Netflix NEW animated series by Malenga (Zambia)

UPDATED: Netflix’s new animated series follows four teenage girls who become undercover superheroes. Set in Lusaka, Zambia, Supa 4 is Netflix’s first original animated series from Africa. The series premiered on July 20 and has since received many positive reviews across Africa.

Supa Team 4 is created and co-executive produced by Zambia’s very own, Malenga Mulendema.

Four teen girls living in the neo-futuristic African city of Lusaka are recruited by a retired secret agent still committed to saving the world… even if it’s on a budget. In their journey from school girls tackling homework to undercover superheroes fending off supervillains, they’re transformed from a motley crew of friends into Supa Team 4.

REVIEW: Superhero Representation Done Right

In the city of Lusaka, Zambia, four girls in secondary school, Zee, Temwe, Monde, and Komana, are chosen by Mama K to become a team of undercover superheroes after they save people when Storm Drain, a supervillain who can control the weather, which includes making and controlling tornadoes, wreaks havoc on their school’s science fair. These four girls are given super suits that enhance their natural speed and strength, as they go up against villains like Storm Drain, Locust Pocus, Snap Back, and others, who all work for Bad Magz, an evil mastermind who is bent on the city to its knees.

Now this is what I call a good example of representation done right, as the show, made in southern Africa, gives us brand new superheroes instead of doing what Hollywood has been doing with remakes of older movies (I’m looking at you, Disney), as the characters and setting perfectly capture the culture of the country this cartoon was made in. Also, the animation is amazing, as it is done in the same way the Spider-Man Spider-Verse movies (as well as TMNT: Mutant Mayhem) are, as it feels like we are watching a comic book come to life. Also, the episodes have some good life lessons. This is a neat superhero cartoon for kids. ~ jeremycrimsonfox

“In creating a superhero show set in Lusaka, I hope to introduce the world to four strong African girls who save the day in their own fun and crazy way,” Mulemdema told Animation Magazine in 2019. “Most importantly, I want to illustrate that anyone from anywhere can be a superhero.”