We are happy to announce that the Mutupo Kickstarter is live. The Mutupo story is one dear to us as we have seen the build up over the past few years. We have had the creator Kuda Rwizi at various, with a trailer release at Nakamarket 2025 as well as a promo banner. To see the project closer to coming to life like this is a huge win for creatives on the continent, we are happy to see it come. The Mutupo went live this October.
Studio Soqko, an independent animation studio, is looking to raise at least 20,000 USD to fund the pilot episode of MUTUPO. The project features a gifted team that has been involved in multiple projects on the continent. The goal for the independent animation studio adapting MUTUPO was to take it to Kickstarter and go into day 1 of its campaign with a starting figure of 400 followers. This is a goal that they met. While these numbers don’t necessarily determine how well the Kickstarter will perform, they are a good place to start as far as gauging people’s interest in potentially backing the project.
What is Mutupo
MUTUPO is an ongoing manga about individuals in a not-so-futuristic Zimbabwe that can use the power of their animal totems. Using this power is illegal, until the richest man in Africa starts the first ever Tournament of Totems. A fighting tournament that will see fighters go up against each other for the ultimate prize.
The story centers 18 year old Shingai who can use the monkey totem – one of the weakest ones and his journey to find belonging in the tournament.
The MUTUPO anime currently in development is a 24 minute pilot episode. It focuses on Shingai entering the tournament on the same day there is a high-profile murder putting him and his opponents in the police’s crosshairs as prime suspects.
It’s written to be an Action Fantasy that also plays around with mystery and horror elements. A coming-of-age tale about power, belonging and the way parental influence shapes each person, for better or worse.
Who is Working on this Project
Kuda Rwizi – Writer,Director & Key Animator
Zimbabwean 2D animator, comic artist and co-creator of MUTUPO, with experience in animation, storyboarding, character design and screenwriting. He has worked with Powerhouse Animation & The British Council and co-created MUTUPO Volume 1, published worldwide by TOKYOPOP and Noir Caesar.
Rutendo Rwizi – Colorist & Cleanup Artist
Zimbabwean artist and co-creator of MUTUPO, specializing in coloring, animation cleanup and visual development.
Tabitha Mwale – Key Animator & In-Betweener
Award-winning Zambian animator and creative director, and founder of Tabproduction Studios. She specializes in 2D frame-by-frame animation and digital storytelling.
Bill Masuku – Editor & Script Revision
Award-winning Zimbabwean comic artist and writer, currently creating Runeless for Disney Hyperion through Kugali Ink. His animation and storyboard credits include Triggerfish and Disney x Kugali’s Emmy-nominated Iwájú.
Elisha Ngundu [of] Afro Tokyo – Producer
Award-winning Zimbabwean pre-production studio specializing in animation, storyboarding, comics and visual development. Afro Tokyo brings its distinctive blend of African storytelling and Japanese-inspired visual language to MUTUPO.
Kudzaishe Gwasera – Project Coordinator
Zimbabwean filmmaker and producer with experience in production coordination, directing, editing and story development. His collaborators include NBCUniversal, Outbound Film, Honey Media Africa and Quizzical Pictures.
Angel Siringwani – Sound Engineer
Also known as Angel Beats, Angel is an audio engineer, sound designer and music producer focused on creating sound and music that make stories and worlds feel alive.
Play Your Part
Whatever you do, go and fund this great African story. Let us show the world that there is a place for our African stories and that we are excited for them.