Waka Waka Moo in Cannes
Sharing Namibian tales through animation in France, Luis Munana believes his animation Waka Waka Moo is an international product.
Every April the world's most successful distributors and buyers attend the Marché International des Programmes de Télévision (MIPTV) to strike distribution and co-production deals; attend high-level conferences and network with leading players from the global entertainment industry. Local and first animation production in Namibia, Waka Waka Moo has been invited to pitch to broadcasters and co-production companies, as well as major key players in the animated and kid's content genre. Namibia is now officially one of five African countries to create kids content with an animated theme.
Creator and producer Luis Munana arrived in Cannes on 8 April and has been attending a series of pitches until today. Munana has been privileged to meet big names in the international animation industry such as Orion Ross, the vice president content animation, digital and acquisitions for Disney, Bernard Boiteux and Francois Lalonde (co-president of Toon Boom), just to name a few.
“Some of these people have worked with Walt Disney, Cartoon Network and it's just amazing. So far they loved Waka Waka Moo and contacts have been exchanged. It's a great experience. Many people here cannot believe that it we are an African product,” said Munana.
Munana's hopes are to get a wider audience for Waka Waka Moo so that the Namibian stories can be told for kids. Luis Munana is happy that global key players have taken note of his hard work. He says a team of 35 people worked on Waka Waka Moo and together they created Namibia's first marketable animated series. He is adamant that Namibian stories will be told to kids all over the world.
Waka Waka Moo has received major applause despite not having aired in Namibia yet. Munana is still waiting for a contract from NBC to indicate when the show will start to air.
He says should any channels want to buy the programme he will not hesitate to engage with the potential buyer. The regional tour to introduce the cartoon to Namibian kids had to be postponed to May due to the France trip.
JUNE SHIMUOSHILI
Creator and producer Luis Munana arrived in Cannes on 8 April and has been attending a series of pitches until today. Munana has been privileged to meet big names in the international animation industry such as Orion Ross, the vice president content animation, digital and acquisitions for Disney, Bernard Boiteux and Francois Lalonde (co-president of Toon Boom), just to name a few.
“Some of these people have worked with Walt Disney, Cartoon Network and it's just amazing. So far they loved Waka Waka Moo and contacts have been exchanged. It's a great experience. Many people here cannot believe that it we are an African product,” said Munana.
Munana's hopes are to get a wider audience for Waka Waka Moo so that the Namibian stories can be told for kids. Luis Munana is happy that global key players have taken note of his hard work. He says a team of 35 people worked on Waka Waka Moo and together they created Namibia's first marketable animated series. He is adamant that Namibian stories will be told to kids all over the world.
Waka Waka Moo has received major applause despite not having aired in Namibia yet. Munana is still waiting for a contract from NBC to indicate when the show will start to air.
He says should any channels want to buy the programme he will not hesitate to engage with the potential buyer. The regional tour to introduce the cartoon to Namibian kids had to be postponed to May due to the France trip.
JUNE SHIMUOSHILI
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