2024 Annie Awards: Kenyan-directed Disney+ series wins Best Limited Series

The Disney+ Original Series “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire” has made history by winning the highly acclaimed Annie Award for “Best Limited Series” in the TV/Media category. The award-winning episode “Enkai” was directed by Kenyan director Ng’endo Mukii and brought to life by Blink Industries.

The series was also named as the finalist in the “7-10 Years Fiction” category at the prestigious Prix Jeunesse International, as reported by KBC Digital.

This comes on the heels of an earlier success after the series secured another prestigious award, this time clinching the Kidscreen Award for “Best Animated Series (Tweens/Teens)” in San Diego.

This triumph solidified the series’ standing as a groundbreaking work of animated storytelling.

Produced by Triggerfish, the anthology series has captivated audiences globally with its imaginative narrative, rich visuals, and diverse characters, drawing inspiration from Africa’s vibrant history and cultures.

Since its debut in July last year, “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire” has been celebrated for its action-packed sci-fi adventures and has attracted widespread acclaim for its creative vision and storytelling prowess.

With guidance from Disney, executive producers Peter Ramsey, Tendayi Nyeke, and Anthony Silverston showcased the collaborative effort of a diverse group of 14 directors from across Africa. With contributions from talents spanning Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, the authentic African culture and narrative were unearthed in the series.

Bolstered by a star-studded voice cast including Florence Kasumba, Pearl Thusi, Nasty C, and Kehinde Bankole, the series delivered a captivating performance that breathed life into its characters, enriching the storytelling experience for audiences worldwide.

Triggerfish also picked the Annie Award for “Best Music – TV/Media” for its short film “Aau’s Song.” Directed by South Africans Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke, the film takes audiences on a fantasy journey inspired by Star Wars, depicting a child’s quest to discover her destiny.

“Aau’s Song” also earned a nomination for a Prix Jeunesse International award. The series additionally clinched the Lumiere Award for “Best Episodic – Animated”.

Adding to its impressive array of recent achievements, Triggerfish’s original series “Supa Team 4,” available on Netflix, has been nominated for “Best International Series” at the upcoming British Animation Awards in March. Zambian creator Malenga Mulendema inspired the show.

“The affirming acknowledgment from these global awards marks a significant milestone not only for all at Triggerfish, but the African animation industry too, highlighting the growing recognition and appreciation for fresh storytelling and authentic representation of African narratives in animation,” said Triggerfish Executive Producer Anthony Silverston.