Viewers Shocked at How Much Disney Got Right with ‘Iwájú,’ the Afro-Futuristic Animated Series Showing What Nigeria Would Be Like In 100 Years

“Iwájú” is a brand new Disney Animation sci-fi sequence that’s tremendously entertaining to look at, displaying an interpretation of what Lagos, Nigeria, would possibly appear to be 100 years into the long run.

Spoiler alert: There are flying vehicles.

The six-episode sequence, which premiered on Disney+ on Feb. 28 and is coming to the Disney Channel on April 22, is unquestionably value spending a number of hours binge-watching.

At first look, you would possibly suppose that is one other typical Disney blockbuster. It’s loaded with endearing characters and a hopeful story about overcoming obstacles. However the sequence tackles surprisingly deeper topics than most kid-centric animated fare, and that might be due to the African animation staff behind the undertaking.

What had me cackling probably the most about #Iwaju is that even in a futuristic Nigeria, NEPA nonetheless dey carry mild 😭 stream now on Disney+ 10/10 extremely recommendpic.twitter.com/OIpvVwkjjq

— Cy (@CyDieyi) February 28, 2024

For the primary time in Disney’s 100-year historical past, Disney teamed up with an out of doors studio, Kugali Media, who’re based mostly in Africa and the U.Ok. Voiced by Nigerian actors and that includes a rating by Nigerian composer Ré Olunuga, the collab displays the imaginative and prescient of producer and director Olufikayo Ziki Adeola — and there’s nothing else prefer it on TV proper now.

“Iwájú” means “the long run” within the Yoruba language, and the sequence — which started as a comic book e book anthology — explores how know-how impacts the lives of the residents of Lagos. In “Iwájú,” we comply with Tola (Simisola Gbadamosi), a 10-year-old lady from the island, and her finest buddy Kole (Siji Soetan), a self-taught tech wiz from the mainland. The 2 get entangled with a 7-foot-tall crime boss, Bude (Femi Department), who guidelines the mainland, and the present is stuffed to the gills with fascinating imagery of futuristic metropolis life.

However we’re additionally reminded of a tough fact: societal divides and sophistication segregation are cussed and pernicious.

“‘Iwájú was born from my private want to inform a narrative about Lagos as a result of one of many distinctive issues I observed is how the geography really helps the societal divide in a method that could be very stark,” Adeola, who grew up in Nigeria’s largest metropolis, informed IndieWire. “In Lagos, the rich individuals reside on the island, and the working class and poor individuals reside on the mainland, by and enormous. So that you actually have a physique of water separating wealthy and poor. And so I believed that was a very fascinating basis upon which to construct a science-fiction story.”

“The theme of inequality was the primary one which turned actually obvious to me, however I personally like aspirational tales as a result of I believe hope is de facto essential to the human spirit,” he added.

The film makes an attempt to deliver Lagos to life in an genuine method, together with references to native snacks like puff-puffs and recreating the vibrancy of outside markets in painstaking element.

Followers have already taken to social media to share how proud they’re of the brand new Afro-centric present.

“I’m 5 minutes into #Iwaju and I’m soo glad Disney made a present for the African youngsters man. I want I had a Nigerian cartoon like this once I was child,” a viewer wrote.

“Watching iwaju and I acc wish to cry. The accents are legit naij accents. The set really appears to be like like Lagos. Even the animated hair appears to be like like 4c hair. I’ve by no means felt seen like this on a mainstream platform. I’m simply speechless,” shared one other.

Now you can stream all six episodes on Disney+.