abdulndadi

Latest Posts by abdulndadi

I want to say thanks to everyone at the Post New York Alliance for all your work creating more opportunities for storytellers and creatives from diverse backgrounds. Thanks again. I appreciate the PNYA featuring me in their "Spotlight of the Month." @postnewyorkalliance #film #tv #writer #screenwriter #artist #postproduction #storyteller #poccreatives

BIOGRAPHY Abdul Ndadi is a Harlem-born writer/artist of Ghanaian descent living in the Bronx. He studied Animation at the School of Visual Arts and started in the industry as a storyboard artist and character designer for independent film productions. His animated short Orisha's Journey, based on various African folktales, premiered in Japan at Hiroshima's animation festival and played last year at Annecy's special screening of African animation. Wanting to expand the types of stories he'd like to tell, Abdul transitioned into live-action after joining the Made in NY Post-production training program and now works as a post-production assistant for scripted film and television. Abdul is looking to apply all the knowledge he gains from helping the industry professionals he's fortunate enough to work with to create new stories of his own.

Here's an album cover I made for the Swiss-Indian rapper/producer @deng.strg (Prince Deng) for his upcoming project "Pink Lotus." I had fun mixing sci-fi/fantasy elements inspired by his unique music and the ancient imagery of the Hindu goddesses Kali and Lakshmi. Please feel free to follow his page for updates on his music!

Good news! My short film will screen at Annecy's 2021 Animation Festival as part of their focus on Africa. It's an honor to be screening there with the amazing Ghanaian animator Comfort Arthur @lady_comfy and all the other filmmakers from across the continent. Special thanks to everyone at the African Animation Network for helping put "The Best of Fupitoons" June 16th screenings together.

#annecy #africa #animation #film #orishasjourney #fupitoons #africananimation

A few doodles from my sketchbook. #characterdesign #sketch #drawings #illustration #fantasy #phoenix #sup https://www.instagram.com/p/CHuIIhHDf72/?igshid=3fv66eo93ahj

The first image of the phoenix with the serpent tails appeared to me in a wild, vivid dream and I had to sketch it. And some roughs. #illustration #drawing #sketch #characterdesign #penandink #sketchbookdrawing #dreams #phoenix #dragons https://www.instagram.com/p/CHdTsJNjS52/?igshid=n12pgco3efa9

Some redesign sketches of a few main characters from my scifi/fantasy story. Definitely looking forward to the new year! #characterdesign #comics #illustration #fantasyart #storytelling #sketch #animation #penandink #sketchbook #scifi #drawing https://www.instagram.com/p/B6tNRB6jkA9/?igshid=1xne0lugws3yh

I had the pleasure meeting director Ari Aster (Midsommar) at the Korean Film Festival where he presented "Save the Green Planet" which was Awesome btw! Also, here are a few other events feat: Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse), Martin Scorsese (The Irishman), Ladj Ly (Les misérables 2019 Cannes jury prize winner) @ghettofilmschool , Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver), Antonio Banderas (Pain & Glory), etc. #midsommar #thelighthouse #theirishman #film #filmmaker #storytelling #lesmiserables #taxidriver #pedroalmodovar #savethegreenplanet #cinema #writing https://www.instagram.com/p/B6b-ifjgH_8/?igshid=1nfskel4jcqb8

Hi, my film recently played in Brazil's Animage Festival for a special screening of African animation. It's an honor to participate. It's screened at over 50 festivals at this point, and I'm grateful to everyone who helped me on it. Much more to come! #animation #africa #brazil #sankofa #panafricanism #cartoon #thankful #film https://www.instagram.com/p/B4TjfG6DDwF/?igshid=1b4lcb6e5ebsq

I attended the Independent Filmmaker Project's IFP Week and had the pleasure of meeting "Harriet" Tubman film director Kasi Lemmons! I also ran into "Super Size Me" (1&2) director Morgan Spurlock and attened talks featuring Alice Wu (Saving Face), Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), and writer Teresa Hsiao (Fresh off the Boat/Family Guy) among others. Definitely a great experience. #ifp #film #indie #filmmaker #writer #director #story #representationmatters @kasi_lemmons @morganspurlocknyc @jonmchu #harriettubman #crazyrichasians #freshoftheboat #supersizeme https://www.instagram.com/p/B3U9T9nDccy/?igshid=r191y3v0qjyz

NEW VIDEO LINK!!! https://vimeo.com/340638155

This is a dance/performing arts video based on my Afrofuturist character designs for Niara Sakho’s clothing line ETO (Embrace the otherworldly) and it also features and my cousin Sarafina Beck (1st performer). It was great working with these two talented artists!

JARABI (the Weaver) pen sketch. A blind rebel leader and master hacker, she and her dissenter soldiers are planet Earth's last hope against the corrupt Eutopian Authority. From my Project: Chimera scifi story #Afrofuturism #scifi #cyberpunk #penandink #comics #illustration #animation #fantasy #drawing #mindhack (at NYC) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2kxDpeDxfk/?igshid=14a948n6kqq1v

A few concept roughs & stuff with my Afro puffs... #sketchbook #story #scifi #fantasy #comics #film #animation #writing #drawing #characterdesign #art #worldbuilding #myth https://www.instagram.com/p/BzcRA1gDqBA/?igshid=1trimlqvfa8w4

Had the pleasure of attending the Director's talk at Tribeca Film Festival featuring Guillermo del Toro (2nd time meeting him since Cannes!) and hosted by Alec Baldwin. It was awesome! #guillermodeltoro #alecbaldwin #tribeca #filmmaker #actor #film #monstermovies (at Tribeca Film Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwt_Bn-FmBb/?igshid=jqgwtxoakv93

Forest Spirits from my film Orisha’s Journey. Thanks for checking it out!

Hi! Some of my work will be featured this Sunday at the Roux (17 Frost Gallery 1-5 pm) in Brooklyn for their celebration of Black Art. I made this piece based on an Afrofuturism concept by the dance choreographer/performing artists Celine-Niara Sakho and Sarafina Beck which will later be made into a dance performance by them. There will be lots of great artist and music at the exhibit too. Hope to see y'all there! (Swipe for details) #blackart #afrofuturism #stillblack #characterdesign #scifi #fantasy #africa (at Brooklyn, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvFPYPgFc-u/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9nhjxxhuj0ux

Lord Chaos. A sketch of the main antagonist of my epic fantasy story “Pheonix Quest.” #characterdesign #animation #comics #illustration #fantasy #scifi #mythology #destroyerofworlds (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/anansiweb/p/Btrl7fMlEBM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gii80cpu8kes

Just came from an inspiring panel with the creator of Hellboy Mike Mignola at SVA theatre. #mikemignola #hellboy #comics #sva #comicsallies #inspiring (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/anansiweb/p/Bthoh2xlR1t/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12sggs52s7usw

Jarabi the Weaver- Blind rebel leader of Earth’s resistance against the corrupt Eutopian Authority. Character design from my sci-fi story Project: Chimera. -Abdul #characterdesign #animation #afrofuturism #africanartist #scifi #cyberpunk #comic #blindseer (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/anansiweb/p/Bst67-GBYDe/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4xmlvyn8p5wn

Character Design WIP (Prophet) Project: Chimera from rough to digital. #wip #characterdesign #sketch #ink #comics #animation #cyberpunk #scifi #digitalart (at New York, New York)

Abdul Ndadi is an animator from Ghana and a graduate from the School of Visual Arts, NY class of 2013.  He’s created an animation film entitled Orisha’s Journey (2014) which will be shown at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival in Japan (21st August 2014 - 25th August 2014).

PROJECT: CHIMERA

Illustration from my sci-fi (cyberpunk) story  

PHOENIX QUEST

“The Tree of Life has faded and Death’s Shadow returned …”

Anansi: Last, of the Dreamwalkers, seeks the “Child of Fire” to awaken humanity’s only hope to restore their dying world. 

Hey y'all! I wanted to share a “Flower Spirit” sequence from my film Orisha’s Journey. In African lore, it is believed that spirits dwell within all things and so all nature should be respected. Being of West African descent (Ghana) I grew up hearing tales of this sort which captured my imagination.(shout out to my boy Iker Maidagan on bkg colors!)

This the final version of the volcano pan shot from my film…

(including final lighting, camera movement, swf, and painted Photoshop layers for earthquake)

FILM FESTIVALS

Hi! Some good news from Governor’s Island! My film “Orisha’s Journey” will there tomorrow September 25th for the New York African Film festival’s “Family Day” event. Feel free to stop by! 

SVA BLOG (Festival de Cannes)

http://filmandanimation.sva.edu/abdul-ndadi/

Going to the Cannes Film Festival was amazing! From screening my film “Orisha’s Journey” 8 times at their Short Film Corner (which is basically a short film festival within the Festival de Cannes), meeting and speaking with Director Guillermo del Toro, and having the pleasure to watch many wonderful films it was an experience of a lifetime! Sorry for taking so long to share some of my experience on Tumblr here’s a blog below for more details on my trip:) Thanks y’all! -Abdul

Okayafrica interview on my process and why I made my film “Orisha’s Journey”

https://www.okayafrica.com/cinema-africa-orishas-journey-abdul-ndadi/