New animation series produced in Muizenberg

Zizi, a young African girl, and Hannibal, a happy hippo, are the stars of an animated series called Zizi and Hannibal, which is currently in production in Muizenberg.

Production Manager Nandipha Tatoba says many members of the creative team live in Muizenberg, Masiphumelele, Ocean View, Capri, and Fish Hoek.

This imaginative 2D series is being made by Pixcomm, the company which produced Jabu’s Jungle, another animated show. The production of Zizi and Hannibal, Ms Tatoba says, has created more than 60 jobs, from scriptwriters, animators, and concept artists to voice-over artists and sound and post-production.

“Having job security during a global pandemic which has almost wiped out the entertainment industry altogether has changed our lives. Most of us had been unemployed for months prior to this project.”

This project employs False Bay College animation graduates, and a few interns are being given training in animation through their work on the production.

The series was conceived by film and TV writer/director Roger Hawkins, who lives in the far south. He also wrote and directed Jabu’s Jungle which was mostly produced in Masiphumelele.

Zizi is voiced by new talent, 10-year-old Mpilo Jantjie, from Cape Town.

The content of Zizi and Hannibal is early childhood development-based and is aimed at preparing pre-school children for school.

The project will be completed in April 2022 and has been snatched up by an international distributor, Monster Entertainment.

“Zizi and Hannibal is a proudly South African animated series that features an African girl as the protagonist. It is important that all children, regardless of their background and economic status, have free access to quality content that reflects, celebrates, and affirms who they are,” says Ms Tatoba.

For more information about the production, follow its Instagram page at @zizi.hannibal or email Ms Tatoba at nandipha@pixcomm.co.za