Japan-Africa Co-Creation Takes Shape Through Animation Partnership

Sep 10, 2026

JETRO is pleased to announce a new Japan-Africa animation co-production project, marking a significant milestone in the development of growing creative partnerships between Japan and Africa. The project grew out of the TAIDO African Animation Challenge, a talent development program implemented in collaboration with Arc & Beyond and other partners to support animation creators across Africa.

Through the program, two African animation studios identified through JETRO's Africa Business Desk, Animax FYB Studios of Ghana and CR motion+ of Nigeria, received mentorship from Japanese animation professionals over a six-month period while producing original animated short films of five to ten minutes in length. The completed works were showcased in Tokyo on March 4, 2026, where they received high praise from industry experts.

Based in Lagos, Nigeria, CR motion+ is an animation production company established in 2024 as the content production arm of Comic Republic, a leading African entertainment company known for developing original African superhero intellectual properties. The studio specializes in animation and visual storytelling built around African-created IPs and has gained recognition through licensing collaborations with major international studios.

Following these efforts, it was announced that Toei Animation, whose representatives participated as reviewers at the TAIDO Animation Awards 2026, will invest in and collaborate with CR motion+ to produce a new animated short film based on the studio's original work, Trials of the Spear.

Through initiatives such as the TAIDO Project, TICAD 9, Super Japan in Lagos, and Super Japan in Cairo, JETRO has been exploring new models of business collaboration between Japan and Africa by leveraging the growing appeal of Japanese pop culture, including animation. The newly announced co-production project represents a tangible example of the cross-border collaboration and value creation that JETRO seeks to promote.

JETRO will continue supporting the creation of new business opportunities between Japanese and African partners through initiatives such as the Africa Soft Power Caravan "Super Japan" and other programs designed to foster innovation and commercial collaboration across the two regions.