STORYBOARDS

Hi all, my film “Orisha’s Journey” was selected to premiere online this Wednesday (December 23rd, 2015) by FILM SHORTAGE for their “Daily Short Picks.” Thank you all for the support and feel free to check it out when its online!

-Abdul 

Ghanaian animator Abdul Ndadi’s fantasy film Orisha’s Journey (2014) has made it to the May 2015 Cannes Festival and will be screened in the Short Film Corner section which is part of the Cannes Court Métrage program. 

I am truly honored to be featured in this years festival and I want to give a huge thanks to my family and ALL my friends for their help and support! -Abdul

Abdul Ndadi is an animator from Ghana and a graduate from the School of Visual Arts, NY class of 2013.  He’s created an animation film entitled Orisha’s Journey (2014) which will be shown at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival in Japan (21st August 2014 - 25th August 2014).

Orisha’s Journey is a fantasy tale of a girl’s journey through the spirit world (‘Orisha’ denotes a spirit in Nigerian Yoruba cosmology), who must learn about the importance of remembering one’s roots. The film, set in a mysterious walking forest, explores the power of a child’s imagination and the deep meanings and manifestations of Africa.

The film is based on African folklore. I want to show another side to Africa besides safaris, so I explore different aspects of different countries around Africa in order to give the viewer a pan-African experience. It’s important to me that Africans feel that no matter where they’re from, they’re part of my film. In the West, there is not a lot of exposure to real Africans  — most people only go as far as The Lion King.  I want to take people farther, to create a deeper meaning. There is a word in Ghanaian: “Sankofa” – it means to return that which was lost. It is a symbol for not forgetting your roots and learning from the past. It is said that a tree without roots cannot stand. - Abdul Ndadi

Some more good news my film will be screening in Ghana on August 18th as part of the “Chale Wote 2016!” This means a lot to me, though I was fortunate enough to screen at festivals around the world, it’s now playing in my homeland for the first time! So I’m very grateful for this honor:)

CHARACTER DESIGN

FILM FESTIVAL

Hi!

Here’s the link to my TV Interview on “Divine Speech in African Traditionalism” which aired July 30, 2016. Feel free to check it out if you’d like! Also, here’s a rough sketch and detail of my Anansi “The Spider” character from my Graphic Novel comic (PHOENIX QUEST) Thanks!(O__O)

DIVINE SPEECH TV INTERVIEW LINK (Begins about 6mins in …)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaFqZrCOEZE&feature=youtu.be

Abdul Ndadi DemoReel

My Demo Reel featuring storyboards in animatic form and final production of my thesis film "Orisha's Journey" and some other work (Edited in Adobe…

Hi here’s a link to my Demo Reel (edited in Adobe Premiere and After Effects). Thanks for checking it out! -Abdul

Thank You Japan! (Hiroshima International Animation Festival 2014)

Hey y'all got these back from Japan and wanted to share! I also wanted to thank Hiroshima International Animation Festival co-founder and Director Mrs. Sayoko Kinoshita (ASIFA Vice President/ASIFA Japan President) for all her kind words and for screening my film at HIAFF. The festival was built on the premise of taking the center of one of the ugliest acts against humanity (Hiroshima Bombing 1945) and using animation as a platform to promote peace and understanding between all peoples. I feel truly fortunate to have been a part of this year's festival!  -Abdul

Thank you futurafrika for the share from Italy! Grazie:)

#filmchevorremmovedere: ORISHA’S JOURNEY Creato dall’animatore ghanese Abdul Ndadi, “Orisha’s Journey” è un film che s’ispira alla tradizione folcloristica africana. Il film, presentato come tesi di laurea, esplora i diversi aspetti culturali africani. Orisha, infatti, è il nome comune attribuito ad alcune divinità nella religione yoruba.  «It’s important to me that Africans feel that no matter where they’re from, they’re part of my film.» "Orisha’s Journey" racconta di una bambina e il potere trascendente dell’immaginazione. Orisha, pur non credendo nelle favole, si ritrova a viverne una dopo l’incontro con un fiore animato che si è smarrito. Orisha intraprenderà un viaggio nel mondo degli spiriti e dell’immaginazione per restituire il fiore alla misteriosa foresta.

Character Design WIP (Prophet) Project: Chimera from rough to digital. #wip #characterdesign #sketch #ink #comics #animation #cyberpunk #scifi #digitalart (at New York, New York)

Comic Book Illustration

“Songs of the Ancients/Godstone Temple” 

PART 8- I took the original concept of “The Lady, Or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton and decided to create my own version with original characters and dialogue. Here are the storyboards. (Please see other parts for the whole story) WIP

Hamilton Film Fest

Hey anyone in the Ontario, Canada area! My film was selected to play this year at the Hamilton Film Fest so if you'd like to check it out please do:) Thanks!