This circulation of talent is possible through public and private funds earmarked for scholarships, says the academy.

Netflix Grow Creative, NFVF (the South African National Film and Video Foundation), and the French Institute of South Africa are part of this scholarship programme.

Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has also been instrumental in financing Tshimologong, under which Mollo Academy falls.

The three Mollo champions are:
  • Daniela Del Castello, animation tutor, character designer and animator from Johannesburg
  • Kamohelo Salemane, character designer and visual development artist from Johannesburg, and
  • Tshegofatso Tracy Pitseng, a 2D and 3D artist with skills in character design, visual development and animation from Westonaria in Gauteng.

The Mollo partnership with GOBELINS Paris, which is ranked the leading animation school in the world, has allowed all senior staff at Mollo (Lesego Vorster, Marthinus D van Rooyen, Sithembiso Mpehle) to train in Paris. Mollo also boasts a near-yearly intake of members into GOBELINS' master's degree.

Lesley Donna Williams, Tshimologong's CEO, says, "Training programmes for a career in animation are often inaccessible to a vast majority of talented creatives who don't have economic means to pay for it."

"Mollo Animation Academy and Studio by Tshimologong Precinct, however, plays an ambitious and critical role in putting talent at the centre of selecting interns and then accelerating their journey in creating animation with an authentic African aesthetic. Our benchmark is world-class excellence as we strive to transform the industry to include marginalised voices," adds Wiiliams. 

The Tshimologong Precinct, as part of its programming, places much emphasis on creating potential job options in the digital ecosystem. Research conducted by the Precinct in 2021 and 2022 highlighted the value and importance of intermediaries to the digital creative industries – including animation – and the need to strategically develop the value chain to boost the digital creative economy.

The investments made in the creative future of young entrepreneurs continue to expand the path of African digital expertise on the global stage, concludes the programme.

For more information, visit www.tshimologong.joburg. You can also follow Mollo Animation Academy and Studio on Facebook, X or on Instagram.