Nollywood creators are increasingly becoming aware of the potential of their works to become tools of positive revolution in society. One of the fruits of this new paradigm shift is the new 3-dimensional animated movie, Ami, which admonishes youths on the dangers of thuggery during electioneering processes.

Directed by fast-risingfilmmaker, Tunde Oluwa, the 16-min short flick pays homage to the aftermath of the EndSARS crisis that rocked the country in 2020. 

According to Oluwa who doubles as Creative director, Blackice animation studios, the film is being released, in timely consideration of the looming 2023 national elections, in a bid to help avert thuggery. 

“I decided to use 3d animation as a medium of passing this message because the target audience are young-adults who mostly spend part of their leisure time playing video games. 

“The style and details in the film is about 85 percent close to the graphics one will get in a new generation game console. I believe young people will appreciate this and find it easy to relate with. Also, my background in architecture made animation a part of me, effortlessly,” he tells Weekend Beats. 

The animation film, which featured voices of actors, Segun Dada, Olalekan Fehintola, Omowunmi Dada and Oriyomi Joseph, is Nigeria’s first most detailed, most relatable 3d animation short film.

For artistic and co-director in the short film, Joseph Duke, he said, “accountability is key in any democratic system; as such, we hope that the youth and necessary government monitoring agencies will focus on holding political office holders accountable for their promises and responsibilities. 

“We hope to use this film to start discussions and design workable programmes and implementation plan for transparent accountability in our country. Also we hope to educate the youths and make them realise that they must stand their ground to protect their lives, the lives of their loved ones and our collective peace and unity as a nation, by saying No to Violence.”

Duke who also runs Elects Network and Synergy limited said it partnered with Blackice Animation studios to design strategic programmes that will scale up its audio visual artwork into measurable impact based social campaign through its #100tags4change Initiative. 

“We have plans to train 50 -100 youths in animation so they too can create social and economic impact based advocacy films. By this we can all together gradually become ambassadors for a new and better Nigeria and influence policy and procedure in the country.”