FILM REVIEW: Unmissable Traces Of DEMAS NWOKO In Animation VAINGLORIOUS
By Oyiza Adaba, New York
Vainglorious Poster: Produced by STL Productionz
Vainglorious is a studio animation short, creatively conceived as a school project by two talented students of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Since its release in 2024, Producer Sebastien Abou-Chakra and Writer/Director Gabriel Oshiomati 'Mati’ Ugbodga have garnered attention and praise, with numerous notable selections and impressive awards wins at global film festivals.
FILM REVIEW
Vainglorious is set against the backdrop of the traditional Northern Nigerian boxing style known as "Dambe". The story revolves around the conflict between the talented Haruna, a young boxer dedicated to his craft who must confront Ayeana, a father striving to secure his daughter's future. Both men face painful struggles of identity and risking their loved ones; in a fierce battle between tradition and modernity.
Creative Techniques
The animation team skillfully leveraged body language, visual contrast, facial expressions, and evocative music to effectively and powerfully communicate the characters' exhaustion or remarkable resilience throughout the animation.
The scene where all three characters lie facing the stars, exhausted from fighting, shows how body language and positioning is used to depict the characters' physical and emotional fatigue after their ordeal.
The character Idia is described as “a spirited and caring young girl whose strong will and tough nature are evident in her every action.” The young girl’s small frame contrasts her fierce spirit and shows her resilience and determination despite her stature.
The use of facial expressions and eye contact to convey complex emotional dynamics between the characters, is noticed in the conflict between the father and daughter, where their eyes connect. The emotional connection between the young girl and her father was a key element that heightens the overall impact of the narrative.
The music accompanying these scenes heighten each emotional impact and reinforce the characters' states of mind.
“We wanted the music to be perfect, because Nigeria and music is a big thing. I believe that music makes or breaks a film… We didn’t want computer generated music or anything like that. We needed somebody on that talking drum with their hands. ”
Vainglorious Writer/Director Gabriel Osiomati 'Mati’ Ugbodga and Producer Sebastien Abou-Chakra (Photo by STL Productionz)
Production Team
The production took place at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and STL Productionz, and this alone points to a collaborative academic environment where students and faculty worked together to bring the project to life. The animation team included a large number of talented individuals and this diverse team of artists brought different skills and perspectives that helped elevate the visual quality and storytelling of the animation.
The collaborative approach to the music for example, composition helped create a cohesive musical score that enhanced the emotional impact of the animation. It had additional contributions from Bemba Bangura and other key personnel like animation supervisor Selena Perez, Jonathan Cox, Alexa Morales, and Mahogany Martin as the FX animation lead.
Cultural & Personal Influences
Mati and Sabestien are both outstanding in their passion for animation and storytelling, which was shaped by their upbringing in Nigeria and family backgrounds. Sebastien is of Lebanese descent and grew up in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. Oshiomati became interested in animation from a young age, growing up as ‘art royalty’ in Lagos and Abuja. With the "Master Builder" Demas Nwoko as a grandfather, Mati's cultural heritage and family history in Nigeria plays an important role in cultivating his creative and artistic inclinations.
“I always knew I wanted to do something art related. Even before I pieced together what my grandfather was, I was into animation as a child. Finding out more about my grandfather further pushed that, because it added a weight on my shoulders that I didn’t know I had. By then, I already knew I wanted to do art adjacent to my grandfather. I want to make a name for myself as well, and also still honor my grandfather (Demas Nwoko) and his work.”
This film highlights both their creative vision and artistic skills within the animation industry.
MESSENGERS
Learn more about Vainglorious featured in Season 4 of the TV series MESSENGERS. Coming in Q1 2025. Subscribe to @africarelatedinc for notifications.