A fresh new animated series from Cameroon, starting this Monday

Starting this Monday, don’t miss the launch of "Petit Kouadjo", the brand-new animated series directed by Antoine ONOMO, a rising talent from Cameroon who’s definitely one to watch! The show will air on Canal+ Family Centre and Ouest, and will also be available for streaming on MyCanal.

The series takes us into the daily life of Petit Kouadjo, a lively, curious, and lovable young boy who discovers the world with endless mischief and charm. Blending humor, family values, and cultural exploration, the show promises to captivate both kids and adults alike.

This marks Antoine ONOMO’s very first animated series to air on television, a long-awaited dream come true after years of dedication and hard work. With "Petit Kouadjo", ONOMO becomes the second Cameroonian director to have one of his animated series broadcast regionally on the Canal+ bouquet—a major step forward for the Cameroonian animation industry.

It’s also worth noting that "Petit Kouadjo" is produced by Ivorian producer Ferdinand MESSAN, founder of Neuronn Communication, a production company committed to promoting African talent and fresh, youth-focused storytelling.

The 4th edition of CANIMAF marked a remarkable comeback after a four-year hiatus. Over three days, the festival took place at the Libre Académie des Beaux-Arts (LABA), bringing together animation enthusiasts and professionals, with distinguished guests such as Ferdinand ADIMEFE, CEO of Magiccarpet Studio (Nigeria), and Abel Kouamé, CEO of Afrikatoon (Côte d'Ivoire). Upon arrival, the guests received a warm welcome and engaged in productive exchanges, including discussions with the director of the Institut Français of Douala to explore potential collaboration opportunities in animation.

The festivities began on October 17 in various schools, where students participated in workshops and enriching exchanges with the invited experts. Meanwhile, LABA hosted captivating 2D and 3D animation masterclasses, immersing festivalgoers in the art of movement and visual creation. A comic book exhibition also charmed visitors, featuring works from Zebra Comics, LABA, and creations from Tiomatsa Ylarie’s creative residency.

The opening ceremony, marked by the screening of Le Mystère de Waza by Claye EDOU, officially launched the festival and included special recognition for partners and sponsors.

In the following days, activities varied from school screenings, such as Soundiata Keïta, the Lion’s Awakening, to Cosplay workshops and enriching discussions with Boris Djiofack on sound creation. Festival attendees could also attend conferences on screenwriting and comic creation, exploring essential techniques for bringing animation projects to life. An exclusive screening of Cyrille MASSO’s documentary L'Afrique à Annecy 2022 kicked off Saturday’s events, followed by a masterclass on animated production in Cameroon, where MASSO shared his journey and insights on industry development.

The festival’s closing highlighted this edition’s achievements, with inspiring speeches from organizers, partners, and Ylarie, the winner of the creative residency. She was awarded a development grant for her animation project by the Cinéma Uni association of Jules EYANGO, followed by the screening of The Sacred Cave by Cyrille MASSO, beautifully concluding the memorable CANIMAF 2024.

The animated series Les Vacances de SEKA, directed by the talented Soffo Simo Jérôme and his team, marks a historic milestone in the Cameroonian animation industry. Broadcast on CANAL+ FAMILY since January 6, 2025, this co-production between the Ivorian studio Neuronn Communication and the Cameroonian STUDIO SOLF is a source of pride.

Les Vacances de SEKA holds a special place in the recent history of CANIMAF. The very first episode of the series was exclusively premiered during the closing ceremony of the festival’s latest edition, offering attendees an unforgettable sneak peek.

This 26-episode series, each lasting 5 minutes, takes viewers into the world of Seka, a young boy spending his vacation with his grandparents in Côte d’Ivoire. Through captivating adventures, Seka learns about the fundamental values of life and the rich cultural heritage of the Ivorian people.

Check out the trailer via this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18WjtV1jCf/

On August 31st, the French Institute of Cameroon in Yaoundé hosted a major event: the presentation and signing day for the comic book created as part of the interdisciplinary project "My Passion, My Dance." During this event, the public had the opportunity to discover two remarkable works that resulted from an ambitious project bringing together talents from various artistic fields: a graphic novel and an animated short film.

The "My Passion, My Dance" project highlights the essential nature of collaboration across different artistic disciplines. The dance group "Ici Ailleurs" dazzled the audience with their incredible performance, while illustrators Paul Monthe and Martini Ngola brilliantly translated the expression of movement through their graphic art. The comic book, published by Akoma Mba Editions, received a warm welcome from comic book enthusiasts and visual arts lovers alike.

Zebra Comics Plc/Sa took charge of translating the work into English and transformed it into a webtoon, thus making this original creation accessible to a wider audience. Animation 3D CAMER Groupe Sarl and Studio Abyl were selected to animate the short film, skillfully capturing the essence of the project and delivering a captivating 3D production.

The comic book is now available online, free of charge, in both English and French, on Zebra Comics Plc/Sa platforms. This free access allows people from all walks of life to discover this work, which harmoniously blends dance, drawing, and animation, offering a true tribute to Cameroonian creativity.

The project also enlisted the expertise of producer and director Cyrille Masso to elevate the film to an international standard. With initiatives like this, the future of Cameroonian animation cinema looks very promising and deserves to be encouraged.