Expert contributors

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ARCHIE BIRCH

Visual artist and teacher in film, visual and animation
For over twenty years now Archie has made pictures for exhibition, children’s books, comics and many other reasons as well as drawing storyboards for live-action film and animation, from commercials and shorts to features and series. He has supervised storyboard and animation departments as well as completing a wide variety of animated and illustration projects for clients and as an independent artist. Archie has also been an animation, drawing and design lecturer at places like AFDA, City Varsity, False Bay College and SAE and continues to practice, learn and teach visual storytelling.

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TIM ARGALL

Animation Director

Tim was among a handful of animators who pioneered the South African animation industry in the early 90’s. As there were no local schools at that time, he learned the craft from books, observation and heaps of practice. He began his journey in 3D with the first release of Maya in 1998 doing character animation and visual-effects for film, then founded his own studio, Bugbox in 2003. Bugbox focuses on character animation and has produced animated brand characters and commercials for giants the likes of Kelloggs, Nestle, Lego and Coca-Cola.   Tim believes we never stop learning this multifaceted craft. In 2000 he did a course with the late Richard Williams (director of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and author of the acclaimed Animator's Survival Kit) and in 2010 he studied online through Animation Mentor. Later he completed the ‘SEDIBA Spark’ screenwriting course and enrolled for Honours in Digital Arts at WITS in 2017. Tim is passionate about heart-felt storytelling and intrigued by animation’s capacity to infuse a character with a soul. He was Animation Director on Triggerfish’s Seal Team (2021) and Herderboy (2023 - part Disney’s anthology Kizazi Moto - Generation fire!)

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KERRIN KOKOT

Animation Producer and Editor

Kerrin has worked as a writer, director, editor, production manager and producer on a wide range of local and international productions. Some of them have even won a few awards! She studied a range of art and humanities subjects at the universities of Pretoria and South Africa, completing her MFA in Film and Television at the University of Cape Town six years later. She completed an internship in puppet-making at creature effects company CFX, then worked as a junior animator for Triggerfish under director Jacquie Trowell. Jacquie’s influence was profound and foundational, teaching leadership, kindness, patience and inspiring others with her indomitable spirit. Later Kerrin became a film school lecturer, then worked for Parliament for a number of years before fully entering the film industry. She’s currently based between London and Cape Town and co-runs Just Films which produces docs, animation and fiction films that serve a just cause.

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KUDZAI NGUNDU

Concept and Story Artist

Kudzai is a multiple award winning Illustrator, Animator, Mangaka and Co-Founder of Afro Tokyo. A Pre-Production Company that seeks to tell Africa’s vast, rich and authentic stories, only in a fresh, new and vibrant Afro-Japanese aesthetic…   He has worked on a number of Manga/Comics, Children’s Edutainment books, 2D and 3D Animated Ads in this hip, new style… that have gone on to win a handful of awards across the globe, featured and exhibited in galleries and conventions around Southern Africa under the mantra….   “Afro-Japanese Art, brewed in an African Pot”