Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Banner has announced it has partnered with Japanese-led anime studio N LITE to produce Black anime films.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the first film JuVee will produce is Congolese epic fantasy ‘Mfinda.’
Mfinda comes from N LITE founder Christiano Terry and Congolese-American artist Patience Leiken.
Lekien co-wrote the script with Terry and Donald H. Hewitt, while D’ART Shtajio’s Arthell Isom will co-direct, and Japanese screenwriter Mika Abe will pen the Japanese script.
Viola Davis’s JuVee Banner Is Set To Evolve Black Storytelling Mediums
Mfinda was announced at last year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
GKIDS will co-produce it–they worked on The Boy and the Heron–along with Studio M2’s legendary Masao Maruyama.
Executive producers are Tennon, Davis, GKIDS’ Eric Beckman and Maki, and JuVee head of film Melanie Clark.
“We are honored to partner with JuVee Productions’ on our slate of afro-anime films. Through this collaboration we hope to spark cultural conversations and ignite the imaginations of audiences around the world, whether they are anime fans or simply fans of timeless storytelling in film. With our flagship title, Mfinda, audiences will journey into Congolese culture, and an enchanting world of spirits and ancestors.”
Tennon and Clark added:
“We are excited to be in business with NLITE bringing the first afro-anime MFINDA to global audiences. This collaboration is a special and timely one and is aligned with JuVee’s continued commitment to produce content and support talent from underrepresented communities.”
Other than film, JuVee Banner and N Lite will produce graphic novels, merchandise and manga.
