Front Row Seat to Africa’s Animation Renaissance through the Lens of Magic Carpet Studios’ Growth Manager
When I first walked into Magic Carpet Studios, I didn’t just step into a company, I stepped into a living story. The air hummed with creativity, filled with artists sketching worlds from imagination, writers weaving new myths, and animators breathing motion into African dreams. It was clear from the very first day that this wasn’t just about making cartoons; it was about shaping culture.
Before joining Magic Carpet, I had always admired animation from a distance. Like many Africans, I grew up on Western animated classics that rarely reflected our faces, our sounds, or our stories. But at Magic Carpet, everything felt different. The walls told African stories. Projects like Meet the Igwes, Garbage Boy and Trash Can, and Passport of Man and AI don’t just entertain, they expand how the world sees African creativity. Every frame, every color palette, and every line of dialogue feels intentional, grounded in who we are and who we are becoming.
Working here has been more than a career step; it has been a revelation. I have watched incredible minds come together, storytellers, sound designers, developers, and producers, all united by a shared belief that Africa’s next global export is imagination. And we are not just saying it, we are building it. From Lagos to the world, Magic Carpet is proving that African animation can stand shoulder to shoulder with global studios like Pixar, Disney, and DreamWorks, not by imitation but by authenticity.
The entertainment industry is evolving rapidly, powered by technology, streaming platforms, and now artificial intelligence. What excites me most is how Magic Carpet has chosen to grow with it. Through ventures like Magic Lab, the studio’s innovation and talent hub, we are training the next generation of animators, storytellers, and visual thinkers. We are preparing them not just for jobs, but for leadership in a global creative economy. It is deeply fulfilling to see young talents grow from interns to professionals who now contribute to international productions.
Beyond the projects and the tight deadlines, what stands out most to me is the culture, the belief that art can inspire change, that storytelling can heal, and that Africa can tell her own story with dignity and flair. We celebrate each milestone like a family, challenge each other like teammates, and dream together like pioneers.
My journey here has taught me that animation is not just about movement, it is about meaning. It is about giving a voice to cultures often overlooked and painting our shared human experience in vivid, moving color. Being part of Magic Carpet Studios means standing at the intersection of art, technology, and purpose, and that, to me, is the most magical thing of all.
Be intentional, learn, grow, and evolve!
By Adonis Karibo