South African studio nominated for animation industry 'Oscar'

Triggerfish Animation Studios' debut feature Adventures in Zambezia has been nominated for two Annies this year.

This is the first time in the history of the Annie Awards that a studio from Africa has cracked the nomination list. The Hollywood-based awards are the most prestigious awards in the animation industry, and are coveted by all the major studios.

Adventures in Zambezia has been nominated for Best Music by local composer Bruce Retief, with Jim Cummings scooping a nomination for Best Voice Artist in the role of the villain, Budzo.

Executive Producer and head of the South African-based studio, Stuart Forrest is particularly proud to be nominated in both categories alongside animation giants like Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Sony, Blue Sky and Illumination:

Forrest had to say, “It's a huge honour for Triggerfish to be nominated alongside the greatest animation studios in the world and an achievement, not just for us, but for South Africa's industry as a whole”.

Bruce Retief is also the composer on the studio's second feature, Khumba, which has been picked up by Millennium Entertainment for U.S. distribution and will be released in 2013.

Check out this movie clip to give you a bit more information about Triggerfish and Zambezia - here.