Netflix has signed a deal to collaborate with South Africa’s Triggerfish Animation Studios and UK distributor CAKE on animated action-comedy series Mama K’s Team 4 (pictured).

Set in Zambia and aimed at six- to 11-year-olds, Mama K’s Team 4 reinforces the notion that anyone can be a superhero, with its story line centering on a group of teenage girls who are recruited by a former secret agent to help save the world. It’s created by Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema and designed by Cameroonian artist Malcolm Wope, who took inspiration from ’90s R&B and hip hop girl groups.

The series, which is Netflix’s first African animated global original, has been in development as a 25 x 22-minute 2D-animated project since September 2017. Its launch date has yet to be announced.

From a creative perspective, Netflix is partnering with Triggerfish (Adventures in Zambezia) and CAKE on a continent-wide search to hire black female writers for the show. Their mandate is to find candidates who have had their work produced for either TV or film, and who are English-speaking African citizens or permanent residents.

In other Netflix news, the SVOD has snapped up a pair of animated series from Toronto-based prodco Portfolio Entertainment. The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That! will stream in 135 countries worldwide, including the UK, Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, the Nordics, Latin America and MENA. And Teletoon Canada comedy Freaktown (26 x half hours) will be available in Spain and Portugal.