The 3rd Sharjah Animation Conference 2025 attracted students, professionals, and animation enthusiasts eager to hear from three remarkable women shaping animation’s future. The panel titled “Women in Animation: Leading Change & Shaping the Future” featured Nigerian trailblazer Damilola Solesi, Ghanaian-British disruptor Comfort Arthur, and Kenyan storyteller Sarah Mallia, with Paris-based cultural strategist Mounia Aram as the moderator.
From Lagos to Nairobi and London to Accra, these women shared stories of resilience, ambition, and cultural pride, emphasising that animation is not just about visuals but shifting perceptions.
Sarah Mallia, co-founder of Nairobi’s Pungulu Pa Productions, transitioned from working in communications for charities and the UN to co-creating animations alongside her comic artist husband. “Women shouldn’t have to choose between family and career,” Mallia highlighted, explaining how her studio focuses on indigenous storytelling and environmental issues. Her flagship project, Uli & Tata’s African Nursery Rhymes, employs vibrant 2D animation to revive fading African oral traditions.
Nigerian animator Damilola Solesi, founder of Smids Animation Studios, recalled her childhood passion for gaming and the moment she realised, while watching Toy Story, that she wanted to bring animated worlds to life. Despite her family’s encouragement towards computer science, Solesi secretly taught herself 3D design online. “Every ‘no’ fuelled me,” she said, reflecting on how she overcame scepticism about her age and gender. Today, Smids creates award-winning animations that merge African stories with top-quality production.
Ghanaian-British animator Comfort Arthur, founder of Comfy Studio, described the challenge of balancing her artistic passion against her family’s expectation of a “safe” career. After obtaining an art degree and struggling to find work, she relocated to Ghana for an editing role, where her storytelling talent began to flourish. Arthur eventually established Comfy Studio, employing animation to explore identity, mental health, and social issues. “In Ghana, I found my voice,” she remarked, referencing works like The Peculiar Life of a Spider-Girl and Black Barbie, which challenge stereotypes and ignite global conversations.
Together, these visionary women are not just creating animation — they are redefining whose stories are told and how the industry progresses.
