Kenyan animation ‘Enkai’ nominated at the 2024 Annie Awards
By Hilary KimuyuA little girl – Enkai who tries to get the attention of her single mother, who happens to be a cosmic deity trying to save the planet has been nominated for Best TV/Media – Limited Series at the 2024 Annie Awards.
Enkai, which is part of the Disney+ animated anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, was directed by Ng’endo Mukii, and stars Stycie Waweru and Sheila Munyiva.
It will compete with Triggerfish, Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection, Episode: Yellowbird and Pokémon: Path to the Peak Episode: 1.
Enkai was part of a 10-part anthology consisting of original features that presented “a wildly entertaining ride into Africa’s future”, and was crafted by up-and-coming filmmakers hailing from a variety of different nations.
The entire campaign was preceded by a “multi-year research phase,” which benefitted from the input of Ghanian comic book blogger Kadi Tay, award-winning Congolese animation supervisor Sidney Kimbo-Kintombo (Avengers: Endgame), and Namibian-South African producer Bridget Pickering (Hotel Rwanda).
Ng’endo was joined by other creators from Zimbabwe, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt for the Afrofuturist show. Each installment is at least 10 minutes long on the streaming platform.
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These are stories that explore African cultural aesthetics, philosophy of science, and philosophy of history that explores the developing intersection of African diaspora culture with technology.
Enkai is just a little girl trying to keep her working single mother’s attention, but her mom’s job is more all-consuming than most: she’s a cosmic deity trying to save our planet.
Ng’endo’s films have won multiple international awards, including Silver Hugo for The Best Animated Short at the Chicago International Film Festival for Yellow Fever and Encounters Immersive Grand Prix for her first 360 film, Nairobi Berries. I am a Design Indaba ‘15 Speaker and a Berlinale Talents Alum.
Her work focuses on relationships, the separation between perception and reality, and the use of moving images to represent unspoken truths.
The awards honour excellence in animation. The 51st annual Annie Awards will be held on Saturday, February 17.