "Animated Anthology “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire” From Leading African Creators Set To Release On Disney+ In 2022". [[Disney]].
- Tartaglione, Nancy. (June 17, 2021). "Disney+ Sets Animated Sci-Fi Anthology ‘Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire’, Picks Up ‘Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes’ – Annecy".
- Vourlias, Christopher. (June 17, 2021). "Disney Taps Top African Toon Talents for Animated Anthology ‘Kizazi Moto’ (EXCLUSIVE)".
- Milligan, Mercedes. (April 27, 2023). "Annecy Unveils Feature Film Competition, First-Looks & Screening Events".
- Milligan, Mercedes. (June 13, 2023). "Disney Branded TV & Disney EMEA Kick Off Next 100 Years of Toons at Annecy".
- Schreibfeder, Lisa. (May 25, 2023). ""Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire" Streaming July 5th Exclusively On Disney+". [[Disney]].
- "South African Animation Studio Triggerfish Launches Story Lab With Disney Support". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Chutel, Lynsey. "Netflix's first children's animation from Africa is an all-girl spy team written by women".
- Milligan, Mercedes. (February 25, 2021). "eOne Greenlights African Pre-K Superhero 'Kiya' to Save the Day".
- "Triggerfish launches free career-focused learning platform for animators". Gauteng Film Commission.
- (8 December 2015). "Triggerfish's 'Stick Man' to screen on BBC". Screen Africa.
- (21 October 2016). "Dominic West leads an all star cast to bring Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl to BBC One this Christmas". BBC.
- (26 December 2016). "Boxing Day's best TV: Revolting Rhymes; The Witness for the Prosecution". The Guardian.
- (September 8, 2016). "Magic Light Producing 'The Highway Rat' for BBC One". Animation Magazine.
- "BBC One and Magic Light announce Zog for 2018 - Media Centre".
- "BBC - BBC One and Magic Light announce The Snail and the Whale for Christmas 2019 - Media Centre".
- "Disney+ picks up Triggerfish/eOne co-pro".
- "Zambezia". IMDb.
- "Khumba". IMDb.
- Lindeque, Brent. (November 25, 2018). "Must Watch: Belly Flop… a South African short film that has won 7 international awards!".
- Chutel, Lynsey. "This award-winning short film is an adorable metaphor for Africa's animation industry".
- (November 27, 2022). "Winners announced: 2022 BAFTA Children & Young People Awards".
- (April 28, 2021). "South African director wins top global animation prize".
- (February 14, 2020). "BAA 2020 Finalists Announced".
- (March 2, 2021). "New York Children's Film Festival Awards".
- (March 2, 2021). "Rockie Awards".
- (March 2, 2021). "Venice TV Awards".
- (March 2, 2021). "Cartoons on the Bay announces winners".
- (March 2, 2021). "SAPPORO SHORT FEST 2020".
- (March 3, 2021). "Awards 2020".
- "Royal Television Society Honors 'Zog' with Children's Programme Award".
- "Zog". IMDb.
- "SA animated show 'Zog' gets International Emmy nomination".
- "48th Annual Annie Awards".
- "The Highway Rat". IMDb.
- "News".
- "2018".
- (2017-10-18). "Children's Awards Winners 2017".
- "'Revolting Rhymes' Wins International Emmy for Best Kids' Animation".
- "Revolting Rhymes Part One". IMDb.
- "2016 Children's Animation {{!}} BAFTA Awards".
- "British Animation Awards (2016)".
- "Stick Man". IMDb.
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