Congolese folklore, Mfinda, is slated as the debut project of their collaboration.
By Helena Olori
African animated films and series are on the rise as Los Angeles-based JuVee Productions, owned by Hollywood star couple, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, has announced a strategic move into animation through a partnership with Black and Japanese-led anime studio, N LITE. The collaboration aims to produce a series of “Afro-Anime” films, with the initial project being Mfinda.
Mfinda, rooted in Congolese folklore, is an epic fantasy that follows the exploits of a young Congolese girl as she ventures into the mystical depths of the “Mfinda” — a sacred forest pulsating with ancient spirits and untold wonders. Alongside a companion from a different era, she embarks on a quest to seek out the sacred Nkisi vessels to find her way home.
The film’s concept was developed by Congolese-American artist, Patience Leiken, and N LITE founder, Christiano Terry, with the screenplay co-written by Donald H. Hewitt, Terry, and Leiken. Terry, Maruyama, and the team at N LITE Japan, including Shin Koyamada and Shigeru Igari, will be at the helm of production for Mfinda, while Tokyo-based anime studio D’ART Shtajio’s Arthell Isom is set to co-direct the project.
Project collaborators include industry giants GKIDS and Studio M2, represented by anime veterans, Masao Maruyama and Taro Maki respectively, with a lineup of executive producers comprising Davis, Tennon, JuVee’s film head, Melanie Clark, and GKIDS’s Eric Beckman and Maki.
“We are honoured to partner with JuVee Productions on our slate of afro-anime films”, says co-creator, Terry. “Through this collaboration, we hope to spark cultural conversations and ignite the imaginations of audiences around the world, whether they are anime fans or simply fans of timeless storytelling in film. With our flagship title, Mfinda, audiences will journey into Congolese culture, and an enchanting world of spirits and ancestors.”
Acknowledging the timeliness of the project, Tennon and Clark stated, “This collaboration is a special and timely one and is aligned with JuVee’s continued commitment to produce content and support talent from underrepresented communities”.
In addition to the film production, the collaboration will also see both companies partner on merchandise, graphic novels, and manga.