Twende
Made in Kenya
Twende is Showmax’s first Original 2D animated series, and the first animation of this quality and scale to be made almost entirely in Africa. Lands 1 December.
The first Showmax Original 2D animated series, Twende follows a pangolin of the same name, the slowest moving animal in the savannah. Twende’s belief that “life is about the journey, not the destination” is constantly at odds with his job as a boda boda driver in the bustling, fictional East African city of Milima.
Twende is voiced by Junior Nyong’o (The Legend of Lwanda Magere, Hamlet), while June Gachui (Crime and Justice, Nairobi Half Life) plays his unlikely best friend and navigator, Nuru – a whip-smart bird who always looks out for her bestie, even if his chilled-out vibe drives her crazy sometimes.
Kalasha Awards nominee Elsaphan Njora (Super Sema, Kati Kati) voices Boss, the perennially broke and exhausted hyena who owns the boda boda agency where Nuru and Twende work. The all-Kenyan voice cast also includes Charles Ouda (Crime and Justice) as showy stunt driver Kimbe and Mkamzee Mwatela (Mali) as Boss’s rival, Madam Mongoose, CEO of the evil tech empire Goober. Also listen out for Kalasha Awards winner Nyokabi Macharia (Super Sema), Joyce Musoke (Second Family) and seasoned voice actor and director Khaemba W. Edward (Ogas at the Top, The XYZ Show).
Produced by London-based Braintrust and Johannesburg-based Mind’s Eye Creative, Twende is co-created by Charlie Maas, Kayla Archer, Mike Scott and Regan Riskas Maas, with Greig Cameron (Seal Team, Supa Strikas) as the showrunner.
Twende’s pilot screened in competition at Annecy, the world’s premier animation festival, in 2021. MultiChoice Studios is handling international sales.
The first 2D animated show of this scale and quality made almost entirely in Africa, Twende premieres on Showmax on 1 December 2023, with new episodes on Fridays.
Slow down and enjoy the ride.
Join the conversation: #twendeshowmax
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