Animaxfyb Studios, West Africa’s leading animation and visual effects studio based in Accra, has marked ten (10) years of operating in the entertainment space.
The celebration took place at the studio premises at Adjiringanor on December 15, 2024.
A precursor to the anniversary event was preceded by the screening of Animaxfyb Studios’ award-winning animation film Jabari on 11th December, 2024 at the British Council in Accra, Ghana. Jabari is a 2023 film which won Best Animation at the African Movie Academy Awards, Best Animation at Liberia Film Awards and got selected for New York African International Film Festival. Jabari also featured at Film Africa, London’s biggest biennial festival celebrating the best African cinema from across the continent and diaspora, among other big international film festivals.
Other films from the stables of Animaxfyb were also screened at the opening session of anniversary.
There was a panel discussion during the screening about the evolution of animation as a global genre, its significance in Africa’s creative landscape, opportunities and challenges faced by Ghanaian animators. The discussion also focused on how storytelling and sound engineering can help create compelling animated content, in relation to how the media can help harness talents in the animation field in Ghana.
On the night of 15th December, 2024, the programme which had in attendance dignitaries from the diplomatic corps, witnessed the opening of Animaxfyb’s exhibition which marked 10 years of their cinematic journey.
Some of the personalities that graced the occasion were Simone Giger (Swiss Ambassador), Irchaad Razaaly (EU Ambassador), Ingrid Mollestad (Norwegian Ambassador), Andrea Ghai (Treasure), and Julien Lecas (Head of Cooperation French Embassy).
Others were Jeremie Desjardins (Cultural Attaché French Embassy), Marine Hayem (Cooperation Attaché French Embassy), and Thomas Okyere (Consular from Botswana to Ghana).
Speaking at the programme, the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Irchaad Razaaly, commended the team at Animaxfyb for their excellent work over the last ten years and encouraged them to soar in all their endeavours.
“Your level of ambition matches our level of commitment. Once again, the sky is the limited. We believe in the future, not only of this country. Last week taught us that Accra, Ghana is the African head for democracy and I think it is safe to say that Animaxfyb can be the head of animation for the rest of Africa,” he said.
Animaxfyb Studios, founded by Francis Y. Brown, aim to create and export authentic African content that showcases African stories and imagination for profit on both local and global markets.
According to Francis, “we have a mission to make Ghana the animation hub for the continent and that, I’m calling on all stakeholders, investors and the necessary government agencies to turn an eye on the ecosystem. Animation globally $371.21 billion and Africa made $13.3 billion but Africa lost out on that revenue as we were only consumers. We didn’t produce so most or all of the revenue made left the continent.”
About founder of Animaxfyb Studios, Francis Y. Brown
Francis Y. Brown is the founder and director at AnimaxFYB Studios, an award-winning filmmaking hub in Ghana, trained in a number of different cinematic mediums. He has over ten years experience in the audiovisual indutry.
He is a jury member of the International Academy of Arts and Sciences (EMMY) and a juror at MIPCOM in Cannes.
He specialises in illustration, amination, film making and graphic design. Having attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI). Francis was shortlisted for the 40th Student Academy Awards (Oscars), won Best Animation Film at the Africa International Film Festival 2016, Black Entertainment Awards, Best Creative Artist 2017, Animator of the Year at Ghana UK Based Awards 2017 and also at Best Animator at 2018 Golden Movie Awards.
In year 2019 face2face Africa named Francis Y. Brown as one of the five African animators who can give their Hollywood counter parts a run for the money. In 2020 Francis Y. brown was once again mentioned as one of the top animators making African animation go global by Africa vibes magazine.
His debut, Mmofra channel a 70min children’ s content was picked up by Amazon Prime making him the first African animation producer to achieve such a feat. Francis was honored as a laureate of Africa 35 under 35 as one of the 35 most inspiring young entrepreneurs under the age 35 making great strides in Africa.
Source: Kwame Dadzie
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