Animation has evolved significantly since its inception in 1892 when French inventor Charles Emile Reynaud revolutionised the art form by becoming the first to project animated cartoons for a public audience in Paris.

Over the years, numerous innovations have transformed animation, evolving from simple hand-drawn sketches to today’s breathtaking digital masterpieces.

Established in 2002 by the International Animated Film Association, a branch of UNESCO, International Animation Day is celebrated annually on October 28. The day aims to inspire new talent and honor the vibrant world of animation.

Jesse Sunkwa Mills, creative director at Mills Media, speaking at the launch of the Guardians animated film series, called on organizations to invest in the industry, emphasizing its potential to drive business growth.

"In recent years, the French institute has been of great support. The French embassy has really supported animation over the years, and they continue to do so. It’s a great time for us to be in this space. The industry is growing. It’s getting better than it used to be," he said.

"There are many more people getting into the space now—more studios, more freelancers—and it’s growing compared to the past. Of course, a lot of this has to do with the influence of technology. Production of animation, well, I wouldn’t say it’s easier, but it’s certainly much better than before. More people can enter the space now because the tools we use for animation are far better than they were in the past.

The simulation of movement created by a series of pictures is animation. But how it actually works is a bit more complicated than that," Mills added.

Samuel Quartey, President of the Animation Association of Ghana, explained the strides made in Ghana’s animation industry.

He said eight years ago, they decided to support their members who had studios and wanted to produce feature films.

"We helped them produce their films and worked on ways to market them. It has turned out well. We’ve had The Crossroads, Asantewaa, Abrefi Kɔtɔ, and currently, The Guardians. So, we can confidently say that, looking at the numbers, we’ve increased the audience for local animated films. Ten years ago, if you were creating a local animated film, you wouldn’t be sure if people would come to watch it. But we’ve managed to make it work."

Despite facing numerous obstacles, Jesse Sunkwa Mills and his team persevered.