Cinesite to deliver CGI for Disney’s Iwájú

Cinesite has been selected to provide CGI animation for new Walt Disney Animation Studios and Kugali series Iwájú.

The animation and VFX studio has worked with Disney in the past on Mary Poppins Returns and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, but this is the first time that it has partnered with a non-live action production.

Iwájú is being produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios in collaboration with entertainment company Kugali - which was founded by Ziki Nelson, Hamid Ibrahim and Tolu Olowofoyeku to tell “stories inspired by African culture using comic books, art and augmented reality”.

Iwájú is set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, and will examine themes of themes of inequality, innocence and challenging the status quo. It roughly translates to ‘the future’ in the Yoruba language, and will be released in 2023.

Cinesite’s London and Montreal teams will be working with Disney and Kugali. The series is directed by Kugali founder Ziki Nelson with the Disney Animation team led by Christina Chen (producer) and Marlon West (VFX supervisor), under the helm of Disney Animation’s chief creative officer, Jennifer Lee. Cinesite’s production team is led by Joel MacDonald (producer) and Ellen Poon (VFX supervisor).

Pre-production is already underway with Cinesite, and it is expected that over 200 artists, technicians and support staff will be employed to work on the series.

Cinesite chief of animation Eamonn Butler said: “There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to Iwájú. For one, it’s an entirely new, original story inventively set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. Secondly, to work with the best in animation with Walt Disney Animation Studios and fresh, new voices with the exciting storytellers of Kugali is truly a first-of-its-kind not just for Cinesite, but for all of us. The Cinesite teams have worked hard to continually raise the quality bar, and working with Disney Animation is testament to everyone’s efforts.”