A shot from Astral Studios' work on Chomp Mom. © Astral Studios.

When most people think of South Africa, they imagine elephants not animation. So, you may be surprised to learn that in addition to one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines, there is a thriving community of talented animators.

Ten years after the birth of democracy, there are hundreds of CGI production companies, several 2D animation houses and an impressive handful of stop-motion studios. Upon closer inspection, overseas producers may find distinct advantages in Africa. With a favorable exchange rate and lower cost of living, South African budgets are very competitive. More importantly, the people take an incredible amount of pride in their work, are hungry for opportunities and offer a unique creative perspective.

Growth of the Industry
South African ad agencies have always had a penchant for dry wit and over the last decade, they’ve earned international acclaim. Their success has attracted most of the major players, from Ogilvy and Mather to Saatchi and Saatchi and their work is seen both domestically and abroad.

There’s been a certain learning curve in their relationship with animation, changing a misplaced perception that one resorts to it when they can’t afford live-action. This view is changing and many agencies now consider animation a creative opportunity, rather than a fiscal consequence. This is especially true with 3D productions.

“South African 3D has reached a very high standard because of commercials production,” says Irene Constantinides, exec producer at Astral Studios. “Animators have to have excellent control of modeling, lighting, and texturing processes in order to satisfy an over-alert brand manager.”

At the tip of Africa, the stakes are raised, competition is rife and the standards are high. The “over-alert brand managers” have fostered an impressive work ethic and that tenacity has attracted productions beyond the ad world.

Witness the strength of animation in South Africa. © Triggerfish Animation.

The film industry has also grown over the past decade, as Cape Town became one of Hollywood’s favorite locations. The skill and perseverance developed through advertising has been recognized in the post-production world and big films are starting to trust their effects with local talent.

Craig Wessels from Wicked Pixels says, “We have some of the best creative minds in the world and we are technically up to speed. More and more producers realize that this is the place to post.”

Traditional animation and stop-motion have a presence, as well. Most 3D companies have a traditional animation department, though the quality often suffers from the lack of focus. However, a few studios are completely dedicated to non-3D forms of animation and their work is world-class.

Overall, the face of the South African animation industry is quite diverse and holds interesting opportunities for stateside producers.