Posted in: Disney+, Preview, streaming, TV | Tagged: disney, Iwájú, preview

Iwájú: Walt Disney Animation Studios, Kugali Series Arrives Next Month

Here are preview images for Walt Disney Animation Studios & Pan-African entertainment company Kugali's Iwájú, premiering on February 28th.

Published Mon, 22 Jan 2024 10:36:12 -0600

by Ray Flook

Last updated Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:29:56 -0600

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Article Summary

Iwájú, a collaboration with Kugali, premieres on Disney+ on February 28th.
The series blends Lagos culture with futuristic storytelling in animation.
Iwájú features work from Kugali's Adeola, Ibrahim, Olowofoyeku, and Disney's Chen.
A companion documentary, Iwájú: A Day Ahead, will also debut on the same day.

We've been waiting to learn when Walt Disney Animation Studios & Pan-African entertainment company Kugali's Iwájú would hit our screens since a preview image for it was released during D23 back in 2022. Well, the wait is over with Disney+ releasing three preview images from the series – and locking in February 28, 2024, for its premiere (with information on international release set to be announced shortly). Stemming from Kugali director Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, production designer Hamid Ibrahim & cultural consultant Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku, the upcoming six-part animated series looks to take viewers on a unique journey into the world of Iwájú – bursting with unique visual elements and technological advancements inspired by the spirit of Lagos. Disney Animation's Christina Chen produces, with a screenplay by Adeola and Halima Hudson and featuring the voices of Simisola Gbadamosi, Dayo Okeniyi, Femi Branch, Siji Soetan, and Weruche Opia.

"Iwájú" is an original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. The exciting coming-of-age story follows Tola, a young girl from the wealthy island, and her best friend, Kole, a self-taught tech expert, as they discover the secrets and dangers hidden in their different worlds.

"Crafting the narrative of 'Iwájú' has been a journey of creative alchemy, blending the rich cultural tapestry of Lagos with imaginative leaps into the future. Collaborating with my Kugali co-founders and the visionary artists at Walt Disney Animation Studios has been nothing short of magical," Adeola shared in a statement about the upcoming animated series. "The heartbeat of my hometown resonates through every scene, and I am thrilled for the world to experience this unique fusion of tradition and futurism."

Premiering alongside the series on February 28th is Disney+'s Iwájú: A Day Ahead, a documentary special filmed across three continents that shares the story of the founders of the Pan-African entertainment company, Kugali, who made their dream a reality by creating an original animation series with Walt Disney Animation Studios. Created by the ABC News Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios team that brought you Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2, the documentary is directed by Megan Harding and executive produced by Amy Astley and Beth Hoppe.

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