Movies, animation, comics, gaming and tech. Want to know what’s happening in Africa and beyond? Here’s the Run Down for this week.
NEWS OUT OF AFRICA – Gaming/Animation
The FIFA21 Mettlestate Tournament Kicks Off TODAY!
Today, Monday, 8 March 2021, marks the start of the FIFA21 Tournament! The tournament has been organised by South African company Mettlestate and will be taking place at 18:00.
The FIFA21 Tournament is open for South African citizens or anyone living in South Africa with a valid South African bank account. Registration will be open until 16:00 and is free of charge.
A total prize pool of R1000 is up for grabs! So if you’re interested head over to the tournament’s Mettlestate page to enter.
Find out more https://esportscentral.co.za/fifa/fifa21-tournament-from-mettlestate-kicking-off-next-week/
Where are the Black girls in STEAM?
According to Nairobi-based studio Kukua’s COO Vanessa Ford, “74% of characters on TV remain white and only a few portray black female leads in STEAM.” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math)
Ford herself grew up in North America and as a black woman, who majored in science, never saw people like herself in the chemistry lab or when she watched cartoons.
Her desire now, is for her children to see themselves reflected on screen and to be brave enough to dream of being inventors and change makers. So in light of this, Ford and the Kukua team have gone on to create a brand new STEAM based animation!
Kukua Studio’s Super Sema Premiers Today!
Nairobi-based edutainment studio Kukua is bringing a brand new animation to the screen –Super Sema!
Super Sema is STEAM based 2D animation series that follows the story of Sema, a young girl who lives in a futuristic African town called Dunia. In each episode, Sema and MB use their STEAM knowledge and “technovating” powers to make new inventions and save Dunia from an evil robot villain.
The animated series was written by BAFTA winner Claudia Lloyd (Charlie & Lola, Mr Bean, Tinga Tinga Tales) and directed by Lynne Southerland (Mulan II). Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o will also be voicing one of the major characters.
Super Sema premiers today, 8 March 2021 on YouTube Original Kids & Family.
Check out more https://www.awn.com/news/kukua-and-lupita-nyongo-launching-super-sema-international-womens-day
NEWS BEYOND AFRICA – Movies/Entertainment
Y’all Remember Space Jam?
25 years ago Space Jam hit the screens and was a huge success. And it’s no secret why. The movie starred legendary basketball player, Michael Jordan and Looney Tunes leading character, Bugs Bunny.
In the movie Jordan teams ups with the Bugs and the rest of the Tunes in the ultimate basketball match that could determine the fate of his basketball team.
It is now 2021, and Space Jam is making its way back to the screens. But this time it’s going to be a little different.
Space Jam: A New Legacy
Malcolm D Lee is the director for a brand new Space Jam film called Space Jam: New Legacy. The new film will follow on from the 1996 movie but this time it’ll be starring present day basketball legend, LeBron James.
In Space Jam: New Legacy, LeBron plays the father of a young gaming enthusiast named Dom. When his son becomes the target of a villainous AI named, G Rhythm, Lebron must team up with the Tunes to escape the “Server-verse” and save his son.
The film will also star Don Cheadle (Iron Man 2, Captain America: Civil War ) as G Rythmn, Eric Bauza as Bugs Bunny, Jeff Bergman as Sylvester and Kath Soucie as a redesigned Lola Bunny.
Space Jam: A New Legacy is set to release in July, 2021.