Exclusive: Interview with the Director of Disney Plus animated series

‘Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire’ is a 2023 anthology animated series that premiered on Disney plus. The series features stories from creators from Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean episode titled ‘Mukudzei’ tells the tale of a young influencer who defaces the Great Zimbabwe ruins and his actions result in him being transported into a futuristic utopian Zimbabwe.

The director of the episode, Tafadzwa Hove claims that “the project took three years to complete”, the episode was co-directed with Pious Nyenyewa.

We caught up with Tafadzwa to get a little more insight on the ground-breaking series. *^KM^{– Kudzai Mhangwa, TH – Tafadzwa Hove}

KM: Congrats on this huge accomplishment! How does it feel after three years your work is going out into the world?

TH: It feels so good to finally have our country see the film, which is about us Zimbabweans. Imagine? I am sure our family members thought we were lying at some point; we worked on a project for three months and there was nothing to show for it for the longest time. I feel so relieved.

KM: You said, “Now the world knows the secret that we have always known; we are just as good as anyone else in the game.” Do you think it has been long overdue?

TH: I think, to be honest, we always knew that we have the ability and stories that the world loves to hear. It’s just that no one was willing to take that gamble on us. So yes, it is long overdue.

KM: How was it like working with Disney?

TH: Working with Disney was a dream come true, but it was so tough. They have high standards and a specific way of storytelling. So, we spent at least a good year attending training seminars with some of the best minds in the world. We were so lucky. Disney was open to our ideas and collaborative; we got to work with some awesome people. It stretches you in a way that when you look back on it, you’re like, “Wow…I can’t believe I did that”. I was also incredible a Zimbabwean animation company Alula got to work on the project.