Latest Posts by abdulndadi - Page 2

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

PART 1- 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

PART 2- 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

PART 3- 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

PART 4- 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

PART 5- 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

PART 6- 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

PART 7- 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

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

PART 9- 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

PART 10- 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

Project:Chimera WIP (swipe) #scifi #afrofuturism #fantasy #cyberpunk #wip #comics #animation #illustration #digitalart #artistsoninstagram (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnE3heWFpFo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7k1qfnrfnjlt

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

PHOENIX QUEST

“The Tree of Life has faded and Death’s Shadow returned …”

Anansi: Last, of the Dreamwalkers, seeks the “Child of Fire” to awaken humanity’s only hope to restore their dying world. 

WIP Wednesday action shot from my sci-fi "Project Chimera" ... and oldie rough from my epic fantasy project "Phoenix Quest" #rough #comics #animation #story #fantasy #scifi #cyberpunk #cyberfunk #poc #african #illustration #folklore #wip #wipwednesday #cyborg (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmhAYHcB2gZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rgmf7g3seoa5

Sometimes the ties that bind can tear you apart … Project:Chimera (rough sketch) #sketchbook #ink #cyberpunk #cyberfunk #afrofuturism #scifi #characterdesign (at New York, New York)

A few Backgrounds I did for An Vu’s animated short “Millenial Princess!” Glad to be a part of it:) 

A live-action feature doc called "STICKMAN: The Roosevelt Wilkerson Story" that I had the pleasure of working on will have its NYC Premiere at the Cinema Village in New York City on Friday, March 16th at 9:30pm as part of the Socially Relevant Film Festival. Please join us for this special screening and a Q&A with Director/Producer Margaret Galbraith and Animators Ryan Frost and Abdul Ndadi #film #filmfestival #animation #documentary #cinemavillage #sociallyrelevantfilmfestival #filmmaking #blackartist #stickman (at New York, New York)

An oldie from anatomy class. #anatomy #sketch #drawing #figuredrawing #artistsoninstagram #humananatomy #skeleton

Aurora-01 (Sketch Detail) #cyberpunk #cyberfunk #afropunk #afrofuturism #scifi #sketch #ink #characterdesign #comics (at New York, New York)

Project: Chimera (Design Sketch) #sketch #rough #cyberpunk #cyberfunk #scifi #characterdesign #wip #2018 #keepgrinding (at New York, New York)

Hi, here’s my new Demo Reel featuring my Fupitoons award-winning short, whiteboard animations, and other works!

https://vimeo.com/247196730

Hi! My film Orisha’s Journey won a “Special Mention Award” at Fupitoons Film Festival in Johanessberg, South Africa last weekend. It’s Africa’s first Animation festival, so I’m honored to have participated. 

Variety Magazine Article

http://variety.com/2017/tv/festivals/african-toons-take-off-regional-global-partnerships-blossom-1202596273/

Okayafrica Article

http://www.okayafrica.com/cinema-africa-orishas-journey-abdul-ndadi/

Hi, my short will be playing in Scotland, at the AFRICA IN MOTION Film Festival! I'm thankful for the honor, as it's a great platform that's helped to spread the African narrative throughout the diaspora. Feel free to check out an article in The Guardian about some of their exhibitions.

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/…/cinemas-in-africa-from-crampe…

I had the pleasure of attending a Tribeca Film Festival party with the super talented Ghanaian filmmaker Priscilla Anany and took a few selfies with the actress and human rights activist Rosario Dawson!! Definitely good times:) #tribeca #rosariodawson #filmfestival #selfie #film #animation (at New York, New York)

Some pics at the premiere of the Netflix series "5 Came Back" at Lincoln Center ... Steven Spielberg, Tom Brokow, and many directors where in attendance. The coolest part for me was running into Guillermo del Toro again! He remembered me from Cannes and asked how I'd been. Definitely a great experience. -Abdul

No Worries, I Can Handle it! :-/

Aloha, 

I’ve got some good news from Honolulu, Hawaii! My film “Orisha’s Journey” will be screening at the Cultural Animation Film Festival on May 23, 2017, with the Honolulu Museum of Art in Doris Duke Theatre ... 

Also, I had the honor to go back to my elementary school P.S. 246 and speak with some bright children about following their dreams and passions. It was great being back inside those school walls and remembering it as the place where my passion for art was born and those kids had great questions ... But the funniest one I got was when one of the young girls asked if I was married LOL!! The next thing I thought she'd say was, "Because my Mama's looking for a husband!" Lol -Abdul

Illustrations 

Comic Art

Hi, here are a few pieces that I had in the UZURI art show in Harlem on February 19th for Black History Month. It was my first time in an art show and it was a blast! Shout out to all the other artists and their awesome work! 

The first piece called “Leviathan: Face of the Deep” (24x36 print) …

The second, “Songs of the Ancients/Godstone Temple” will also be published in an Art Book by the great Meryl Rosner coming out in August called “Drawing with Dynamic Perspective: Art for Animation and Live-Action Film” (http://allworth.com/allworth?catid=0&id=12312) each is part of the world of my comic “Phoenix Quest” Thanks! I’ll post more work from the show soon! 

Comic Book Illustration

“Songs of the Ancients/Godstone Temple”