Nigeria’s creative industry has undergone significant reforms over the past decade and has become one of the fastest growing sectors in the country.
From the global influence of Nollywood to the rise of Afrobeats, Nigeria has cemented itself as a cultural powerhouse, exporting its talent and stories around the world.
This growth is now extending to new areas, with animation emerging as a key area of innovation.
The local animation industry, although still in its infancy, is riding the wave of this widespread creative renaissance. Just as Nigeria’s music and film industries have thrived on telling authentic African stories, animators are drawing from the same rich wellspring of indigenous folklore, history and culture.
Through 2D and 3D animation, Nigerian studios create stories that not only entertain but also maintain cultural identity.
These animators are not only filling a gap in children’s entertainment, they are reimagining the way African stories are told on the global stage and contributing to the growth of the creative sector as a whole. Like Nollywood, Nigerian animation has also become a cultural export, seeking to spread the essence of Africa through visually appealing and culturally resonant projects.
At the heart of this movement is the pioneering creation of an animation studio that is committed to reaching international markets and providing content that reflects their heritage to Nigerian children and audiences around the world. These are the people.
Nyi Akinmolayan – Founder of Anthill Studios
Nii Akinmolayan is the Founder and Creative Director of Anthill Studios, one of Nigeria’s leading production companies known for innovation in film, animation and media. With over 15 years of experience, Niyi focused on the Nigerian entertainment industry, specializing in directing, producing and media consulting.
In 2022, Niyi signed a landmark deal with Amazon Prime Video, making Anthill Studios the second Nigerian studio to sign a major licensing deal with the global streaming platform.
Anthill Studios is known for its creativity and consistency, producing several animated shorts each year for nearly a decade. Their most ambitious project to date is a high-budget animation that aims to revolutionize the African animation world with a hefty production budget of 120 million naira. Niyi’s leadership at Anthill Studios reflects his deep passion for fusing African culture with cutting-edge visual storytelling.
Prior to founding Anthill Studios in 2009, Niyi worked as a Senior Post Supervisor and Creative Director at Genesis Studios, where he created animation effects for television commercials, music videos, and feature films. He also worked as a motion graphics designer and visual effects artist for NANTOONS, contributing to broadcast effects for television and commercials.
Niyi holds a Higher National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering** from the Yaba University of Technology, where he graduated with first class distinctions.
Roye Okupe – Founder of Youneek Studios
Roye Okupe is a pioneering filmmaker, author, and entrepreneur who founded YouNeek Studios in 2015, driven by a passion for comics and animation.
His vision was to create diverse superhero and animated stories rooted in African culture, history, and mythology. Roye’s work includes the critically acclaimed animated short “Malika – Warrior Queen,” a sci-fi epic set in Lagos, and his debut graphic novel “EXO The Legend of Wale Williams.” His articles have received attention from CNN, Forbes, the New York Times, and more.
In 2020, Roy’s graphic novel Marika – Warrior Queen won Story of the Year at the Glypc Comic Awards. Roy’s influence was further cemented by his landmark 10-issue deal with Dark Horse Comics. It has also received notable recognition, including Ventures Africa’s Top 40 African Innovators and a nomination for the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics.
Recently, Cartoon Network and Max announced that the entire cast of Iyanu: Child of Wonder, the film adaptation of the graphic novel series by Roe Okupe, will be Nigerian.
The cast includes TV personality Okey Jude as Biyi, Samuel Kugbiyi as Toy, Nollywood star Adesua Etomi-Wellington as Olori, Blossom Chukwujekwu as Kungfo and Stella Damasus as Sewa. There is. Shafie Bello and Ike Ononye also joined the cast.
Johnson Mbuotidem – Founder of Basement Animation Studio
Johnson Mbuotidem is a prominent figure in the African animation industry with over 16 years of experience. He is the CEO, Producer, and Director of Basement Animation, a fast-growing studio in Lagos, Nigeria, specializing in children’s and family entertainment and digital 2D and 3D animation services.
Since June 2023, Johnson has been a member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (International Emmy Awards).
He has held several leadership roles including Director/Senior Compositor and Creative Director/Animator at Basement Animation. Additionally, Johnson is the Head of Advertising at Africa Animation Network and the founder of Animation Nigeria, an initiative focused on setting global standards for the Nigerian animation industry.
Mr. Johnson’s educational background includes a Diploma in Animation Production Management from VIA University College and has worked as a brand consultant for Negris Limited in the oil and gas sector.
Damilola Solesi-SMID Animation Studio
Damilola Solesi is the CEO and Creative Director of SMIDS Animation Studio, which he founded in 2010. SMIDS is known as one of Africa’s leading animation companies and was ranked among the top two animation companies in Nigeria in EY’s 2019 industry report.
The studio has delivered numerous 3D animation projects for a wide range of clients and is currently focused on producing children’s content for television and digital platforms. Its debut TV series, The Makerbolts, progressed through the regional and continental stages and was a finalist in this year’s Annecy Animation du Monde.
Solesi is a judge for the 2020 International Emmy Awards and a board member of Animation Nigeria, which aims to foster the country’s animation industry. A Mandela Washington Fellow in 2015, she holds a degree in computer science from Bowen College on Iwo Jima, from which she graduated in 2009.
Her technical foundation in this field set the stage for her future entrepreneurial ventures. In 2011, she earned a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management (CEM) from Pan-Atlantic University’s Center for Enterprise Development. This certification has equipped her with the tools she needs to navigate Nigeria’s evolving business environment.
In 2015, Soleci attended Clark Atlanta University to expand his expertise in business and entrepreneurship.
Ayodele Elegba – Founder Parody Animation
Ayodele Elegba is a dynamic leader in the Nigerian animation and creative industry with over 10 years of experience.
He is currently the Festival Director of the RENDACON Animation Film Festival (from September 2021) and the director of Spoof Media Ltd (also known as Spoof Animation), Nigeria’s leading 2D animation company founded in 2015. Also the founder.
Spoof Animation gained recognition after winning the prestigious Digital Lab competition and receiving funding from France for its Area Daddy comedy series.
Ayodele also founded Lagos Comic Con in 2011 and led a passionate team to deliver animated content. The result of his efforts was “Hero Corps,” an action-packed short film featuring parody comic book characters.
In addition, Ayodele is also the CEO of Mustardseed Communications International, a creative consulting firm specializing in entertainment, comics, and animation. He holds a postgraduate degree in public relations from the Nigeria Institute of Journalism and a Higher National Diploma in Microbiology from Yaba University of Technology.
Ferdinand Adimefe – Co-founder of Magic Carpet Studios
Ferdinand Adimefe is the co-founder and CEO of the renowned creative company Magic Carpet Studios, which he has led for over seven years.
Adimefe is the curator of the Creative Nigeria Project. The project facilitates bi-monthly meetings for creative professionals to network and bridge the gap between capital and innovative ideas.
Winner of the United Nations Innovation Challenge Sahel 2022, Adimefe reimagines narratives through imaginative stories rooted in Africa, incorporating augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), Afrofuturism, hyper-surrealism, and more. We explore cutting-edge technology. His work has garnered acclaim and established Magic Carpet as an award-winning studio redefining African entertainment.
Adimefe is also the founder of Imaginarium HQ, a technology-driven solutions platform focused on fintech and edtech. His educational background is equally impressive, with a Master’s degree in Media and Communication from Pan-Atlantic University, a Postgraduate Diploma in International Business, and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Anatomy from the University of Port Harcourt.
A Ford Foundation Hall of Fame inductee, Future Award recipient, and Guardian of the Future, Adimefe co-founded GOTNI and serves on the board of Slum to School Africa.
Brian Ora Wilson – Founder of Zero Gravity Studios
Brian Ora Wilson is a seasoned animation and creative executive with over 10 years of experience leading and managing creative teams.
In 2021, Brian won the prestigious Digital Lab Africa Award in the Animation category for his project “Aminah’s Journey.” His diverse experience extends to working as Head of Video and Animation Content at GTBank. He also played a key role in launching the Art635 initiative, a CSR project aimed at promoting and monetizing African art.
Brian holds an MA in 3D Computer Animation from Bournemouth University and a Diploma in Film Directing from the New York Film Academy. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Animation Nigeria, an organization he co-founded in 2017 to set global standards and raise the profile of the Nigerian animation industry.
Today, Brian continues to push the boundaries of animation and digital content production as CEO and Creative Director of Zero Gravity Studios. His previous roles include developing creative strategy at Pd Media Studio and securing high-profile projects such as the 2010 Guinness World Cup TV commercial and internationally recognized music for IBK Spaceshipboi. Includes collaboration on impactful media such as video.
Note: The people featured in this compilation have been carefully selected by a distinguished panel of Nairametrics editors, experts and analysts. It is important to note that none of the individuals listed were invited to participate.
This list aims to be comprehensive, but by no means exhaustive. Numerous other contributors have played important roles in promoting the animation studio industry in Nigeria. This compilation is exclusive to Nairametrics and may be updated regularly to reflect changes and advances in the field. We welcome your feedback.
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