'I'm collaborating with Disney on their first-of-its kind African-created series'

After studying 3D animation and visual effects at the University of Hertfordshire, Hamid went on to a stellar career in the UK film industry before starting his own company. In a world-first, he is now collaborating with Disney on its first-of-its-kind African-created series.

‘When I was a child, I never thought animation could be a career’

I never thought animation could be a career. I always thought that art would be something I’d do on the side.

When I was a child growing up in Uganda and Kenya, everyone knew me as ‘the artist’. I was inspired by comic books and films like The Lion King - and especially loved that story.

‘Graduating with a degree in 3D animation and visual effects was life changing'

In my late teens, I moved to the UK and studied animation and game design at West Thames College in London. The course had me hooked. I loved how I could create characters and, through movement, give them personality. After that, I did my undergraduate in 3D animation and visual effects at the University of Hertfordshire. It was life changing.

‘I learned from lecturers who were also professional animators’

The education in England was different to what I was used to at home. It was creative and I learned from lecturers who were also professional animators. They were the only people I had ever known who had worked as film animators - something I very much wanted to do.

‘One day I received a call to work on a remake of the Lion King - my favourite animated film’

I worked hard at university and got high grades - it was rare to get a mark over 85, but I did. Following this success, one day I received a call from a creative and production agency. It was MPC (Moving Picture Company). They were working on a remake of the Lion King - my favourite animated film - and wanted me to work with them on it, among other films.

The job was amazing. The Lion King was the third film I worked on. I also worked with them on The Predator, Dumbo, The Darkest Minds and Dolittle alongside some of the best animators in the business. I learned so much and would ask for their tips and advice whenever I could.

‘I set up Kugali Media when I realised there should be more films and TV shows by African creators’

One day, a friend sent me a video clip. It was a trailer for a new animated show called Malaika, made entirely in Nigeria. It got me thinking that there should be more stories like this. And more films and TV shows by African creators. I discussed the idea with my colleagues and my friends - Ziki and Tolu - and that’s where Kugali Media was born. It is an entertainment company focused on telling stories inspired by African culture using comic books, art and augmented reality. Our stories respect the history, embrace the present and imagine the future of Africa.

‘We wanted to create an anthology of stories created by the best African writers and comic artists'

We started small with a comic book. Our idea was to create an anthology of stories created entirely by the best African writers and comic artists. These would pay homage to the continent’s past while embracing the present and imagining its future.

‘I told the BBC that we were going to ‘kick Disney’s butt in Africa’’

To fund the book, we set up a Kickstarter. We were surprised by its success. People wanted to see a book like that. And following the flurry of donations we received - more than £25,000 - we attracted media attention. In a piece by BBC News - ‘The African comic book Kugali hoping to take on Disney’ - I told the world that we were going to ‘kick Disney’s butt in Africa’.

‘Now we’re working with Disney on the production of their first of its kind African-created series’

A month later Disney reached out to us on LinkedIn and asked us to pitch our ideas at the Walt Disney Animation Studios in California. It must have gone well as we’re now working with them, collaborating on the production of their first-of-its-kind African-created series - Iwaju - which is set in a futuristic version of Lagos, Nigeria. Before working with us, Disney had never collaborated with an external company.

‘Because I pushed to try and achieve the impossible, here I am, collaborating with Disney’

It’s incredible how much my life has changed. Even though I loved animation, having been born in Uganda, working in the industry never seemed like a possibility. Animation had never been on my radar as a career. But because I had the chance in the UK to think differently about my life and pushed to achieve the impossible, here I am, collaborating with Disney.