We continue our series of interviews with those at the coalface of our industry, because every day should be Animation Day!

Tumelo (Tumi) Selamolela 

Animator, Triggerfish

There’s something special I remember doing almost every morning growing up in Alexandra township, when I was little - watching morning cartoons on TV, whilst eating a bowl of cereal and occasionally drawing – and it’s a habit I never outgrew!

My father saw that I loved drawing and cartoons, so he wrote a proposal to an animation
studio in Randburg on my behalf, asking if I could visit them to find out more
about animation. Thanks to the producer, Sarienne Kersh what was originally
just an enquiry became routine visits to the studio and me working on my own
animation projects, in my free time, whilst finishing school. Post Matric in
2004, due to financial constraints I took an involuntary gap year and I asked
around for a mentorship\ internship in animation.

Finally I was fortunate enough to be mentored as an illustrator for a year by two of the
country's old school illustrators, Gerald Smith and Andy Woods . They helped me
put together a drawing portfolio. Thanks to my entire family contributing to my
school fees, I was then accepted at the Animation School.

The Animation School was a year of sleepless nights, red eyes and hard work,
(especially seeing I had limited computer literacy) that finally resulted in
success when I was offered a bursary to study for the second year (with many
thanks to the Animation School family!).

Year 2007 was a year of new beginnings again - I landed myself my first “Gig” as a junior
animator at Anamazing Workshop working on a short film called Blunder Hunter.
I moved over to work on Jock animation for a year. I later went back to
Anamazing for a couple of months working on Liewe Heksie but due to the
recession in 2009, Anamazing had to shut down. However, the latter part of 2009
brought about good news as I was approached to work as an animator on
Triggerfish's Zambezia which was awesome to say the least.

Ten years down the line, I continue, still with my bowl of cereal, pencil and my
imagination but this time I am not just watching, I am animating on an awesome
feature called Khumba.

Tell us about yourself – who are you and what do you do? 

I am an artist who loves everything artistic and I am currently working as an animator

What are you currently up to and are there any exciting projects ongoing? 

I am animating on a Feature film called Khumba

Who or what inspires you? 

People 's creative expression through any artistic means inspire me a lot

What’s your best project/work to date? 

The soon to be released feature film called Zambezia

 Anything new going on or in the pipeline?

Working on my second Feature film Khumba and a couple of personal project

When you’re not working, what do you like to do? 

Working on personal concepts, painting ,drawing designing pretty much anything artistic
except animating

Finally, what tips or advice could you give to other creative’s, just starting out or to the more experienced creatives needing a bit of encouragement? 

For the creative who has just started: Love your talent, believe in it, keep getting
better at it and it will reward you.