South African Animation Studio Secures Financing, Distribution For Next Project - 'Khumba'

The South African production company behind the animation feature Adventures in Zambezia, which we highlighted on this blog, says that they've secured financing for their latest project, titled Khumba.

Spier Films (who have also funded other South African films we've highlighted, like U-Carmen eKhayelitsha and Master Harold and the Boys) will back Triggerfish Animation Studios' Khumba, which tells the story of a half-striped zebra who leaves his home in search of the magic waterhole where, legend has it, the first zebras got their stripes. Teaming up with an overprotective, sassy wildebeest and a self-obsessed ostrich, the plucky young zebra meets an array of wacky characters in a adventure through the Great Karoo semi-desert to earn his stripes.

Great Karoo is of course located in South Africa.

"We are very proud to be involved with Khumba because of the amazing achievement that was Zambezia which is still entertaining audiences globally," said Michael Auret, managing director of Spier Films. "We believe that animation is an area where South Africa can compete in the international market and we want to do everything to support these kinds of projects. There is a great creative team behind Triggerfish and we trust them to produce something even better with this film."

Scheduled for release later this year, Khumba was penned by Triggerfish writers Raffaella Delle Donne and Anthony Silverston in consultation with Jonathan Roberts (The Lion King) and has already been acquired for North American distribution by Millennium Entertainment.

By the way, Loretta Devine is voicing one of the characters.