In this second episode,  I go Behind the Ink with Bertil Toby Svanekiaer, a leading animator and 3D generalist in Ghana. We talk a bit about him and his studios, Indigene B.R.O.S. and OOTO Studios and his project, Chaskele.

I also pick his brains on the state of animation in Ghana and how he feels about Africa being the spotlight territory for Annecy 2020. Bertil also reveals which popular Ghanaian stories he’d love to see animated. Hint, it involves red and stilettos. This episode also features our crowing rooster, back for a remix with some extra birds. 

About Bertil Toby Svanekiaer

Bertil Toby Svanekiaer is a Ghanaian 3D animator, sculptor and illustrator. He is also the founder of OOTO Studios and a co-founder and Creative Director at Indigene B.R.O.S, an animation studio in Ghana which exists to impact positive and societal ideology through animation and illustration.

Source: Bahari Blue Database of African Geeks

Time-Stamped Show Notes

• [00:25] Today’s topic: Behind the Ink with Bertil Toby Svanekiaer
• [00:36] Chaskele
• [05:39] Implications of Annecy 2020
• [09:11] State of Animation in Ghana
• [10:54] Azumah: Animated Biopic
• [10:54] Ghanaian stories we want to see animated
• [17:00] Upcoming Projects
• [18:18] 3 Amazing Ghanaian artists you should follow
• [20:00] To stay updated with the latest happenings in comics, games, animation and digital art from Africa, go to SquidMag.ink.

Videos Mentioned in Today’s Episode

Chaskele

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48VH_S0BCC8&t=12s

Bertil Toby Svanekiaer’s end of year project at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI).

Have a Party by Jayso (featuring Sarkodie & Raquel)

The music video for Have A Party featuring Sarkodie and Raquel, performed by Jayso. This took about a year to make by Bertil and his team.

Chaskele 2.0

Chaskele is an old Ghanaian childhood game that’s a cross between, or perhaps, a predecessor to, baseball and golf. The game is played with a stick, a bucket and crushed cans.

Chaskele, the animation, by Bertil Svanekiaer, however, is more. It is a movement, a call to arms for the nerds who loved the game, for nostalgic old souls and everyone who loves “cartoons” and animation even more. Read how this old game and the long-awaited Chaskele film will push Ghanaian animation forward.

Azumah

Animated biopic on Ghana’s boxing legend, Azumah Nelson. This was screened for the first time at Encounters Film Festival in Bristol back in 2018 and screened in Ghana for the first time at the Black Star International Film Festival in Accra in 2019.

Check here for everything that happened in Ghanaian animation in 2019.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode

• Chaskele
• Indigene BROS
• Implications of Annecy 2020
• Azumah: Animated Biopic
• ArtofBlaq | Moyo Macaulay |Poka | El Carna
• Squid Magazine

3D Art by Bertil Toby Svanekiaer

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Leave Some Feedback

What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below. Loved this episode? Show us some love with a short review.

Follow Bertil Toby Svanekiaer on Instagram, @tobbsart and ArtStation, @tobysvani.