African Animation Makes Historic Debut on Netflix
The debut of Netflix’s inaugural African animated series took place on Thursday, with its creator expressing hope that it would open doors for future productions from the continent.
Set in a futuristic version of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, “Supa Team 4” is about four teenage girls who transform into secret superheroes after being recruited by a retired secret agent to save the world.
“I am thrilled that the world will finally be able to see the fantastic show put together by an incredibly talented super team from Africa and beyond,” Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema told AFP in a statement.
“We hope that ‘Supa Team 4’… will lead to further investment and collaboration to continue to grow the industry.”
Mulendema created the series after being featured in the animation studio Triggerfish’s pan-African talent search, where he became one of the winners in 2015.
When the show was first announced in 2019, Mulendema said he set the story in his home country “to illustrate that anyone from anywhere can be a superhero”.
“(Animated) series shaped our childhood and it’s great to know that young Zambians are getting to see what they’ve never seen before on TV!!” Zambian singer Sampa the Great, who worked on the theme song, wrote on Instagram this month.
In recent years, Netflix has made a bet on diversifying its output outside the United States, scoring big with series such as the Spanish “Money Heist” and the South Korean dystopian drama “Squid Game.”
In April, the company announced plans to expand into Africa, giving “more African storytellers an amplified voice on the global stage.”
