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Disney has released a ka-toon that’s made by Nigerians for Nigerians, based on Nigerian culture. “Iwaju” is a Nigerian sci-fi series set in a futuristic Lagos State, and as of February 28, 2024, all six episodes are on Disney Plus and the Disney Channel.
These episodes didn’t leave me wanting to binge the whole thing in a day just to see how it ends, but the animation is beautiful, and the creators did a good job with setting up Lagos. However, some of their choices had me asking questions.
Why do hawkers have drones?
In Lagos of the future, street hawkers not only still exist, but they use sophisticated drone technology to sell their wares. But regular vehicles also exist. Enough of them that traffic is still a thing in the future (because, Lagos, of course). When the main character’s driver uses their car’s flying function to escape a traffic jam, it’s clear that flying cars are a luxury that few enjoy. So what’s the point of investing in drones for street hawking? Surely it’s more lucrative to sell to the people who can’t escape a traffic jam (AKA the perfect condition for street hawking).
We still don’t have light in the future?
Are you kidding me? Drone technology is available to hawkers, and we’re still shouting “Up NEPA!” in the future? When we’re not cursed, abeg. I can’t even tell if this is realistic or not, and that’s what bothers me the most.
Why the Agege bread?
The question isn’t, “Why is there Agege bread in the future?” because Agege bread transcends time. It’s also not, “Why is the main character’s rich dad eating Agege bread?” because Agege bread transcends social status. My question is, “Why did the driver say, “By the way, sir, I bought you Agege bread” in the middle of a conversation, then pull out steaming hot Agege bread from where I can only assume is under the dashboard? There were better ways to include Agege bread in this scene (like, I don’t know, buying from the drone-operating hawkers?) Also, call me an ajebutter, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen steaming hot Agege bread.
What happened to the main character’s mum?
The obvious answer to this question is, “This is Disney. She’s obviously with the ancestors” and that’s fine. The real problem is she’s never mentioned, not even in passing. Usually, when the main character argues with their father because they want freedom, they’ll yell, “When Mom was here…,” sad music will play, and they’ll both be sad for like two minutes. If her mother is dead, they seem to have taken it rather well. Therapy must slap in the future.
Why does the Yoruba sound so white?
Voice acting has always been my biggest issue with Nigerian animation. And to its credit, most of the voice acting in “Iwaju” isn’t bad. They even avoided what I affectionately refer to as the “Wakanda Accent”. However, when the characters want to speak pidgin (or even Yoruba), the results are awkward, to say the least. Tola gets off easy since it’s established that she’s sheltered. But Kole is supposed to be the guy from Ajegunle. His pidgin shouldn’t sound so odd.
How do I get the villain’s glasses?
The villain’s glasses look clean as hell, but more importantly, they can scan the net worth of anyone he sets his eyes on. He uses it to kidnap children, but that’s beside the point. Can you imagine running into them “Do You Know Who I Am?” kids and pulling out the Broke Detector 3000s? You’d be able to expose their BS twice as fast. Apple or Meta should get on this, abeg.
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Have you watched it yet? What questions did you have?
As Africa slowly enters the global comics and animation conversation, it adds another major win in Iwájú, an animation series produced by Kugali Media in partnership with Disney.
Kugali Media’s Iwájú is one of the projects the Walt Disney Company announced on its Investor Day in 2020. Yup, you probably didn’t know about that. But there’s more to know about this coming animated series.
What’s Kugali?
The company started as Tao of Otaku, in 2015 as a podcast. Two years later, it morphed into Kugali (Swahili for “to care”), a website and YouTube channel with arts, gaming, comics and animation content. In 2018, the co-founders Hamid Ibrahim, Tolu Olowofoyeku and Olufikayo “Ziki Nelson” Adeola narrowed its focus to producing African comics and animations. Kugali has since produced original comics like Iku, Oro and Mumu Juju and the latest Iwájú, an animated TV series co-produced by Disney Animation.
Facebook: Kugali
Kugali and Disney’s fateful meeting
All it took for Disney to notice what Kugali’ got was a brazen statement by Kugali’s co-founder Hamid Ibrahim (VFX artist on The Lion King) in a 2019 BBC interview. He said, “We’ll beat Disney’s ass.” Interestingly, Disney reached out to work with Kugali for Disney Plus. This relationship birthed the project initially set for release in 2022. But it took additional two years to come out due to release schedule changes.
What’s Iwájú about?
Iwájú is a Yorùbá word for front or forward. It’s an animated story about class and inequality. It focuses on two friends living in futuristic Lagos; Tola, a rich island babe, and poor, self-taught tech-guy Kole who lives in another part of Lagos (seems like the mainland) and their investigation into the dark sides of their two worlds.
Source: MovieWeb
Production
Iwájú is produced by Christian Chen of Disney Animation and written by Halima Hudson and Tolu Olowofoyeku. Nigerian composer Ré Olunga handled the film score. Kugali’s co-founders Ziki Nelson, Hamid Ibrahim and Tolu Olowofoyeku are also the film’s director, production designer and cultural consultant respectively.
Source: MovieWeb
Voices of Iwájú
Iwájú is voiced by Simisola Gbadamosi, Sinister Soetan, Femi Branch, Dayo Okeniyi (The Hunger Games and Emperor) and Weruche Opia (I May Destroy You, High Desert and Sliced). The cast was assembled by Nigerian actress Kemi “Lala” Akindoju.
L-R; Femi Branch, Weruche Opia and Dayo Okeniyi
Release date
Iwájú will debut in the U.S. on February 28, 2024 on Disney Plus. The release date for Nigeria and other select regions will be announced later. African and Nigerian stories finding a home on the global screen will always be a delight.
Source: MovieWeb
Iwájú: A Day Ahead
Iwájú: A Day Ahead is a special documentary about the series development and production process, and it’ll also come out the same day the series debuts. It’s produced by Walt Disney Animation and ABC News Studios.
African animation is enjoying a breakthrough this 2023, showcasing some of our finest talents to the world on platforms like Disney and ShowMax. Netflix’s first original African-animated series launched in July too. We celebrate these power moves and the opportunity portal they’ve opened for many African creators.
While we anticipate more progress, we look at some of the best animated pictures African cinema has produced in 2023 so far.
Kiya & The Kimoja Heroes
This pre-school series is about a trio of best friends: Kiya, Jay and Motsie. They wield their music, dancing, martial arts and high-tech tools into formidable superpowers whenever they need to defend their community, Kimoja. Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes will have little kids thinking they’re tougher than Rambo with the flexible movement of the animation, sharp picture and bright colours.
Supa Team 4
This is Netflix’s first original animated series from Africa, which debuted in July 2023 to wide acclaim. Supa Team 4 is a Zambian neo-futuristic children’s series focused on the adventures of four schoolgirls trying to save the world from doom. It gives Nickelodeon Junior vibes, but its vibrant animation, storytelling and setting make it a fresh watch.
Garbage Boy and Trash Can
This Ridwan Moshood-animated superhero epic, Garbage Boy and Trash Can, brings the watchers into a world where everything is valuable, including garbage. In July 2023, it became the first Nigerian-made animation on Cartoon Network. The show is creative with its characters, pushing the watchers’ imagination to see inanimate things as extraordinary with live-action and hybrid programming.
Kizazi Moto: Génération Feu
Kehinde Bankole, Lillian Dube, Nasty C and Florence Kasumba voice characters in this animated short film series. You’re in for a futuristic Africa in Kizazi Moto, so if you like 3D animated actions, advanced tech, aliens and monsters, you’d love this.
Ajaka: Lost In Rome
This 2D animated series comes from the stable of Spoof Animation. It follows an exiled Alaafin of Oyo as he fights to escape slavery under a gladiator in Rome and return to the motherland.
Aau’s Song
Aau’s Song is the ninth episode of the Star Wars: Visions Volume 2. It brought the galaxy to Korba, a planet that mirrors South Africa. A little girl called Aau has singing abilities that can purify lightsaber crystals. With its sharp drawing, highlight effects, you’ll love this.
Mikolo
Mikolo is a children’s animation and live-action film by Niyi Akinmolayan. It’s about two kids who became friends with a magical bird after their curiosity led them into a mystical forest. Though it focuses on the kids, parents can learn from it about mending broken relationships and working hand-in-hand with other parents to raise their kids.
Hi, I’m Sylvester Effiong Ekanem, a.k.a. Effyze. I’m a 21-year-old digital artist, recording artist and content creator. I’ve been drawing all my life. I’m extremely unique; I’ve just come to embrace that about myself. Life is too short to want to be like someone else. I hate learning something new because at that stage, it’s so frustrating. My number-one supporter would be my mum because she let me study fine and applied arts — majoring in graphics/animation — and that’s really cool. I’m working on my first Webtoon show called Unfamous.
Unfamous sounds fun. What’s it about?
It’s a web series.
It’s about four friends who go to an influencer high school in Nigeria — a satire on the lives of influencers. It focuses on the friends — Folake, Styles, Zoey and Femi — their wild imaginations and experiences. There are a lot of side characters who are influencers of different niches and genres. I really want people to resonate with these characters, especially now when everyone is on TikTok with a notion of what a content creator’s life is like. Unfamous shows the funny side of what everybody thinks about influencers.
How did you convince your Nigerian mum to support your art?
My mum is one of my best friends. She’s not wild like most Nigerian or African mums. She has her moments, I’m not going to lie, but most of the time, she’s really cool. There are so many things most African youths can’t approach their moms to ask for that I can. And it made it really easy to just let her know I didn’t want to study medicine or engineering. I wanted to go to school to draw. She already knew I had it in me. The walls of our first house really suffered. In secondary school, everyone was drawing Ben 10, Naruto and Goku, but I wasn’t just drawing stuff I saw in movies, I imagined my own characters. It wasn’t really much of a big deal to convince my mum. And I love her for it.
Did you have that childhood experience where your parents discover you can draw so they refer you to one uncle to put you through?
I was the kind of kid who’d cling to any older person who could draw. When I was little, I was so intrigued by anyone who could draw, so I didn’t need anyone to do that for me.
What was the first character you created?
Dennis the Vampire. I wasn’t as creative with the names of the characters I came up with, or their stories. The name was inspired by Dennis, the Menace — my mum used to buy me a lot of comic books. It was about this vampire who was really bad at being a vampire. He had glasses on because he couldn’t see. Every single issue of that comic book ended with him getting sunburnt to a crisp.
How old were you when you created him?
I was in my JSS 3, so I was 12 going on 13. I don’t have any of the illustrations anymore, but I remember what he looked like. It was my first original character, after all. If I were asked to redraw him, I definitely know how I’d do it.
Would you recreate it anytime soon?
I don’t know. The thing is back then it must’ve felt super original to me, but now that I’m grown, I realise it wasn’t as original as I thought. If I revisit Dennis, I might change the story a bit. For starters, he was white and had a black best friend. I was wired to understand that was the perfect dynamic. I can change that now.
You seem heavily into pop culture.
I’m the last kid in my house. My immediate elder sibling is five years older. So I grew up with people who already knew what was trending at the time. My brothers were all into gangster rap, and my sister listened to R&B. Watching them inspired me to know what I want early on. And lucky for me, the things I like tend to go mainstream.
I’m watching Wednesday right now. I see stuff that’s mainstream, and it’s really intriguing to me. Some people are like, “Oh, mainstream is boring. Go underground.” I feel like it’s popular for a reason.
What were those shows for you growing up? Were they all animated?
It was a mix of animated movies/shows and live action. For starters, I’m a Disney boy (for life). Growing up, I’d watch Kim Possible almost religiously. I’m also a big Cartoon Network boy. Stephen Universe’s art style has inspired me a lot. That and Total Drama.
Your web series art style is giving The Proud Family with some Jimmy Neutron — because of the large heads. And I sense some gaming influence.
I don’t play games, but I do admire game characters a lot. You’ve mentioned some really nice toons too, TBH. Jimmy Neutron and TheProud Family are very dear to my heart. But for Unfamous, I think the art style I really incorporatedwould be Gravity Falls, one of my best cartoons off the Disney channel. When I was figuring out the art style, I really did get a lot of inspiration from Gravity Falls, but not so much that when you see it, you’d think, is this Gravity Falls fanfiction or something? When I imitate an art style, I just take elements from the style.
Are you studying animation in Nigeria?
I wish. But my final thesis sheds light on how universities need to start offering animation courses of study here in Nigeria. The closest thing to a computer-animation-related programme I could get was graphics design in UNN. And that’s where I am.
I don’t trust Nigerian schools enough to think it’s being taught well
It’s not. In the first semester of my final year, we learnt surface-level UI. To be honest, our lecturers don’t know much about what they’re showing us because when they were learning, they used cutters and rulers and cartons to construct stuff. They’re trying their best, teaching us the theory. The practicals, which is the real work, I learn from YouTube and Skill Share.
Something I find really cool about you is you make couples’ art. Tell me about that
The first-ever couple I illustrated was my friends, Ubong and Joey. They were dating at the time. I just used them to practice. Then I started getting commissions from couples for their weddings. Every couple I’ve ever drawn ends up genuinely resonating with my goofy version of themselves, and it’s just really great to see.
How much did you charge when you started drawing for couples, and how much do you charge now?
When I started digital art, I didn’t understand how to put a price on my work. I felt I was just starting, and therefore, should be cheap. That’s not a good notion to carry in your head. What matters is how good you are and how well you can deliver.
The first-ever commission I got was from a couple who wanted their wedding souvenir to be different from what everyone else was doing in 2017. I charged them ₦10k. These people lived abroad. I was just starting, but it was still quality art. I remember the money finished just as fast as it came.
Now, it’s a lot different. I follow a lot of artists who give tutorials about putting a price on your art. I got to know about pricing and list making, and I came up with price levels in 2021. A pack of six illustrations of you and your partner is ₦30k, for eight, it’s ₦35k, and the 16 is ₦45k. There have been times when I compromised because I just loved the project. It depends on how much I believe in the project. It doesn’t even have to be a couples thing. It could be a children’s book or stickers.
Do you mean WhatsApp stickers?
When I illustrate couples, I just make the Whatsapp stickers and send if they want them. That’s a promo thing I do. I remember when I started doing that in 2020, it was for a couple who lived in Brooklyn. They wanted stickers they could use on social media platforms, and I was like, WhatsApp would be a good one. So I thought that’s what I could do on the side to say thank you to my clients for their patronage, because it really doesn’t take much to make them.
How many have you done so far?
I’ve illustrated well over 50 couples since I started in 2019.
How do you bring life to the people in your couples art?
Some people don’t exactly know how to describe what they want, so I ask questions about character traits. Someone who loves to read or is mischievous would be represented just like that. For people I already know, or relationships I’ve witnessed, I don’t think I’d need to ask them to tell me about themselves. But if it’s a stranger, I ask them.
Who influenced you to take on animation?
I owe my love for drawing to Chris Brown. It’s his talent that motivated me to start everything I do now — singing, acting, choreography, drawing. I remember listening to With You for the first time and being like, “Who’s this guy?” When I started researching about him and found out he could draw, I said, “Oh, I’m going to draw too” because I wanted to be like Chris Brown. Other people have inspired me too, like Butch Hartman.
That’s bold in 2022. Who inspires you right now?
Yes, I have other artist inspirations too. When I started doing digital art, I was afraid I’d be the only Nigerian doing it. I was amazed to discover artists like Mohammed Agbadi, Mumu Illustrator and many more. I know a lot of really amazing Nigerians that, when you see their work, you’ll wish you could do something like that. People like Nari Animation. He inspired me to start learning how to draw backgrounds. Most of my recent inspirations are Nigerian artists. Seeing people, who understand what it’s like to be Nigerian, create these things is amazing. Also, Ridwan Moshood, the creator of Garbage Boy and Trash Can, is a huge inspiration. I follow him everywhere.
Are you working on a big project we should be expecting?
In years to come, I really hope I can do an animated show. But before that, Unfamous is coming for you guys, and it’ll be great. I’m writing it with one of my best friends, Arnold. We’ve known each other since we were five.
What are your favorite works so far?
I’m really feeling this piece called Otilo (She’s far gone). It’s currently on my Instagram, a photo I drew of a girl smoking out her window. You can see what she’s thinking, just like random stuff in nice doodles on the side. I really resonate with it. I’m also proud of this album cover I did for an artist. He wanted something a little spooky. An artwork I think I’ll always be proud of was this angelic lady adorned in gold. She was crying; over her crying face was a smiley face. It’s the first time I drew what I was feeling. I’m proud of all of them, my little scribbles and warm-up sketches. I’m just trying to make sure I’m proud of myself before anyone else is proud of me. If you don’t approve of yourself, you’ll always be looking for approval elsewhere.
What are the highs and lows of being a digital artist and animator?
The best way to create digital art is to have good materials, and I’ve never had any of those. The ones I have are OK, but not cutting-edge. The real struggle is me trying to use regular materials to make A-grade art.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not in school?
I sing. To draw, you’d have to get your tools, press buttons and all that. But with singing, I just open my mouth and never shut up. When I’m not drawing, I’m definitely singing, and I’m an R&B boy. I think I sing more than I draw these days.
Do you have anything out?
Right now, it’s just covers for people who want to listen to what I have to say and get an idea of the kind of sound to expect once I start putting out actual music. The biggest question an artist must ask themselves is how they’ll tell their story. That’s why I’m taking my time. I’m still trying to figure out how to tell my story. I have a few demos on AudioMack, but there are bigger projects coming.
What do you want for your life and career?
First of all, I’m manifesting happiness and fulfillment. What I want is for people to see my art and resonate with it. I want people to feel things they didn’t even think they could until they saw or heard my art. Everybody wants to go mainstream. But I don’t just want to blow, I want people to have a purpose once they experience my work. It may sound like a lot of pressure to put on oneself, but it’s what’s keeping me going. A lot of artists starting out have messaged me on Instagram asking for advice, and I give them everything I know. I want to impact people’s lives with my art. In 50 years, I want to look back and see I actually achieved what I wanted to achieve.
And in terms of measurable success?
In the next five years, I want to see Unfamous go from a comic to an animated show, maybe on YouTube. We could start from there and build up. In music, I feel like every musician’s dream is to pour their heart out in a song, have everybody singing that song, and then a few awards here and there. For me, it all boils down to resonation. Even if I don’t win awards, if I walk down a street and see people just listening to my music on their phones, I’d feel like I’ve won.
What would you like to share with people who are scared to start creating?
Don’t compare yourself with any other person. Most artists are in love with everybody’s art except their own. It’s one thing to be driven by someone else’s art, but it’s another thing to continuously compare yourself with them. You shouldn’t do that as a beginner artist. Let your last work be your competition. Think this way, “I’ve created this. The next one will surpass it. I’m in competition with myself. I’m only getting better.” You might not know how long the people you compare yourself with have been practising. Art is subjective; whatever you’re creating is still art.
First, Nollywood to the world, then — to a much more explosive degree — Afrobeats. If the sheer amount of films submitted from across Africa, for screening at the just concluded Lagos International Festival of Animation (LIFANIMA) 2022, is anything to go by, animation could be next.
Let’s just say we predict that the global takeover of African animation is only a matter of time, and we’ve gathered our proof below.
SIP
My first impression of SIP was, “No way this isn’t a Pixar film.” Made in Nigeria by Magic Carpet Studios, it’s the story of a freelance artist stuck at his home workstation, struggling with endless deadlines and a coffee addiction — if this isn’t the most relatable plotline in the 2022 we live in. The only difference is the main character decides to be a better person, stop missing deadlines and, because he’s on a roll, break up with coffee. But coffee did not gree o. It came to life to literally force itself down the poor artist’s throat, and that’s how a whole fight between a man and his coffee started. SIP runs almost completely without dialogue, but at 11 minutes, it’s short, sweet and funny in a dark way.
Malika – Warrior Queen
Adapted from a comic book series of the same name, by YouNeek Studios, this animated film is so good we had to recommend it twice. Everything slaps, from the animation and colouring to sound effects and voice acting by faves like Adesua Etomi-Wellington and Deyemi Okanlawon. But the fight scenes, in particular, were well-choreographed.
Malika – Warrior Queen showcases Northern Nigerian culture in a powerful, modern light. Queen, and military commander, Malika is a compelling lead character who reminds one of the iconic Amina of Zaria. Her demeanour, strength and courage despite how young she is, will be especially inspiring to young African girls. When the end credits start rolling out, you’ll want to join the band of people furious at EbonyLife for not ordering a full season.
Super Dad
Another no-dialogue, highly-relatable animation short from Magic Carpet Studios, the graphics and everyday humour of Super Dad is reminiscent of popular western cartoons like Gumball and Loudhouse. It’s also interesting to watch a man take care of his baby, a role some believe to be entirely for women.
Adapted from a children’s book, Halima’s Vote delivers the message of “voting with a conscience” clearly. The visuals are simple but rather pleasant to watch, kinda like those Bible cartoons we watched as children. The conflict between Halima’s husband, the de facto leader (more like political thug) and the village is interesting, considering Halima is lowkey a progressive feminist. Watching her find her voice — while singing, of course — is deeply satisfying. Basement Animation Studios received funding from the MacArthur Foundation to make Halima’s Vote, but if you don’t stay for the good message, the songs in this Disney-esque musical should hold your attention.
A Kalabanda Ate My Homework
As the title implies, this is an extremely funny short film. Made in Uganda by Creatures Animation Studio, A Kalabanda Ate My Homework delivers clean and well-paced animation similar to 3D Nickelodeon cartoons like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While the story doesn’t exactly give room for context — I mean, what the heck is a “kalabanda”? — it manages to remain engaging till the end.
League of Orishas
Lovers of anime, this is for you. This animated series brings the Yoruba orishas to life, and what’s more amazing than being able to tell our ancient mythology in modern ways? League of Orishas is all about 3D orishas fighting different element-bending battles for different reasons. It reminds me of Dragonball but with less-quality graphics. Anthill Studios might have some way to go in terms of matching anime quality, but League of Orishas is an enjoyable watch still, and already has a second episode (looking at you, Malika – Warrior Queen).
AMI
From the maker of the eerie bird that raised Saro back to life in Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo, AMI is an animated film to watch. While the characters and world around them look like something out of Grand Theft Auto, it’s the animation of the car chases, in this action thriller set in Lagos’ political underbelly, that really impresses. AMI is a good-quality Yoruba film but fully animated. What’s not to love?
I have no idea why food seems more appealing when animated, but if you’re like me, you’ve wanted to try almost every food you’ve seen in animations. I’m convinced that the real-life replica doesn’t taste as good as they make it seem but we’ll take what we can get. From the tubby custard in Teletubbies to everything from Spirited Away, here are 17 cartoon foods I wish existed in real life.
Everything in Spirited Away
I remember watching the scene where Chihiro’s parents saw all that food that didn’t belong to them and just started eating. All the while, I was thinking, “God forbid, but also, same.” It’s impossible to watch this movie and not be hungry. Why did everything have to look so good, though?
Have you ever sat down to eat a burger, and your brain tells you it’ll never come close to a Krabby patty? Because this is me all the time. Those fish people in bikini bottoms could sell their kids to buy this burger, and I too might sell my siblings. I don’t want to hear anything about how the secret formula is Mr Crabs meat; please, I’ll still eat it.
Pink doughnut from The Simpsons
There’s just something about how Homer eats this doughnut up in one bite that assures me it slaps. Why hasn’t someone tried to recreate it yet? I’m sure it’s full of sugar, so I’m willing to risk my life to try this.
All the bugs in Lion King
Don’t lie; we’ve all wanted to try them at a point. The bugs kind of looked like gummy worms even. What if bugs don’t taste so bad, ya know? I feel like Simba would never lead us astray because that’s not very king-like behaviour. Timon said they tasted like chicken, so we can’t beat it till we’ve tried it.
Sleeping Beauty‘s sad-looking cake
You know how people always say, “All the best people are broken”? That’s precisely my sentiment with this cake. You just know that it tastes like love. No, I will not be explaining further. Plus, it was baked by fairies, so it’ll have to taste like magic.
Ramen in Ponyo
Every time it rains, I start craving noodles, and I blame Ponyo. Because no matter what I cook, it’ll never look like this perfect bowl of ramen. And with the way the kids ate it, you just know it slapped. Look at that broth! Life is not fair to people who aren’t animated.
Bowl of ramen in Naruto
In this life, there is mai shai, and there is ramen from Ichiraku ramen shop that Teuchi made. My biggest flaw in life was coming as a human being instead of an animated character that exists in every universe. Just look at this perfect bowl of ramen. I’m jealous.
Winnie the Pooh‘s golden Hunny
I don’t even like honey, but the one in Winnie the Pooh looked like liquid gold. Why’s it so thick? How can anyone eat honey for every meal? This bear carried a jar everywhere because of how great it tastes, I’m sure. He should release the names of the bees he gets it from, in two days, or we riot.
Pizza in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Why does no one make pizza that’ll rival the ones these green reptiles eat? Why does real life cheese never look that good? Why’s our pizza never as soft? Why isn’t the pizza they eat real? I, too, would make liking pizza my entire personality if it tasted and looked half as good as the ones on this TV show.
Shaggy’s sandwiches from Scooby-Doo
Shaggy might have been a lot of things, but he’d always create a masterpiece of a sandwich. It’s how he always tries to eat a full sandwich in one go for me. How good can a sandwich taste that you’d want to tear your mouth to eat it? No sandwich will ever come close to Shaggy’s sandwich, and that’s the problem with real life.
Bugs Bunny’s crunchy carrot from Looney Tunes
Does he plant it himself? Does he use special manure? Because real life carrots can’t taste that good, and the only time they actually taste nice is in carrot cake. Still, I want to try his carrot sha. Maybe It’ll give me all the energy this bunny uses to be a menace because I need it.
Every single thing that Other Mother makes in Coraline
See, the titular character, Coraline, is not a serious person. So what if they removed her eyes? So, what if the Other Mother was a witch that wanted her soul? Wasn’t it a better offer than living with neglectful parents? Can’t believe that babe didn’t trade her soul for junk and button eyes. It could never be me — bad decisions all the way!
The iconic plate of spaghettI from Lady and the Tramp
Spaghetti and meatballs piqued when Lady and Tramp had the most romantic diner in the history of romantic dinners. I specifically want to eat the spaghetti for that moment where someone’s child and I are both sucking on the same spaghetti strand from opposite ends and meet in the middle. What is love without sharing food, after all?
Ratatouille from Ratatouille
Growing older and realising that ratatouille is just a bunch of vegetables stacked on top of each other should make it unappealing, but no, I still want to try it. Maybe not the one cooked by a rat — I don’t care how good Remy is at cooking, rats are unsanitary. But I’d like to eat food that transports me to someone else’s good memory.
Special sentient sandwich from Adventure Time
If you think about it, it’s not like the sandwich itself was sentient — just the ingredients. It had no feelings but I’m not going to defend myself for wanting to eat it. BMO’s cooking instructions might have added to the craving for this sandwich but let’s not talk about that. So many meals from Adventure Time, but this is the one I’ll sell my left kidney to taste.
This bug thing from The Emperor’s New Groove
See, you can’t even judge me because why does it look so good? If you people know anywhere they sell this, better link me up. I’m counting on you.
Bonus: Jawbreakers from Ed, Edd n Eddy
This is technically not food, but you’re a liar and a dirty bitch if you didn’t want the specific jawbreaker from Ed, Edd and Eddy. Because after begging my mum for years, she bought it for me from a supermarket. It did not hit because it wasn’t as big as the one from the show mtceww.
One thing all anime fans will agree on is that white-haired anime characters are usually the strongest, most extraordinary and hottest. If a character has white hair or goes through problems that turn his hair white, be ready for some well-deserved action.
Gojo Satoru – Jujutsu Kaisen
At first, he gives off lazy energy, but real anime fans know characters like him are usually super strong. With his eyepatch on, he’s the playful and annoying sensei to his students, but the moment the mask comes off power pass power. Gojo is an arrogant but highly-skilled sorcerer no one should cross.
To be honest, Kaneki was a loser until he had the “character development” that turned his hair white. He turned into a ghoul who needs to eat people to survive, but this man chooses to drink coffee instead to suppress his hunger, in his saviour era for real. Kaneki has that good-boy-gone-bad arch going for him, and I love it. His fight scenes are a pleasure to watch and watching him casually save the world like it’s another Tuesday never gets old.
Kakashi – Naruto
The internet lost its mind when we realised this man just casually reads smut for fun in public. But there’s more to him than being a whore. Kakashi motivates his students to be their best selves. Imagine being the student of a Hokage, teaching the Hokage, and then becoming a Hokage yourself. Being as strong as the main character, whose power is half demon, is just goated.
Killua – Hunter x Hunter
Don’t be deceived by his cuteness. Don’t even go near when he’s in assassin mode because that’ll be the end for you. Killua takes self-confidence to another level, but you’d do the same if you were undefeatable. He’s also a super great friend and is always amused for someone with an intensely tragic backstory.
Todoroki – My Hero Academia
To be fair, Todoroki isn’t purely white-haired, but he gets a pass because, if push comes to shove, he’d have pure white hair to erase the red that reminds him of his dad. He’s the epitome of calm and collected. His powers are dramatic but get the work down. His growth as a person is chef kiss, and he’s a safe space for fans with daddy issues.
Najenda – Akame Ga Kill
There’s no way anyone would watch Akame Ga Kill and not fall in love with Najenda. She starts as this super cool general whose hobby is killing people. But… mention one anime hero who hasn’t killed someone. Exactly. She’s also funny and has this super cool “inspector gadget” arm that gives her character sauce. What’s better than a strong white-haired character? A funny badass one, thank you.
Shougo Makishima – Psycho-pass
There’s no trope hotter than the white-haired, morally-grey character, which sums Shougo up completely. He’s always two steps ahead, and fear? What’s that, please? He kills people without a second thought and is such a sweet talker. You’d hear his voice in your head for days after watching Psycho-pass. But that’s a small price to pay to see him on screen, to be honest. That’s my sadistic, parseltongue king, and I stand by him.
Love, Death & Robots is an anthology series on Netflix with a unique blend of sci-fi, horror, and comedy. Some episodes are animated, while others lean into a realistic or CGI art style. The best part of Love, Death & Robots is not knowing what to expect next with each episode, and they never disappoint.
Love, Death & Robots: Volume 3 slaps from the first episode. It’s a series of animated shorts aimed at adults, so there’s an ungodly amount of blood, gore, and adult themes. I ranked all nine episodes in this article, from my least favourite to my favourite.
“Mason’s Rats”
This episode follows a Scottish farmer who purchases a small military-grade army of robots to fight off an army of rats that have infested his barn. The fact that this episode ends with the rats and the farmer calling a truce and sharing a drink made by the rats did not sit well with the Nigerian in me. Sentient or not, rats are disgusting. It’s an excellent episode. I just don’t support rats as living things.
This episode would have been my least favourite if “Mason’s Rats” had featured any other animal but rats. Kill Team Kill tells the story of a military squad who goes up against a genetically modified grizzly bear. The guys in the unit spend all their time making penis jokes, swearing at each other, and being in a non-stop blood bath. It’s short but super chaotic. The good thing is that they die quickly enough for you to move on. If you like a weird mix of action and comedy, this is for you.,
“Swarm”
Swarm tells the story of two opportunistic scientists trying to learn the secrets of an alien hive to improve humanity. The whole episode features humans doing what they do best: exploiting and attempting to colonise and builds up to an underwhelming sex scene. On a deeper level, there’s the fundamental question of whether the aliens or the humans are being exploited. That question is never answered, though, and the story ends unresolved—shoutout to it for at least being the only episode to touch on the theme of love.
“Night of the Mini Dead”
In this episode, two foolish humans decide to have sex in a cemetery, triggering a series of unfortunate events that wipes out humanity via a zombie apocalypse. The gag of the episode is the stop motion animation method and the camera angle that makes the humans look like ants with squeaky voices. Anyway, I blame konji for all of this.
“Three Robots: Exit Strategies”
Our favourite robot trio from volume one returns in this episode and continues their journey through the ruins of a post-apocalyptic Earth. They went to the last bunker for rich people, specifically an oil rig for millionaires and tech-bros. They found out that it was where the first robot uprising began because those guys had no survival skills and relied heavily on machines—the shade. The three of them criticised humans back and forth and made several points, but the real gag was the end, where the iconic line “Who were you expecting, Elon Musk?” was said after they showed us who finally made it to Mars.
Similar to Kill Team Kill (a military squad goes on a mission to take out some terrorists in Afghanistan and ends up trying to take out a monster. A lot of the plot would not exist if they’d seen the tomb, said “fuck no”, and gone home, but what’s the fun in that? The animation style is so realistic that when the sole survivor cut off her ears and gouged her eyes at the end, I nearly fainted. This episode is just the right amount of action and horror, so if you like movies like Aliens vs Predator, you’ll enjoy this one.
“Bad Travelling”
In Bad Travelling, a sentient crab boards a ship containing a group of shark hunters and begins killing some of the crew. It forces the captain to take it to an island so it can kill more innocent people. The captain is torn between saving the rest of his crew and saving the people’s lives on the island. This episode will have you at the edge of your seat, and you’ll have to remember to breathe. It’s that good.
“The Very Pulse of the Machine”
This episode is the ultimate trip and will make you question everything about existence. When it ends, you’ll wonder if you were high the entire time. An astronaut is stranded on one of Jupiter’s moons and has to drag the corpse of her comrade to safety. Along the way, She taps into the planet’s consciousness after taking drugs that make her hallucinate, and it claims to be a sort of machine. She starts to hear her dead companions talking to her, and we’re unsure if she’s hallucinating or if the moon is a machine talking to her. She sha made near-death feel beautiful right up to the ending. The colour choice and music were vital in making this entire episode beautiful.
“Jibaro”
This twisted episode left chills down my spine. Not a word was uttered between the two characters, but somehow that made it heavier. “Jibaro” follows a deaf knight whose entire battalion is killed by a siren-like creature covered in gold and jewels. She becomes obsessed with this man maybe because her cries have no effect on him, and at her most vulnerable, this man rips up all the gold and jewels from her body in the most horrific manner. Lowkey, it makes you feel like you’re having an anxiety attack, and the music sure doesn’t help, but that tension and the almost life-like animation stylish make it brilliant. It’s both disturbing and mesmerising with fantastic storytelling.
If you watch adult cartoons, you’re really cool, but there are some certain favourites that say a lot about who you are as a person. Read on to find out.
1. Archer
Archer is no one’s favourite, but if it’s yours — just like the main character — instead of working for your mum, you still live with her. And to be honest,I don’t blame you; things are hard. You’re a super nerd and your favourite show is The Office.
You’re depressed and also very annoying, but people still like you a lot. Everyone around you is used to you joking about your trauma. You can be very irresponsible, but you’re charming, so everyone lets you off the hook.
3. Daria
If you watched Daria, you’re always the coolest person in the room. Growing up, a lot of adults definitely didn’t like you because you always spoke your mind and you sometimes feel you were born in the wrong generation. You also have very niche interests.
4. Brickleberry
You don’t want to make heaven. Bonus point: if you also watch Paradise PD, you want your casket to be hand-delivered to hell. I respect your decision oh, but if you currently feel like all your mother’s prayers aren’t working, it’s because you like Brickleberry.
Your favourite character is Huey, which means you’re a Nigerian who constantly tweets about racism and talks about being a liberal from Iyana Ipaja. Or you like Uncle Ruckus, and you believe black people can be racist.
6. Family Guy
You’re always bored, and you watch Family Guy to help you relax and you’re either really young or super old. Also very broke. You also have daddy issues, but who doesn’t?
7. Big Mouth
You definitely peaked in high school and you’re probably still friends with many people from secondary school. You also make a lot of annoying sex jokes even though you’re single to stupor.
8. Rick and Morty
You’re funny because you always think you’re the smartest person in the room because you like a lot of science shows and movies. But no, you’re not. You also have a God complex but use humour to cope with how bad your life turned out.
9. Love Death &Robots
You’re pretentious; you like cartoons, but you watch Love, Death & Robots to feel like an “adult”.. Your favourite episodes are Ice Age and Alternate Histories. Try to allow yourself to enjoy things you like.
10. Inside Job
If you like Inside Job, you’re cool and most likely GenZ. You have either extensively researched the Mandela effect at a point in your life or you live for conspiracy theories. Either way, you have good taste.
You watch some animated films and forget about them because as kids you probably didn’t know how good they were. Some animated films change your life after you watch them and are so feel-good, you could see them ten more times and they would be just as good as the first time. Here are 10 of the best animated films you watched growing up, but probably forgot about.
1. Atlantis
Atlantis had no business being as good as it was. Was it a story of another white man falling in love with a black woman and almost ruining her life? Yes, but Milo was cute, so no wahala. Also, Kida had no business being that hot as an animated character, but am I complaining? Obviously not.
2. Sinbad
I’ve never seen a cartoon character make as many bad choices as Sinbad. This man lied to his best friend, fell in love with his best friend’s fiance, made a pact with the devil (ahn ahn!). At least we got to witness Eris be the hottest thing since sliced bread. I too would have let her ruin my life.
Nigerian parents probably watched this one because it was giving If-he-had-just listened-to-his-mum vibes at first. Treasure Planet made me question if people were good or bad because Silver tried to ruin Jim’s life and steal his treasure, especially after the poor boy had begun to trust him. But when it mattered most, he sacrificed himself and saved Jim’s life. If you watch hentai now, you can probably trace it back to seeing Captain Amelia for the first time.
4. Anastasia
I always felt like this film was some sort of a fever dream because it was just too good. The Once upon a December song takes you on a trip, and while the animation style was certainly…interesting, the storyline gave everything it was supposed to give.
5. 9
Was this film even for kids? Why did our parents let us watch it? If the producers were trying to make us anti-war, they did a pretty fantastic job. It had steampunk vibes, but I recently found out that the animation style used was stitch punk. Anyway, those rag dolls went through a lot, and for what? To traumatise kids?
6. Brother Bear
Every time I think of Brother Bear, it brings tears to my eyes. It also makes me feel like I could hug a bear and not die, which is probably not true. (Fun fact: I bet you didn’t know that Joaquin Phoenix was Kenai’s voice actor). Of course, he did an amazing job making us fall in love with a bear, but what do you expect?
7. The Road to El Dorado
The score of the movie was a masterpiece, and if you can’t remember at least one song, it means you were watching the back of the TV. Why did so many animated shows for kids have that many hot women? Sure, the storyline was great and Tulio and Miguel had good chemistry, but I lived for every scene with Chel. The Road to El Dorado was my second time seeing a babalawo in an animated film. The first was the monkey in Lion King and the second was Tezekel-Kan. Werey man.
8. Monster House
How was this marketed for kids? It was so scary back then, but now it’s a joke because why would a house be pursuing you? Just walk into a river or set it on fire abeg. Or turn around and say, “Kal-El no!”.
9. Meet the Robinsons
This was one of those few Disney movies that understood the assignment and asked for extra sheet. It made me want to grow up and have a family and live a beautiful life with interesting family members, and a wife that trains frogs. It made sense that we all ended up feeling bad for the villain because the man truly deserved better. Also, Goob gave off Doofenshmirtz vibes.
10. Astro Boy
This movie had an all-star cast, so of course, the voice acting was perfect. It’s probably where most people’s interest in Japanese animation came from, because even though it was released over a decade ago, it looks like something that could have been animated in 2021. Charlize Theron narrated the story, and it hit me that I wanted her to narrate my life story, but for free. Tell her to call me.
There are animated movies, and there are Studio Ghibli movies. These fairytale-like films appear to be intended for a younger audience at first appearance, yet the intricacy of the storytelling in each of these films make them suitable for older age groups. Studio Ghibli films make you yearn for places you’ll never visit. Studio From talking animals, to a living castle and a drama about a World War II aeroplane designer, Ghibli has a film for everyone. There are 23 feature films in the studio’s catalogue, but these are my top 10, ranked from good to amazing.
1. When Marnie Was There
When Marnie Was There follows Anna, a 12 year-old foster child sent to a rural town to treat her asthma. She ends up meeting Marnie who may or may not be a ghost. It’s the most heartwarming thing. I’m still mad that it’s not a queer coming of age story, it’s also the only Studio Ghibli movie I liked enough to watch the dubbed version.
2. Ponyo
In Ponyo, a fish decides she wants to be human after meeting a human boy. It’s giving Little Mermaid realness, but for five-year-olds. Watching this, you fall in love with the boy, his hot mum, Ponyo’s weirdly hot dad that wants to destroy the earth looking for her, and even the annoying old women at her place of work. Everyone lowkey watches Ponyo for that one scene where they make noodles while it rains.
3. My Neighbour Totoro
This film follows the story of two little girls who moved to a farmhouse with their dad and sick mum. The girls have the time of their life hanging out with Totoro, a magical creature only kids can see and who makes space for them to escape the reality of life. Let’s all just pretend like that cat bus was not scary as fuck, and say it’s for kids.
4. Whisper of the Heart
Whisper of the Heart is a tale of 14-year-old aspiring writer, Shizuki., Shizuki spends her time wrapped in the fantastical world she’s created in her head, until she falls in love with a violin maker that pushes her to follow her dreams of being a writer. This film had no magic about it, but it forces you to self reflect, especially as a creative person. People will always be better than you, but how willing are you to admit that and still create art you like? The movie deserves all the flowers.
5. The Wind Rises
If you want to cry, this is the movie for you. The worst part is the fact that you never even expect the tears. Why should a simple story about the life of an aeroplane designer making plans for the war break your heart like this? One thing is sure, you’ll become anti-war and fall in love with these two quotes from the movie: “Remember, aeroplanes are not tools for war, they are not for making money. Aeroplanes are beautiful dreams; engineers turn dreams into reality,” and “The wind is rising, we must try to live.”
6. Howl’s Moving Castle
You can’t watch Howl’s Moving Castle without falling in love with Calcifer’s annoying ass. This film is about Howl, a heartless magician — literally — and Sophie, a hatter that was cursed to look old, all thanks to Howl.
The both of them end up falling in love even after seeing that man at his worst. Sophie has issues she needs to work out because why? My babe even cleaned after him for free, please abeg. It gave Nollywood vibes, which is exactly why it’s the best one, quote us anywhere.
7. Spirited Away
Spirited Away was the first Studio Ghibli film to win an Academy Award, and rightfully so. In Spirited AwayChihiro, a ten year-old girl who gets trapped in a resort full of supernatural beings after her parents ate food that doesn’t belong to them and turned into pigs. This babe became a maid at the worst resort ever just to free her parents. The best and worst thing about this movie is the No-Face character, and you’ll come out feeling like you aged ten years after watching this movie. Years later, you’ll still be able to hear Chihiro shouting “Okasan!” and “Otosan!”
8. My Neighbours the Yamadas
My Neighbours the Yamadas stands out because of the comic strip-like art style. It follows the hilarious life of the Yamadas, which keeps you laughing throughout. It’s wild because they have the same energy as a typical Nigerian family. This movie takes slice-of-life anime to another level and I’m here for it.
9. Kiki’s Delivery Service
Who doesn’t love a movie that talks about our favourite subject, depression? Kiki is a young witch that leaves home at 13 to hone her craft, with nothing but her stubborn ego and her talking cat, Jiji. It’s a coming of age story about how lonely it can be growing up and how hard it can be to ask for help. Her closest companion Jiji had the audacity to fall in love with a regular cat, had kids with her and forgot how to talk. I’d be depressed too. Men of every species will disgrace and embarrass you. I’m just glad it still had a happy ending.
10. Princess Mononoke
A recurring trope in most Studio Ghibli movies is a world where nature has taken over and humans are struggling to live in a world created by their lack of respect for the earth. Princess Mononoke is a coming of age movie about Ahitaka, a prince who got cursed after an attacking a possessed boar by the spirit inside the boar. He goes on a quest to find a cure and has to deal with humans who still take advantage of nature for profit. It’s no wonder the gods of nature want to kill all humans. How princesses Mononoke and Ahitaka find love in their dire situation is something that I’d never understand, but then, teenagers are not known for their good decisions. If you enjoy this, you’d totally enjoy Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
There are some anime series that you should only watch alone, or with friends at most, because while they may have amazing plots, good God! The sexual jokes can be insane. If your parents are the cool type that watches TV with you and actually “get” anime, make sure they don’t see these. They’ll start to wonder if they should have behaved more like typical Nigerian parents.
1. Kakeguri
I wonder what was going through the creators’ minds when they made this series. They introduced Yumeko Jabami as a soft sweet babe, and in what felt like a second; we realised that this babe was worse than all the already insane students combined. Kids were gambling, using guns, knives and still somehow getting turned on by gambling? Sit this one out.
2. Prison School
If you like Kakegurui, you’d probably like Prison School. Hachimitsu Academy, one of the strictest girls’ academies in Tokyo, has admitted boys into their all-girls school and made them live in a prison block. Normal people would break under these terrible conditions these boys have to endure, but no, they enjoy it. No matter how painful or humiliating, they love it. I have no words because this anime is every masochist’s dream and we are trying not to kink shame you people.
3. Food wars!: Shokugeki no Sama
This one is odd because it also counts as a feel-good anime until they start cooking. From the way Mito talks about her “prime cut meat” like she wants to sleep with it, to the way the judges react when they eat the students’ foods. If you watch it with your parents, you are getting disowned for sure.
4. Bikini warriors
The four main characters are the only ones that can save their hometown, which is odd because they are terrible at their job. These characters get into more trouble than necessary, steal from the poor because they are broke as hell and dare to fight armoured enemies in a bikini. With these few points of mine, I hope I’ve been able to warn you to help yourself and save your inheritance.
5. Konosuba
Compared to the other series on this list, Konosuba is child’s play (literally). It’s a funny story about a boy who dies most miserably and gets to live in a role-playing world. He has an extremely useless goddess in his small party, an arch wizard that can only use explosion magic once (and instantly passes out right after) and a crusader that gets turned on by being hit, beaten or tortured. Keep out of the reach of Nigerian parents.
6. High School DXD
This series should start with a disclaimer that says, “Warning: nudity X100”
If anyone catches you watching this show, they should judge you, talk more of watching with your parents. The main character has sex with a demon, ffs!, and never in my life have I seen breasts called so many things but its actual name. If you watch High School DXD, you need divine intervention.
Encanto is the latest Disney animation to have the world in a massive chokehold. If you thought Let it Go from Frozen was inescapable in 2013, wait until you hear and become completely obsessed with We Don’t Talk About Bruno (ooooo). Centered around a family — The Madrigals — that use their magical powers to manipulate an entire village into worshipping them, it’s hard to watch Encanto and not immediately see how it could easily pass for a Nigerian story. Let’s get into it.
1. Abuela is very much a Nigerian politician
Encanto introduces us to the most problematic Disney grandma ever! Not only does Abuela gaslight her family into following her blindly, but she also puts so much pressure on them that even when she messes up, they sort of feel it’s their fault. Sounds familiar? Nigerian politicians tend to feed us their “I never had shoes” stories during elections but the moment they taste power, omo, serious one chance. They become inaccessible and untouchable. When elections come around again, they use the same power we gave them to rig and maintain the status quo. What happens during all of this? Well, Nigerians spend a lot of time blaming each other for not reading the signs. Yes, I know this is dark AF, but you can see it too, right?
2. Louisa and Nigerian first daughters are in the same WhatsApp group
This babe was literally building bridges like Bob the Builder and carrying eight donkeys on her back for random villagers just because she was the strongest daughter. It’s giving Nigerian first daughter with a dash of slavery. In Surface Pressure, one of the catchy songs on Encanto, Louisa sings about being under so much pressure, she’s literally about to explode. Girl, we get it. You need to pack your bags and escape before they make you turn semo at 2 a.m.
3. That magical candle is giving babalawo jazz
The Madrigals all get their powers from a magical candle? Haba. This one doesn’t need too much explanation and if you look at Abuela’s wickedness, the whole thing reads like a Nollywood film starring Patience Ozorkwor. The candle could easily have been chicken feathers wrapped in red satin and dipped in red oil. We’re surprised the whole village didn’t call a pastor to run a deliverance service or just pour a bottle of Ragolis on that bloody candle. It’s giving juju that went to Harvard.
4. House is in shambles, but let’s force our daughter into marriage
In Encanto, the biggest problem the family has — apart from that witch, Abuela — is the fact that their powers are dying and their house is literally falling apart. You would expect Abuela to ask the family to gather round to pray or mix cement, but, no, she’s trying to force her granddaughter into marriage. Sounds familiar? No matter the situation or trauma, one thing about Nigerians is that we must jaiye. Yes, our lives might be in shambles, but that doesn’t mean we’ll not enjoy ourselves and throw a party, abeg. Then there’s the pressure to get married part, but unpacking that trauma will require a bottle of wine and it’s too early for that.
5. Every Nigerian family has a Bruno, think about it
First off, we’re sure they put crack in that We Don’t Talk About Bruno song, because what? Music apart, the Bruno plotline is very familiar to us. Every Nigerian family has that one rebellious family member no one wants to talk about. The aunty that got divorced and refused to remarry, the cousin that dropped out of school and pierced his nose, the uncle that married someone everyone warned him not to marry, the list is endless. The weird part is, if you check on these people, they’re having a swell time, living their best life away from family expectations and pressures, so what’s the tea?
6. What will people say?
As young Nigerians, this is one question we’re used to. All you could do is breathe and a random family member is asking if you want everyone to look at you differently. This is the major driving force in Encanto — perception. Abuela doesn’t want the village to know the family isn’t perfect and that worse, they’re losing their power. Instead of addressing the problem, she places her focus on making sure everyone puts their best foot forward, publicly. Nigerian parents and Abuela are alike in this way. A majority of the issues a Nigerian parent will have with you are not based on their perception of the situation, rather, it tends to be built around what people might say about you.
If “I need to get into anime this year” is on your 2022 resolutions, we have compiled this list of the best feel-good anime for beginners because you deserve nice things. If you don’t have this in your resolution, you are doing 2022 wrong.
1. Komi Can’t Communicate
Shouko Komi, the main protagonist, is a beautiful and mysterious girl in her new high school and everyone wants to be her friend but she doesn’t talk. Hirohito Tadano is ordinary and does everything he can to stay out of trouble. When he finds himself sitting next to Komi, he finds himself on a mission to help her make 100 friends. This is the best anime for beginners, it is funny, sweet, and incredibly chaotic but that’s what makes it worth the watch.
2. Food Wars!: Shokugeki no sama
If you are a foodie and you have a favourite comfort food, you’ll love Shokugeki no Soma because this anime is solely about making great food. Just don’t make the mistake of watching this anime without snacks because it’ll leave your mouth watering for food you don’t even understand.
With every dish made by Soma and his unlikely friends at the Totsuki Academy and the ridiculous reactions to each meal, you might find yourself saying “WTF” but you’ll eventually get used to it. We care about your account balance so maybe don’t binge-watch this if you don’t want to binge eat.
3. Barakamon
Barakamon is a story about a calligrapher named Handa who decides to embark on a journey of finding his self-worth. He settles on a rural island village far from life as he knows it in Tokyo. In the village, he meets amazing people that make him go through life-changing experiences. Finding yourself can be difficult, so this anime can seem sombre. However, it feels like a warm hug and is worth the watch.
4. School Babysitters
After a series of unfortunate events, Ryuichi became the school’s babysitter. Not only is he responsible for the wellbeing of his own little brother, but that of dozens of other toddlers who all have different and wildly interesting personalities. This anime is cute as hell and the literal embodiment of “uwu” from episode 1 to the very end! Can’t think of a better anime for beginners.
5. Yuri On Ice
After losing in a tournament, the main protagonist Yuri discards his skating career. Fortunately, with help from his long-time friend, Viktor, Yuri makes a glorious comeback. Throughout his journey, he regained his passion for skating and found love. The characters will make you invested in a sport you probably don’t watch a lot. You will also stay for the banter and the good music. I am jealous of people that get to watch this for the first time because that feeling is unmatched.
6. Haikyuu
One thing the sports anime genre will do is evoke some feel-good emotion. Haikyu is a long-running shounen series from Haruichi Furudate. The series follows the adventures of a high school volleyball team on a quest to be the country’s strongest volleyball squad. It will give you an enormous dose of positivity. The characters have a way of lifting your spirits and motivating you. What’s not to love?
7. A Place Further Than The Universe
This anime is very big on the importance of friendships and romanticizes going on epic quests with friends. If you’ve ever felt the need to just pack up your life and try new things, you’ll be able to relate to the protagonist Mari Tamaki. Mari sets off on a life-changing journey to Antarctica. Along the way, they’re joined by Hinata Miyake and Yuzuki Shiraishi. Their journey to Antarctica is truly inspiring, but the real heart of the series is the friendship between the four girls.
8. Assassination Classroom
Assassination Classroom is about a class of middle schoolers who are tasked with assassinating their teacher before he destroys the world. Their teacher is a yellow tentacled monster whom they dubbed as Korosensei. While these students sharpen their assassination skills, they also learn how to look out for each other, the value of friendships, and even manage to become some of the top students academically. Korosensei teaches them valuable life lessons and makes the show funny as hell, even as they try to kill him.
9. The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K
Saiki Kusuoa is a student with pink hair and psychic powers. He’s kept his abilities in check since childhood, but high school is changing everything about his stance on using his powers. This anime is 99% funny and 1% serious. If you are looking for a good laugh, this anime is for you.
10. Ponyo
Is any anime list complete without a studio ghibli recommendation? The answer is no.
5-year-old Sosuke lives a quiet life on an oceanside cliff with his mother, Lisa, until he finds a beautiful goldfish trapped in a bottle on the beach. Upon rescuing her, she names the fish Ponyo. But she is no ordinary goldfish, she is one of the many daughters of a masterful wizard and a sea goddess. Ponyo uses her father’s magic to transform into a young girl and quickly falls in love with Sosuke, angered by this, Ponyo’s father sends the ocean’s mighty waves to find his daughter for playing with such powerful sorcery. The two kids embark on an adventure of a lifetime to save the world and fulfil Ponyo’s dreams of becoming human.
QUIZ: Can you guess the anime from the pixelated image of the main character?
You don’t have to be a fan of the medium to admit that some anime names are just crazy, stupid cool. I mean, can you imagine having a child named Naruto and screaming their name like an anime villain whenever you come to pick them up from school or whenever you just feel particularly dramatic? There’s no better feeling tbh. If you’re a Nigerian who is interested in giving your kids Japanese names that kinda sound like Nigerian names, here are 31 of the coolest there are.
Note: Most of the names on this list are from popular animes (Naruto, Bleach, Sword Art Online, Dragon Ball, Mob Psycho, etc) that are watched worldwide. If you haven’t seen some of them (or you’re just a newbie looking to get into anime), check out our list of the top 7 animes on Netflix you should absolutely watch. You’re welcome.
After months of anticipation (and 25 years after the original), The Lion King remake finally came out last week. Overcome with nostalgia, I rushed to go see it at the cinema like the dedicated Disney fan that I am.
It may have had something to do with my mind not being able to handle the photorealism of the animals but the entire time I was watching it, I kept noticing things about the story that I never did when I watched the original.
Things like:
1) When do you think the other animals are going to wake up and realize that the whole “Circle of Life” thing is a lie made up by the lions as an excuse to eat them from time to time?
The Lion King’s opening sequence is amazing, not just because of the glorious music and stunning imagery but because Mufasa really got all the animals to come admire his newborn son, regardless of the predator/prey relationship they will forever have with his kind. When Simba addresses this later in the film, Mufasa counters him by spilling some spiel about the Circle of Life.
It’s reminiscent of how the pigs in George Orwell’s Animal Farm (because they were in charge) kept changing the rules until it became one rule that permitted them to do whatever they wanted without consequence.
2) Has it occurred to anyone how these lions clearly have a religion type of thing they follow and Rafiki is kinda like the shaman?
Simba’s dedication in the opening scene is clearly a ritual. We see Rafiki spend most of his screen time talking to the spirits. The spirits are the ones who reveal to him that Simba is still alive. He’s even able to summon Mufasa’s spirit at will.
MIND BLOWN.
3) If Mufasa and Scar are the only adult male lions in the pride, who fathered all the other cubs running around?
And Mufasa was king, which meant that he was the only one allowed to get it on with the lionesses. Does this mean Simba and Nala are brother and sister? I get that we’re talking about animals here but JESUS CHRIST. “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” suddenly gives me Flowers In The Attic vibes.
4) Wouldn’t it be interesting to explore Zazu’s backstory?
Timon’s backstory got explored in Lion King 1.5. Why not Zazu?
In the remake, after Simba and Nala narrowly escape getting eaten by the hyenas at the elephant graveyard, Zazu tells Mufasa to be gentle when reprimanding Simba because he remembers Mufasa also being stubborn and adventurous as a cub. Given that hornbills have a lifespan of 50 years, it’s possible that Zazu has been a part of the royal court for many generations of lions. This would also explain why he’s so fiercely loyal to the pride lands, choosing to stay and help the lionesses with intel even though he was constantly at risk of being killed by Scar.
GIVE US ZAZU’S BACKSTORY, DISNEY!
5) Speaking of Zazu, why didn’t he counter Scar’s version of the events leading up to Mufasa death?
Scar tells the pride that he didn’t get to the gorge in time to save Mufasa and Simba, which is insane because he’s the one who comes to tell Mufasa that Simba is in danger. Even worse, Zazu was with Mufasa at the time and all three of them got to the gorge together before Scar, wanting no witnesses, sends Zazu off to get the other lions. So why did Zazu not scream, “I KNOW YOU FUCKING LYING!” when Scar was telling his versions of events?
6) Did anyone else notice Timon and Pumbaa constantly breaking the fourth wall?
They are the only characters in the movie that make human references. In the original, when Simba asks them to distract the hyenas while he and Nala sneak back into the Pride lands, Timon sarcastically says, “What do you want us to do? Dress in drag and do the hula??” before going on to do just that. In the remake, they distract the hyenas by singing “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast. They acknowledge that Simba grew to adulthood during the “Hakuna Matata” musical sequence.
7) Timon was kind of abusive to Pumbaa in the remake. Did anyone else catch that?
It wasn’t a lot but it was there. He constantly blamed Pumbaa for his own mistakes (like when they laughed at Simba for saying that old kings live in the stars) and stole Pumbaa’s ideas (deciding to adopt Simba). I feel like this narrative would end with Pumbaa angrily eating Timon one day.
8) Do you realize how insane it is that Timon and Pumbaa managed to domesticate a lion?
They even made him a vegetarian! LMAO! I do love that the remake took time to show the discomfort the other animals (living in Timon and Pumbaa’s paradise) had with having a predator live among them.
9) Did anyone else have a problem telling the lionesses apart?
These are photos of Nala and Sarabi, with their voice actors’ names cropped out. Good luck telling who is who.
One of the many side effects of the movie’s photorealism, all the lionesses (like they do in real life) looked exactly alike. I couldn’t tell who was who until they spoke. It was even more stressful during the final battle as I couldn’t tell who exactly was getting their ass kicked at any given time.
10) All that money and Disney couldn’t afford facial expressions??
The characters are singing “Hakuna Matata” (a song about how you shouldn’t have any worries) but they all looked pissed. I honestly want to fight Jon Favreau for insisting on this photorealistic nonsense.
Every week, we ask anonymous people to give us a window into their relationship with the Naira – their secret Naira Life.
This week’s story pulled off in collaboration with ARM Investment Managers. They have a diverse range of Mutual funds for everyone looking to give investments a shot, from the beginners to the veterans. Find out more.
When was the first time anyone paid you money for work?
200-level. I used to sell cooked noodles in the hostel. I wasn’t really keeping track of the numbers, but I just needed extra cash to add to my pocket money from home – the money my dad was giving me wasn’t enough –10k. Then I started looking for what else students needed but couldn’t get. Our school was remote, so I started selling headphones and memory cards because everyone needed it and couldn’t travel far to get it.
This was 2009. I had outlandish dreams of what University was supposed to be; a place where everything was possible and all that. Well, that was the year that dream died. I just focused on the practical courses and coasted through the abstract shit.
First Semester in 300-level, I first saw Photoshop on someone’s computer in an Entrepreneurship class. Not too long after, I went to meet this guy in my hostel and asked for the full Adobe Suite. Next thing, I’m installing. Next thing, I’m looking for tutorials.
By the next morning, I was going round the hostel, showing everyone what I’d just designed; my first logo ever.
By 400-level, I was just about that selling phone life. I sold up to 20 phones then, most of them Blackberries. I tried to pick out fancy Blackberries – the white ones, the purple ones, the red ones. Just the colourful fancy stuff that I knew they’d like. Everyone wanted to stand out.
What came next?
I went for NYSC in the Southeast in late 2012, but I was getting gigs from Twitter, a logo here, a poster there. I even helped a rapper design the cover art for his song. One of your faves. It was a hit too.
How much did he pay?
EX-PO-SURE.
That wasn’t what I asked for though.
Anyway, NYSC was giving me ₦19,800, my place of assignment was giving me ₦10k. Those random gigs were probably giving me ₦5k per month. I remember that time, I’d send the logos and everything to the clients from the really bad Internet on my phone. I lived in a village so ₦10k a month was enough. I saved the rest and bought two budget smartphones – one for myself and one for my mum.
Post-NYSC?
I was jobless for like 6 months, in the true sense. Then one day, my dad came and said his friend wanted someone to take photos and design flyers for his hotel. The man paid me ₦10k, it was also the first time I saw my work in print.
Around that time, my mum was like “why don’t you apply at a bank or something instead of staying at home? What if you never get a job with this your design thing.”
Mummy, I’ll get.
You can’t work in a bank?
I can. But getting hired in a bank back then mostly meant you had to sit all day at the desk attending to deposits and withdrawals. I didn’t want that.
I had one more cousin staying with us who was also unemployed, so that kind of took away some of the pressure. One some days, I was focused on becoming a better designer and not staying idle. On other days, I was sleeping for the entire day.
To be honest, I was purposely not applying for jobs that she wanted me to apply for. I was looking for advertising agencies. Since Uni, I was really obsessed with having my work on a billboard one day.
So, your first full time gig?
Late 2013. I applied to this music blog, and the owner offered ₦40k in the first month. By the second month, he told me “guy, I honestly can’t afford to pay you. These ads don’t seem to be coming. I’m sorry.”
And that one ended. He was a nice guy though.
After that, I was jobless again for a few months. Then a friend introduced me to this small agency that needed a graphic designer. I took the test, got in, and they started me at ₦50k. About four months into that gig, I went to a small Ad school, and in our final branding task, an agency saw my work and they made me an offer.
So I joined this new agency in late 2014, for ₦150k a month. Payroll issues and they had to shut down business after about 6 months of joining, while still owing two months of salary.
Did they pay up?
They did, a year and a half later. In the time being, I was back to just random freelance gigs after they couldn’t pay, but that lasted for about 2 months. Another friend called and said a Food Processing Company was looking for a Graphic Designer. He told me the offer was ₦200k. I jumped on it straight up.
I went to the interview with my deadbeat laptop, and these guys needed to see my work. The question was, how quickly can I show them all my work before this laptop goes off like a TV. The laptop managed to come on, and you know what they were most interested in?
What?
My personal experiments. I knew I’d gotten that gig the moment they saw those. Oh, and just as we were wrapping up, my laptop tripped off. Hahaha.
Sha, they made an offer of ₦150k for my probation period. I said I wanted ₦170k at least, but they told me I’d get a 200k bump after probation.
First of all, HR delayed, and when my raise finally came, it was ₦170k I received. And I’m like what’s this nonsense?
That’s when I learned the difference between net and gross salary.
Anyway, I’d already gotten into the job, designing all kinds of things for cartons, to buses, and even the one I’d always wanted, billboards.
One year into the gig, I asked for another raise. I legit wrote a list of everything I’d been doing:
When the brand manager left the company, I had to stand in as Brand manager, working with them to create jingles and all that.
I got that raise. ₦250k, net. Can’t fool me twice.
This was 2016. All this while, I was still doing freelance gigs, but they weren’t as intense, because I was putting everything into the work at the time. So there wasn’t really time for me to actually do them.
Still, freelancing was bringing in another ₦50k every other month.
By 2017, I started learning animation. Besides that, the year was pretty meh workwise. Also, I started learning how to shoot properly in 2017. I actually picked up shooting at work the previous year, but 2017 was when I was experimenting in the wild. I interned on the set of a movie – it never got released though
2018?
I got another raise towards the end of the year – ₦300k. Worked on another film set. I really just wanted to learn. Then I directed a short film. I actually planned to shoot two short films, but I didn’t have the time – work, relationship. Generally, I think relationships are emotionally, physically, and financially expensive.
Fast forward to 2019, I started getting better at animation and getting more freelance gigs. So to get better, I started an internship. One class a week. Add Youtube tutorials to that. Add two other online courses. 2019, I’m also going to learn code, because if you’re going to animate for web, you need to learn code.
What’s your most important perspective on money, between 2009 and now?
Money is the bread and butter of this world, and there’s no living without it. People are in denial of how important money is. People will tell you to follow your passion, but they won’t teach you how to make money. We go to school to learn about everything, everything but money, which is like the most important thing, post-school. They teach Entrepreneurship, but they should also be teaching personal finance. It’s why we’re all so shit with money.
People shouldn’t be shy talking about money. If you need help on how to make money, say it.
How much do you feel like you should be earning every month?
₦700k, at least. That’s the value I’ve put on my diverse skills at this point in this market.
Let’s breakdown that monthly income.
My monthly income is at about ₦450k if you add side hustles. This is what an ideal month looks like:
We haven’t accounted for ₦36k.
Eh ehn? Wait, what am I using this money for? Omo, I dunno o. Maybe that’s my own lau-lau.
When was the first time you sent money to my parents?
I used to send money to my mum, but you see my dad, he’s a very proud man. I assumed he was getting his pension, then my mum told me “he hasn’t started receiving his pension. They keep postponing and postponing, but really, nothing is coming in.”
So I sent him money. ₦30k. He was so emotional and thankful, and told me how it was going to go a long way with some family stuff. This was in 2017, and since then, I’ve made it a duty. It’s been everything from car trouble to school fees. I’m just thankful that I don’t have any other responsibility.
Then there’s the random ₦30k’s to people who are really in a tight spot. Whenever I’m in a position to help, I just step up.
Explain this savings things for me please.
My ₦250k first lands in my savings. I tend to save for stuff I need to pay for, or stuff I need to get. Like rent, or a laptop. My rent is actually fair, ₦300k. So there’s that.
I tried investing in an agric business, but I missed the window. I also have some other long term investments, like stocks. I haven’t tried any other investments.
Why haven’t tried any other investments?
I wanted to try Mutual Funds. But I was unsure about it.
You know how Mutual Funds work?
Not really.
How much do you imagine you’ll be earning in 5 years, and how did you arrive at that number?
1.2… 1-point… ₦1.2 million at the very least (using today’s estimates). It’s mostly because of the skills I have and I’m trying to acquire. And the confidence to even call this amount is because with the skills I’m looking to acquire, there is global demand.
Wait, how much is $6000?
About ₦2.2 million.
Yes. That’s the amount, at least. There’s a price chart for motion designers in the US. The pros earn like $300k a year. On average, I should be looking at $7000 per month, but that -1k is to solve for X, where X is the Nigerian factor.
What’s something you really want but can’t afford?
A beach house. I won’t say a car, because I really don’t find driving as a necessity. An efficient life for me will be Ubers, and Taxifies. Or carpooling. But I never get the money reach that side, so I dey jump bus.
What’s the last thing you paid for that required serious planning?
I would have said rent, but I already programmed it somehow. It didn’t really require serious planning actually. I just have this thing where I just keep rent money aside.
But serious planning would be my laptop. I paid ₦500k.
When was the last time you felt really broke?
Really broke? How broke?
What is broke for you?
Broke for me is when you’re down to your last ₦50k. Last time I felt like that was two years ago. There’s an amount of money my bank account dwindles to, that I just start to feel sad. When you have money, you’re calm. That’s why people’s voice changes when they’re rich. They take their words slowly. Because money is a nerve calmer.
Actually, this sadness starts to kick in for me when I’m down to my last ₦200k. Rock bottom is now ₦50k.
What’s the most annoying miscellaneous you’ve had to pay for?
My laptop charger. ₦30k. A bloody Macbook. It scattered. It’s one of the things that triggered me to dump my Mac. Those things are ridiculously expensive. That was also my third charger. Anyway, if you must buy a Mac, buy a surge protector.
What’s your greatest fear, right now?
It’s something coming up that I can’t afford, like a family emergency. This fear has never reared its head in any form, but I’ve had hints. Like the health from one of my parents. I’m expecting it to become a problem in the future, so I’m doing my best to delay it as much as I can, by taking as much burden as I can now, whenever I can.
Let’s talk about happiness. On that 1-10 scale.
About my finances? I’m at a 6-7, because I don’t have grand needs. I can afford the simple things; food, clothing, shelter, Internet, transportation. I can even afford to take a holiday. Then my family, I can afford to take care of
People tend to ignore the things they could be grateful for in the present because they want to aim higher. I get that, I also like to aim high. But I also like to pay attention and be grateful for the present. I have awesome friends. I have an awesome family. Those things are priceless.
What’s something you want me to ask but I didn’t?
“How many children will you haveee?”
Depends on how financially buoyant I am before I start popping, and after I start popping. But also, that depends on how many my wife is willing to pop. Because no be me get the bẹlẹ́. But if I could, I’d have a lot of children. I’m definitely going to be adopting too.
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After three years of production, a Nigerian animated movie, The Secret Princess, produced by Segun Williams, is set to be released in cinemas this June.
The Secret Princess is about how a king’s efforts towards having a male heir leads to the switching of two new-born babies.
It explores a missing princess’s experience while living in the jungle with her mother and speaking to animals.
Playing the lead character in this movie is DJ Cuppy, with supporting roles by both local and international actors, including Desmond Elliot.
The movie, adapted from a book of the same title addresses issues such as discrimination against male and female children.
