Taking place in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, Iwájú is a coming-of-age Disney+ original animated series that was released on Wednesday, February 28. This sci-fi adventure follows Tola and her best friend, Kole, as they explore the dangers of new worlds with their robotic lizard sidekick, Otin.
The series is fully released with 6-episodes that run 25 minutes each. The story was developed with Walt Disney Animation Studios in collaboration with Pan-African comic book company Kugali.
Disney and Kugali wanted to bring their viewers on a fascinating journey with “unique visual elements and technological advancements inspired by the spirit of Lagos.” The original screenplay was written by Adeola and Halima Hudson, produced by Disney Animation’s Christina Chen, and directed by Olufikayo Ziki Adeola.
The animation features vocal performances from Simisola Gbadamosi, Dayo Okeniyi, Femi Branch, Siji Soetan, and Weruche Opia. This Nigerian-centered animation creates new possibilities and expectations for African stories being depicted by established entertainment companies.
