Nigeria's significant $2 million investment in the animation industry
In the heart of Nigeria, Magic Carpet Studios is in the final production stages of an exciting animated adaptation of Cyprian Ekwensi's classic novel, "The Passport of Mallam Ilia." First published in 1960, this timeless story has captured the attention of a new generation, thanks to the vision and passion of producer Ferdinand "Ferdy" Adimefe.
Adimefe, co-founder of Magic Carpet Studios, was drawn to the novel years ago by its action-packed narrative and rich cultural portrayal. The travelogue nature of the story, which touches three countries—Nigeria, Cameroon, and Saudi Arabia—also appealed as a cinematic project. The novel's engaging action and cultural richness contrasted with more politically heavy African literature, making it a fresh and compelling choice for adaptation.
The team at Magic Carpet Studios, which consists primarily of 90% Nigerian talents and 10% foreign hands, has been working tirelessly on the project. They spent eight months developing the script, including a month in Kano for historical accuracy. Animatics, or animated storyboards, were used to visualize the timing, pacing, and overall flow of the animation project before the final animation was done. With a two-hour feature 2D animation at 24 frames per second, the animatics process required nearly 173,000 drawings.
The team aims to introduce African animation and music to a global audience. To achieve this, they are budgeting $100,000 for the music score and planning to collaborate with Nigerian music talents like Tems, Tiwa Savage, Cobhams, and 121Selah.
However, the journey has not been without challenges. COVID hit in 2020, causing temporary setbacks. To help reach the $2 million goal, a crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder was launched, with 40% of the goal reached and the rest completed by other investors. A U.S. agent is handling international outreach, with hopes of distribution through Blue Picture or streaming on Netflix.
The positive audience interest from polls run by Magic Carpet Studios in 2018 and later by Netflix in 2024 reaffirmed the choice to adapt "The Passport of Mallam Ilia" into an animated feature. In 2024, 95% of respondents voted for the novel as the Nigerian book they most wanted adapted. The animation project is currently in the "cleanups" stage, with a target release date of April 2026.
Magic Carpet Studios has also collaborated globally with teams from South Africa, India, the UK, and the US on different aspects of production. Adimefe assembled an animation team from scratch for the project, many of whom were trained internally or came on board through recommendations from within the community.
As the final touches are made to "The Passport of Mallam Ilia," the team at Magic Carpet Studios looks forward to sharing this vibrant story with the world, bringing African animation and music to the forefront and showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria and beyond.
[1] Magic Carpet Studios (2018). Poll Results: Nigerian Audiences Want to See More Animated Adaptations of Classic Novels. [online] Available at: https://www.magiccarpetstudios.com/news/poll-results-nigerian-audiences-want-to-see-more-animated-adaptations-of-classic-novels
[2] Netflix (2024). Poll Results: Nigerian Book Audiences Most Want to See Adapted is "The Passport of Mallam Ilia." [online] Available at: https://www.netflix.com/pollresults/nigerian-book-audiences-most-want-to-see-adapted-is-the-passport-of-mallam-ilia
- To bring the captivating tale of "The Passport of Mallam Ilia" to a global audience, Magic Carpet Studios has secured $100,000 for the music score and is collaborating with renowned Nigerian music talents like Tems, Tiwa Savage, Cobhams, and 121Selah.
- However, the journey towards producing this animated adaptation hasn't been smooth, as the team faced temporary setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and had to seek funding from various sources, including a crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder.
- In an ambitious move, Magic Carpet Studios has also partnered with global teams from South Africa, India, the UK, and the US to create this project, collaborating on different aspects of production and showcasing a fusion of technology, finance, and creativity in the realm of business and entertainment.
