Disney Plus just launched one of its best animated series in history

In 2021, pan-African entertainment studio Kugali promised to kick Disney’s butt, and Disney chief creative officer Jennifer Lee was so into it that she partnered with Kugali.

After three years, the result of this unexpected partnership finally premiered on Disney Plus. And with limited series Iwájú, Kugali absolutely lives up to expectations (just, you know, working with Disney instead of kicking the studio’s ass).

There are only six episodes and none last more than half an hour. And yet, the story is intense, the world fascinating, and the characters compelling. Iwaju is one of the most exciting shows to come to Disney Plus in a long time, and certainly one of the best animated shows on the streaming service.

Image: Disney

From a team of showrunners consisting of Kugali founder Olufikayo Adeola and Disney producer Halima Hudson, Iwaju takes place in a future version of Lagos, Nigeria, where technology has increased existing class differences, truly cementing the gap between the haves and the have-nots. At the center of the story are Tola (Simisola Gbadamosi), a privileged but lonely young woman, and Kole (Siji Soetan), the intelligent boy who works for her father. Although they are separated by their different stages in life, the two are close friends and Tola dreams of seeing more of the world her father protects her from. Meanwhile, Kole has big ambitions of her own, but she doesn’t have the means to carry them out, especially with his mother’s recent illness.

The world spirals from there, with characters beyond Tola and Kole living out intricate stories and adventures. There’s a lot to juggle, but Adeola and Hudson do an excellent job of weaving all the motifs and backgrounds into the fabric of the world. It changes the already exciting plot: a crime lord kidnaps children from rich families and holds them for ransom, all in order to help the city’s lower class, while a rich technology genius designs a lizard robot to help defend the children. into something more nuanced. It’s a cool, futuristic world, all based on themes of class and technology.

The animation is a step above Disney’s usual CG television fare, more in line with the studio’s films, elevating the story as a whole. There is more attention to funds, especially. The brilliant technology, fun action sequences and small details that make up the world captivate your attention. A montage in the fourth episode, when Tola and Kole explore the street markets of Lagos, becomes a colorful explosion of small details, all reinforced by playful transitions that combine traditional patterns with the geometry of the landscape.

Iwaju It’s short, but it has a big impact. In a sea of ​​Disney sequels, spin-offs and reboots, Iwaju shines. it’s all disney ought strive to achieve something different, something innovative, something new.

Iwaju is now available on Disney Plus.