South African animators and digital creators will get a rare glimpse behind the scenes of some of the world’s biggest animation projects when top international speakers join the line-up at the Cape Town International Animation Festival’s Comic Con programme.

Troy Quane, Director of the 2024 Academy Award-nominated Best Animated Feature, Nimona, will be presenting a behind the scenes look at the making of this critically acclaimed cinematic marvel based on the beloved graphic novel by ND Stevenson. Quane is a Canadian-American veteran of the Hollywood animation industry known for directing major studio pictures including Spies in Disguise, starring Will Smith and Tom Holland. He also worked on Disney films Enchanted and The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol.

Festival audiences are also in for a treat when Menna Hamdy gives them a glimpse into Egypt's blossoming animation industry. Hamdy is the Assistant Director of Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire episode 1st Totem Problems and Art Director at Giraffics studio. 

Kizazi Moto is an action-packed animated sci-fi anthology that presents ten futuristic visions from Africa inspired by the continent’s diverse histories and cultures. Executive produced by Oscar®-winning director Peter Ramsey, these ten short films made by a new generation of animation directors draws on uniquely African perspectives to imagine brave new worlds of advanced technology, aliens, spirits, and monsters. This is Africa as you’ve never seen it before!Hamdy will share how she wore multiple hats on this project as concept artist, illustrator, and Assistant Director - and how it shaped her perspective, honed her diverse skills, and fuelled her success as an Art Director and Director.

The much-anticipated movie Boy Kills World is set to explode in cinemas at the same time as the Comic Con Weekend. Esther Pearl and Clyde Beech will take Festival delegates behind the scenes on how they created the look and feel of the animated titles of this film. Esther built an international team of South Africans and Americans to get the art design and animation completed. This included Clyde Beech; a South African comic book illustrator whose work includes the well-known Supa Strika and Kwezi Comics.

Esther Pearl has spent the last two decades working in Production Management in the entertainment industry. The majority of her film career was spent at Pixar Animation Studios where she worked on feature films including Academy Award winning films such as The Incredibles, Wall-e and Monsters Inc.

Says Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF) show director, Dianne Makings, “We are beyond excited to be hosting such incredible talent in Cape Town this year. I think it's an indication of the interest that the animation industry has in South Africa as an emerging animation hub and a rich source of raw talent and ideas. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local animators to get a first-hand look at the industry and gain fascinating behind-the-scenes insights into global animation creation.”

The CTIAF takes place at Comic Con Cape Town at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (2) over the weekend days 27-28 April 2024. The programme is packed with useful information, interactions and presentations from speakers. A professional programme ticket is R 850 for the two days which will also give delegates access to the Comic Con festival.

Comic Con attendees will be able to enjoy some interactions with the world of animation on the show floor but will need a CTIAF ticket to gain access to the full Cape Town International Animation Festival programme.

See the CTIAF website more information about the 2024 CTIAF programme.
For more information about Comic Con Cape Town and to purchase tickets to the CTIAF show, visit https://comicconafrica.co.za