Spunky Toonz

It is always a joy to support impactful projects like African Climate Stories!! As a project partner, Spunky Toonz team is thrilled to see initiatives like this empowering young people across Africa to take meaningful action and address challenges in their communities. The great news is that the applications for the African Climate Stories Fellowship 2024 are now open 📢 If you are a young climate activist, environmental advocate, innovator, researcher, storyteller, or artist taking creative environmental actions, embrace this opportunity to receive support and amplify your work. Hurry up – application deadline is 26th October 2024!! To apply use this link: https://lnkd.in/d5SDiVnx

It's just a few days to AVIJOZI, the powerful Animation, Visual Effects, Film Production and Gaming industry event where the creative, production and tech industry meet. I am so pumped to about my session "Ethical AI in Animation: Enhancing Creativity with Integrity" as well as the Women's Summit with all great women from the industry! Big ups to Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt and Chocolate Tribe for calling such a direly needed event to life! cc: Spunky Toonz Jolly Squid Media & Animation https://lnkd.in/eCJSdN3y

This World Photo Day, we spotlight 10year old Environmental Photographer - Anuoluwapo Adedeji from Nigeria. Anuoluwapo uses photography to help other children understand the effects of climate change. She has been recognized as the youngest beach Samaritan through her active participation in beach cleanups and has spoken on BBC towards COP26 conference representing children in Nigeria. Children's voices matter too. Follow the link to read the inspiring story of Anuoluwapo Adedeji: https://lnkd.in/d9QgpB4C Join us on this World Photo Day as we celebrate Children and the power of Photography in environmental advocacy. #WorldPhotoDay #EnvironmentalEducation #ClimateAction #Cleanup #WasteManagement #AfricanClimateStories

🤕When survival is paramount, walking over glowing embers only strengthens you. This is my life story covered by @Ebukah Emmanuel Nzeji as no press has ever covered. Reading again, observing myself from a third person, perspective, I overwhelmed and awed by such and resilience; A living "Miracle."🙏🏾 - ⤵️A background of extreme adversity can only make you either a kind or an unkind human. There is no middle ground. ⤵️A background of extreme adversity (with absolutely no help) creates super confident people because they know that their survival lies in their own hands #BeLikePluto - ❗️Wondering if you'll ever get anywhere? Read the article. Your industry doesn't matter. ❗️Curious why and how I've dedicated my entire life to UPLIFTING others (not only in Animation) with no financial support? This article provides clear answers. ❗️Are you one of those who tag me "challenging"? The article provides insights that might enhance/augment YOUR opinion😎 - When this young man Ebukah Emmanuel Nzeji contacted many months ago, during and through the #buzz times of #KIZAZIMOTO and later, #IWAJU, I was extremely swamped, but we stayed in touch. - Finally, I found some bits and pieces of window, spanning many months as well, but he was very patient. He wanted every detail, so I rummaged through my old Server and even sifted through film negatives and prints to scan and digitize memories*. This turned into an adventure for me, rekindling long-forgotten memories and aiding the writing development of my life story, which started in 2022. - This article makes the summary of my life (on my personal website) look like a mere logline. Feel free to leave comments / ask questions.. here.. there.. 🙌🏾 - Well done, Ebukah. I hope this augments your journalism career. 👌✨ Ping!!! - I will conclude by giving due credit to those (on LinkedIn) who have my back. Katarina Gulan: Your support has extended to many in the industry, changing lives and connecting people through the Ani-Jolly Girls' Animation Training and Motion to the Sound. Your dedication to these initiatives is invaluable... extended to Dubravka Meštrović and Romana Klanac (for valid reasons). Thank you again! Have you all a wonderful weekend! #Animation #CareerJourney #Pioneer #Inspiration #EbeleOkoye #Interview #ProudMoment #AnimationIndustry #WomenInAnimation #KIZAZIMOTO #IWAJU #Film #Memories #LifeStory #Journalism #CrativeAfrica #DiasporaExperts #FosteringSkills #OmenkaUlonka #IndustryPioneers #SupportSystems #WomenHelpingWomen #EbukahNzegi #WhatKeptMeUp #GreatJournalism #BeLikePluto *I will share these later in an independent post

That tiny thrash you dribbled has a huge impact. Thanks to these people for this little act with big impact

Whatever we’re putting out there, someone is watching. This appointment by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to be on its Diaspora Advisory Board for "Shaping development-oriented migration" (MEG) is a result of 24 years of resilience and hard work invested in Africa, Germany and globally (covering the animation and creative industries as well as communities and civil society) … I came to Germany in 2000 through unbelievably crushing means.. from an unbelievably crushing background, looking for how to gain Animation knowledge to fulfill a childhood dream. In 2004, I gained the knowledge and took it home, running programs, teaching Animation for FREE and in Germany, I was doing as much as my migrant status allowed, eventually getting recognition, awards and prizes. Some of these, like from the DEFA-Stiftung, Robert Bosch Stiftung and Amnesty International still remain "desirable dreams" for privileged Germans …. //link to full story in the comment section// - I am very grateful for the highly experienced and passionate professionals with diverse backgrounds with whom I shall be working together with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to execute this vision. #DiasporaEngagement #GlobalDevelopment #MEG #Diversity #Innovation #Collaboration #BMZ #agenda2030 #sdggoals #Diaspora2030 #beyondmigration #resillience #EuropeanUnion #globalMigration

Could not agree more. I was obsessed with observing the world in our small gardens that my mother took care of meticulously. She gave me a small part which was mine to look after, I cherished it and took care of it so carefully. Though honestly my two brothers were not so interested 😅 so might not apply to all.

🌱 Ebele Okoye and Katarina Gulan are changing the world one preschooler at a time with their spunky animated series. These innovative videos, available in multiple languages, not only teach young children about the #environment but also about kindness and the power of community. Through their work at Spunky Toonz, these diaspora women are shaping the minds of the next generation to be eco-conscious and compassionate. Spunky Toonz is one of over 250 successfully established diaspora businesses that the GIZ Programme "Shaping development-oriented migration" and its predecessor programmes have supported since 2009. 📹 Watch the pilot episode of "Spunky Tales" below. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) #StartUps #EdTech #Climate

IWAJU AND THE BEAUTY OF COLLABORATION. I have been saying it for the longest time that collaboration is the new competition. I know some companies and projects can thrive as sole proprietorship but experience has shown over the decades and centuries that partnerships and collaborations take the cake. If we are looking just at the Animation world whether globally, continentally or nationally, what I have seen is that animation studios co-owned by siblings, colleagues, friends or partners are really thriving. Starting with Walt Disney Animation Studios which turned 100 last year, there wouldn't be Walt Disney without his brother Roy Disney. Talking about KUGALI MEDIA in a first time and historical collaboration with DISNEY, the company is co-founded by 3 friends, 2 of who are childhood friends. Now, put them together and what do you get? An amazing IWAJU cocktail 🍸! I can't tell you how emotional it is for me, a Yoruba, Nigerian, African who worked on this project, less than the time the KUGALI trio worked on it, seeing IWAJU posters in different languages of the world! Our culture, languages, sights and sounds everywhere! I mean look at the translation into Korean and then the tagline translated into several languages. It's being dubbed in other languages and I would think that that's why it isn't yet available in some non English speaking countries. It is said that you can't eat your cake and have it and I am sure in this first time collaboration, both DISNEY and KUGALI had to lose some things or would I say let go of some things on either side to get the best for the project. It is surely a groundbreaking project that has opened the doors for more collaborations and partnerships globally, continentally and nationally and as a first time, it can't be perfect and I am sure both KUGALI and DISNEY folks learnt lessons that would make things better going forward. Talking about animation in Nigeria, some of the studios doing well and doing big things are co-founders. Check out Magic Carpet Studios Orange VFX Studios , Quadron Studios and Limitless Studios and you'll see I am not wrong! Here is to more collaborations, partnerships and finding kindred spirits we can work with. We can achieve so much by working together as everyone brings their uniqueness to the table. Folks, find your tribe and those you can collaborate with! #Animation #IWAJU #Collaboration #DISNEY #KUGALI #Tellingourstoriesourselves #Nigeria #Africa #AfricanAnimationPromoter

Here is an African child with a creation that blurs the lines between play and innovation. A car made from plastic bottles. Bottles that once had no use. His part of the world may not be filled with toys. But he has made one. His own car. His smile is big and bright. He's found joy in making something new. His car of bottles tells us waste can be turned into meaningful innovations. Think about it. Schools teach about saving the planet. We talk about why recycling matters. But this boy, he's living it. He's not just learning from books. He's recycling without even knowing the word. And is likely unaware of the global conversations on sustainability and waste management. He's showing us how to use what we have. We need to learn from him. Teach kids to use their hands. To think, create, and solve. To build from what's around them. Let's help all kids to learn this way. To build, to dream, to do. His car won't drive. But its message goes far and wide. It tells us to be smart with what we have. To use less and recycle more. And to think about tomorrow.