Expert contributors

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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”

Others Experts

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Jeani Varty

Director and visual development artist

Jeani Varty is a young director and visual development artist who has been active in the industry since 2016. Having worked as a freelancer turned trainer for the past 4 years at Mollo animation academy, she has gained an appreciation for the developing artist and community at large. Jeani has since struck out on her own as a freelancer, working on multiple shows and developing her own IP. Her main focus now is shifting to building digital communities, networks, and spaces for freelancers and young animators looking to learn - this is done through her discord server, SADAC - the South African Digital Arts Community.

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Daniela Del Castello

Animation and visual development trainer

Daniela Del Castello is currently an animation and visual development trainer at the Tshimologong Precinct in Johannesburg South Africa, where she directs short films and upskills local artists to help them gain a footing in the industry and help further develop their artistic journey. Prior to becoming a trainer she worked for Minds Eye Creative for 4 years as an animator and character designer. Some of the clients she worked for included Netflix, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. She  Co-directed, character designed and animated for the CTIAF 2023 trailer. She has an honours degree in Fine Arts and a Masters Degree in Digital Art from Wits University. Her Masters involved studying the 3D animation pipeline and a research and creative project where she used stop frame, painting on glass animation to explore the relationship between animation and Queer aesthetic. She presented her paper and series of animated works at the Queer/ing animation Symposium 2017 and at the 2016 Turbine Art Fair.

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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!)

Making an Animated Short Film: Gale of the Cape

Developed by Jeani Varty and Daniela Del Castello

All footage from Gale of the Cape, work in progress footage or production images used courtesy of Jeani Varty.

Gale of the Cape was created by:

Jeani Varty – Director, Visual Development Artist, Animator
Daniela Del Castello – Co-Director, Visual Development Artist, Animator
Lola Aikins – Visual Development Artist, Animator
Tshegofatso “Toreshi” Pitseng – Visual Development Artist, Animator
Claudia Caprin – Visual Development Artist, Animator
Keiara Reddy – Animator, Visual Development Artist, Game Concept Design
David Waugh – Composer, Music
Pete O’Donoghue – Sound design

Additional Credits:

Every effort has been made to credit the creators of reference material. Please contact us if you
have any questions at
academy@triggerfish.com 

Module 2: The Research Phase

02:20

Photo by Airam Datoon

02:21

Photos by @red_lips_n_hips, https://www.instagram.com/red_lips_n_hips/?hl=en

02:22

Photo by RODNAE Productions  

02:23

Photo by Airam Datoon

02:24

Photo by Juan Cordero

02:40 – 02:49

Kick-Heart (2013) (Anime), Masaaki Yuasa

06:29 – 06:34

Warm Welcome, Co-Directors: X.K. Balashov, Anya Butler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7syEKLy9r0 

09:40 – 09:5

Illustrations by Charlie Herve – https://www.artstation.com/charlie_h

Module 3: Creating the Storyboard

02:28 – 02:37
Gravity (2013), Alfonso Cuarón
The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Jonathan Demme

Shutter Island (2010), Martin Scorsese

02:49 – 03:04
Bruce Willis as John McLain. Die Hard (1988), John McTiernan

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys for Life (2020), Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah

Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Martin Brest
Gerard Butler as King Leonidas in 300 (2006), Zack Snyder

 

04:00 – 04:01

Amy West “Indy Jamma Jones” – People Are Awesome
People Are Awesome Presents: Indy Jamma Jones | Roller Skating

07:46 – 07:53

Rollerblade, Freeskate in Capetown 80mm Episode 1

Freeskate in Capetown 80mm Episode 1

07:58 – 08:04

Kick-Heart (2013) (Anime), Masaaki Yuasa

08:20 – 08:26

Warm Welcome, Co-Directors: X.K. Balashov, Anya Butler 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7syEKLy9r0

Module 4: Art Block and Pushing Through

07:25 – 07:28

Video by RODNAEProductions

Module 5: Lunch Break Character Design Method

02:10

Photo by Chi-Chi Ari Love

02:20

Photo by Amber Robinson

02:22

“The Roller Skaters of Venice Beach” – Unknown Photographer

02:24

Roberta Haze – @purplehaze75 on Instagram

02:40

Photo by Amber Robinson

02:42

Photo by Juan Cordero

02:43

Photo by Airam Datoon

02:45

Photo by RODNAE Productions  

02:48:

Photo by upnorthtreasureventures (Ebay)

03:19

Image by Izabella A.J.

Image by Mathilde Loubes

03:22

Un Diable dans la Poche (2019), Antoine Bonnet and Mathilde Loubes

Module 6: Environment Design and Layout

01:25 – 02:05

Illustrations by Charlie Herve – https://www.artstation.com/charlie_h

03:02 – 03:25

Google Street View

03:31 – 04:15

Footage courtesy of SA Webcams

04:20 – 04:30

Francesca Smith, @frankvinyl_skates on Instagram

06:55

Photo by StevenMorrow

Module 7: The Animation Process

04:41 – 04:50

Amy West “Indy Jamma Jones” – People Are Awesome
People Are Awesome Presents: Indy Jamma Jones | Roller Skating

09:36 – 09:39

Hercules (1997), Ron Clements and John Musker