Toei Animation Will Produce Nigerian Animated Short Film
The production marks Toei Animation's first collaboration with an African studio for a new 20-minute film project.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Animation
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Toei Animation has announced a collaboration with Nigeria-based studio CR motion+ to produce a short film titled The Storyteller: The Dawn of Legend. Scheduled for completion by spring 2027, the 20-minute project serves as a spin-off of the webtoon series Trials of the Spear.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to expand the global footprint of Japanese animation by tapping into emerging markets. It follows a mentorship program that connected African studios with Japanese animation professionals to foster international creative ties.
The upcoming short film will have a 20-minute runtime. This project follows the establishment of the partner studio, CR motion+, which was founded in 2024 within Nigeria, a country with an estimated population of over 200 million people.
The players
Toei Animation
Toei Animation is a major Japanese production studio responsible for numerous globally recognized animation franchises.
CR motion+
CR motion+ is an animation and gaming production arm of the Nigerian studio Comic Republic.
Japan External Trade Organization
The Japan External Trade Organization is a government-linked agency that promotes trade and investment between Japan and other nations.
The details
The short film is a spin-off of the popular webtoon series Trials of the Spear and represents a significant technical partnership for the studio. The collaboration was facilitated by the Japan External Trade Organization, which oversaw a mentorship program where Japanese experts trained studios for over six months.
Timeline
CR motion+ was established in 2024.
The companies plan to produce the film by spring 2027.
Industry Dynamics
This project follows a pattern set by the TAIDO African Animation Challenge in integrating international mentorship with local production capacity. By leveraging these cross-continental partnerships, major studios are attempting to bridge the gap between established industries and emerging creative hubs.
Viewers can anticipate a 20-minute release, though specific streaming or theatrical platforms have not yet been named. Fans of the webtoon series Trials of the Spear will have a new format to engage with the franchise by spring 2027.
The takeaway
This partnership highlights how global animation studios are increasingly looking to African creative talent to diversify their content libraries. Readers interested in the global animation market should track how these mentorship models influence future international co-productions.
Further reading
For more updates on global studio partnerships, visit the Animation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kyodo News+.
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