MAGAZINE ARTICLE

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!)

Hi! My film Orisha’s Journey won a “Special Mention Award” at Fupitoons Film Festival in Johanessberg, South Africa last weekend. It’s Africa’s first Animation festival, so I’m honored to have participated. 

Variety Magazine Article

http://variety.com/2017/tv/festivals/african-toons-take-off-regional-global-partnerships-blossom-1202596273/

Okayafrica Article

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

Alumni Blog: Abdul Ndadi - SVA Film & Animation

I was recently interviewed by the SVA alumni blog and got to talk a bit about my thesis film "Orisha's Journey"... Feel free to check it out!

Hey guys! I was featured today on Discover African Cinema a site that highlights great African films and new trends from the continent which are normally overlooked by mainstream media...

Here's the link to the article on my film Orisha's Journey feel free to check it out. Thanks!  

http://www.discoverafricancinema.com/watch-out-for-animator-abdul-ndadi/

A few Wizard of Oz character designs I did for my 3rd year animation class at SVA*... Start of a comic I'll be working on called Spirits of Oz (working title) based on African folklore take on the classic tale by Lyman Frank Baum.

*This prompt by my animation instructor Mario Menjiver was the genisis of my thesis film Orisha's Journey  

Hi everyone! I'm really happy to share that my film will be screening tomorrow Aug 3 at 'SUMMER STAGE 2016' in Staten Island for the New York African Film Festival! I'll be presenting my short film, which plays before the animated French feature "Kirikou and the Wild Beasts" by the great Michel Ocelot (Former ASIFA President & Multi-award winning Filmmaker) in front of a huge crowd. All are welcome to this free event. I'm truly honored to participate. Thanks y'all!

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL (FESTIVAL DE CANNES) SHORT FILM CORNER SCREENING

Hey everybody! I got some great news from France that I wanted to share… My film “Orisha’s Journey” will be screening this May at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner section! The Short Film Corner is a part of the Cannes Court Métrage program, where they feature short films they believe have merit and contain a message they feel resonates in the world today. I am truly honored to be featured in this years festival and I want to give a huge thanks to my family and ALL my friends for their help and support! I’ll definitely give an update once they send me more info. Thanks!

-Abdul

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).

Orisha’s Journey is a fantasy tale of a girl’s journey through the spirit world (‘Orisha’ denotes a spirit in Nigerian Yoruba cosmology), who must learn about the importance of remembering one’s roots. The film, set in a mysterious walking forest, explores the power of a child’s imagination and the deep meanings and manifestations of Africa.

The film is based on African folklore. I want to show another side to Africa besides safaris, so I explore different aspects of different countries around Africa in order to give the viewer a pan-African experience. It’s important to me that Africans feel that no matter where they’re from, they’re part of my film. In the West, there is not a lot of exposure to real Africans  — most people only go as far as The Lion King.  I want to take people farther, to create a deeper meaning. There is a word in Ghanaian: “Sankofa” – it means to return that which was lost. It is a symbol for not forgetting your roots and learning from the past. It is said that a tree without roots cannot stand. - Abdul Ndadi

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