For the first time ever, Walt Disney Animation Studios has teamed up with a newcomer Kugali on a groundbreaking new series Iwájú to be streamed on Disney+ in 2023. Iwájú is a Yoruba word that loosely translates to “future.” The series will be the first co-production between Disney Animation and an outside studio.

Kugali was formed from a podcast by long-time friends Ziki Nelson and Tolu Olowofoyeku, who were analysing comics, animation, and video games from Africa. After two seasons, they ran out of media and realized there was a void they could fill. Partnering with visual effects artist Hamid Ibrahim, Kugali was born, starting as a web-based comic company.

The Kugali team came to the attention of Disney Animation’s chief creative officer Jennifer Lee when she read a BBC story, reporting that Kugali aimed to pose a challenge to Disney. Curious, she reached out to the studio and the dialogue progressed.

Noting that this collaboration reflects her aim to “tell stories of the people of the world by the people of the world,” Lee related that she was “blown away by their storytelling” and their themes and use of folklore. “Initially the idea was a series of shorts, but each idea was an epic feature, so we picked the one that we felt could translate into a series the best.”

“Lagos is the commercial capital of Nigeria and what’s unique about Lagos is that it’s physically separated into two areas, there’s the island and the mainland,” cultural consultant Tolu Olowofoyeku explained, adding that the island is a more affluent spot connected to the mainland by several bridges, while the mainland is more impoverished and overcrowded.

“That means it has very unique problems that require very unique solutions.” In Iwaju, many of those problems are solved.

Described as a ‘love letter to Nigeria’, the long-form seriesis steeped in science fiction, and includes themes of inequality.

“That’s the everyday reality of life in Nigeria and other parts of the world, and the consequences they have on a society and challenging the status quo,” writer-director and Kugali co-founder Ziki Nelson related.

Flying cars will solve many problems, helping people avoid flooded roads and even offering door-to-door delivery in high-rise skyscrapers. Flanker taxis on the mainland have wheels to drive on roads, but propellers that allow them to go up and down. Your typically automobile can zigzag through traffic with wheels that can go completely parallel at a moment’s notice. But your more luxury cars have wheels that can transform into blades, allowing them to fly. Another premium feature for the wealthiest residents includes the ability to project a smooth surface over potholes for a bump-free ride.

The mainland has an iconic skyline with huge, spiralling towers as a solution to the overcrowding problem. Over on the island, architecture is a little more expressive, with less of a focus on economics. Houses are shaped like traditional huts, but with domed ceilings, solar panels, and tech that would make Tony Stark jealous. And while your average resident has advanced mobile phone technology, the wealthiest have their phones built into their glasses with augmented reality.

While we don’t know much about the story, Ziki did share that it will look at class divide and the consequences it has on society, a major issue in Nigeria. “It’s really about that inspiration for aspiration and desire to try to engineer society forward in a more positive way.”

Streaming on Disney+ 2023.