Toei Animation is co-producing an original spinoff anime titled The Storyteller ~The dawn of Legend（仮）, based on the webtoon Trials of the Spear by Nigeria's Comic Republic, together with staff from Comic Republic's video production division, CR motion+. This marks Toei Animation's first collaboration with an animation studio in Africa.
Why Nigeria?
Nigeria has a population of roughly 200 million, the largest in Africa. It also boasts one of the world's largest volumes of live-action film production, reflecting a deep understanding of the visual industry and a maturing market. As Japanese anime grows in popularity across African countries, collaboration between Japanese and local production studios can give rise to anime that Africa can call its own, opening up a new market and further expanding the reach of Japanese anime.
This co-production with CR motion+ came about after being introduced to many of the people involved through the TAIDO Project, an initiative run by Arc & Beyond (a nonprofit general incorporated association established by the Sony Group) together with JETRO. Sony Pictures Entertainment is also considering the possibility of collaborating going forward, with an eye toward the future development of this initiative.
About CR motion+
CR motion+ is an animation production company based in Lagos, Nigeria. It was established in 2024 as the video production division of Comic Republic, an entertainment company that develops original IP originating from Africa.
CR motion+ has a track record in short animation production (2D and 3DCG), and Comic Republic's webtoon Trials of the Spear serves as the source material for this project.
Locally, animation production is drawing attention as a stable profession.
What's Next
Pre-production and production management will be handled on the Japan side, while CR motion+ staff will carry out the main production. The roughly 20-minute film is targeting completion in spring 2027, after which it will be submitted to film festivals around the world to build international recognition and gauge its market value.
Production Staff
- Producer: Takashi Washio (Toei Animation), Jide Martin (CR motion+)
- Screenplay: Ichiro Takano
- Production Manager: Emi Okawa
Story
In present-day Lagos, Nigeria, a spirit named Akaribere has been revived after untold ages.
As a storyteller who has long passed down history, he tries to tell the tale of the past hero Dayo Darau in the great city of Lagos, but no one will listen. He is nearly hit by a car in the street and treated as a nuisance at the market. Akaribere falls into despair, but to fulfill his mission as a storyteller, he begins to tell the story of the hero Dayo Darau, alone...
©CR motion+ / Toei Animation
