Cape Town’s Triggerfish (Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization are rolling out a new training program called the Creator Labs to help close a gender gap in Africa’s animation industry.

Featuring expert-led master classes, as well as networking and mentorship opportunities, two separate units will run simultaneously next year—a Director Lab and a creator-focused Animation Art Lab. 

Each program will accept 20 women who are citizens or permanent residents of any African country, with preference given to those who have already had some work experience in animation. Interested applicants should apply online by January 5, 2025. 

Both labs are slated to kick off in late February, with confirmed participation from animation professionals including Ng’endo Mukii (Supa Team 4), Tshepo Moche (Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, pictured), Nadia Darries (Star Wars Visions Vol. 2), Caroline Vos (Zog) and Cinzia Angelini (Hit Pig!).

This program seeks to address a lack of training opportunities and other obstacles faced by female animation talent in the region. Africa’s screen sector contributes US$5 billion to the continent’s overall GDP. But although there are more than five million people working in this sector, representation by women of color in animation leadership roles is very poor, according to Triggerfish and UNESCO.