Against the backdrop of the rising interest in African stories in mainstream media, African Animation looks at a more than century-old animation practice that remains largely unknown. Carefully organized, this book offers a comprehensive treatment that canvasses animation from all over the continent, analyzing its history, socio-political contexts, artistic and technological development, visual cultures, and economic market conditions. African animation also contributes to the broader landscape of animation Studies: how does our view of the history of animation change when we add an African perspective to the otherwise dominating perspectives of Hollywood, Japanese, and Korean animation? What does animation look and feel like in other parts of the world? African animation has always been there; this book helps us pay attention to it. This is a must-read for those interested in African animation including artists, industry insiders, and fans.

BOUKARY SAWADOGO is a professor of film and animation studies and the chair of the Department of Media & Communication Arts at the City College of New York and CUNY Graduate Center. He has authored five books, including two editions of the textbook African Film Studies: An Introduction and West African Screen Media: Comedy, TV Series, and Transnationalization.

Introduction
Chapter One: The Art of Animation in Definition and in Africa
Chapter Two: An African Tale of Animation: Before 1960
Chapter Three: Postcolonial African Animation: Three Generational Formations 
Chapter Four: Critical Reading Lenses in the Study of African Animation
Chapter Five: Women in African Animation 
Chapter Six: African Animation: An Emerging Industry    
Conclusion: Growth, Challenges, the Relation Between African Animation and Videogame, and Artificial Intelligence
Appendix: Selected Filmography Access Information
Acknowledgments      
Notes
Bibliography     
Index