Iwájú

Iwájú (pronounced [ī.wá.d͡ʒú]) is an animated science fiction miniseries produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and the Pan-African British-based entertainment company Kugali Media for the streaming service Disney+. It was written by Olufikayo Adeola and Halima Hudson from a story by Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim, and Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku and directed by Adeola, and is the first "original long-form animated series" produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, although it ended up as the final television series produced by the studio before it shifted away from long form content in favor of theatrical feature films. The title of the series, iwájú, roughly translates to 'the future' in the Yoruba language (literally 'front-facing'). It is an animated series set in futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, following the adventures of Tola and Kole as they navigate their different worlds, discovering secrets and facing dangers. The series combines unique visuals, tech advancements, and Lagos spirit.

The series stars Simisola Gbadamosi, Dayo Okeniyi, Femi Branch, Siji Soetan, and Weruche Opia. Originally planning a series of shorts, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Kugali Media were developing the long-form series for Disney+ by December 2020. The story draws inspiration from (and is set in) the city of Lagos, Nigeria, due to Lagos being "the culture capital of Nigeria", and due to both its mainland and island areas having "a unique, distinct feel" that the creative team felt provided "an interesting base for the story". Cinesite was announced to co-produce the series in September 2021, with pre-production already underway at Cinesite Montreal. Production began in May 2022. Animation was provided by Cinesite's Montreal and London facilities, with pre-production and storyboard supervision at Disney's Burbank and Vancouver studios. The series includes original score composed by Ré Olunuga.

Iwájú premiered on Disney+ on February 28, 2024, and consisted of six episodes.