Nigerian animator and filmmaker Gabriel Oshiomati Ugbodaga, writer and director of the acclaimed animated short Vainglorious, has said that the success of his student project demonstrates the untapped potential and global promise of Nigeria’s animation industry.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Ugbodaga explained that Vainglorious — which has been screened at major festivals in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Long Island, and London — was inspired by Nigeria’s traditional combat sport, Dambe, and tells the story of a young boxer, Haruna, and his father’s struggles with identity, ambition, and sacrifice.
“I always knew I was going to make something that had to do with Dambe because I’ve always been engrossed with action animation,” Ugbodaga said. “Finding out that there’s a combat sport in my own country with its own popularity, though not as much as I’d like it to be, gave me the push to really tell this story.”
Ugbodaga, who studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in the United States, described Vainglorious as his thesis film, explaining that it was both a creative challenge and a personal statement. “I’m partially self-taught but also formally trained,” he said. “Before SCAD, I learned animation on my own because it was a passion for me — it didn’t really feel like work.”
Now working as a freelance animator, he revealed that his talent has attracted projects from across the globe. “At the moment, I’ve got a few contract works from studios in the US, Japan, and London,” he said.
Ugbodaga noted that Nigeria has a large pool of creative animators, but many struggle to find visibility and training opportunities. “When it comes to 2D hand-drawn animation, there’s a lot of talent in Nigeria,” he said. “A lot of younger kids are now posting their work online. That kind of visibility puts you out there in both Nigerian and global markets. You never know who’s watching.”
However, he lamented the shortage of formal animation training institutions in the country. “There aren’t as many facilities here as in the US, UK or France,” he said. “Many of us have to self-teach and connect online to learn from each other. There are now a few training programmes, but in schools, it’s still not as much as I’d like it to be.”
On the challenges of African animators gaining wider recognition, Ugbodaga observed: “Disney has started partnering with some African studios to push more African content. The steps are there — there just needs to be more focus on training.”
Reflecting on Vainglorious’ success, he expressed pride in its international reception. “We’ve had screenings in several cities and a lot of recent accolades, which is pretty exciting,” he said. “It started as a student project, but I made it with the intention of going beyond the classroom.”
The film is currently available for public viewing on YouTube under STL Productions, a studio founded by his close friend in the US.
On his creative influences, Ugbodaga said he draws inspiration from both Japanese and Korean action animation, as well as traditional 2D Western styles. “Nowadays everything is going 3D or hybrid, which is cool,” he said. “But I stick to 2D because it’s what I started with.”
Looking ahead, the young director said he is developing ideas for his next project, inspired by his grandfather, Dimas Moko, an artist, artisan, and architect. “A major inspiration is my grandfather,” he said. “I have a couple of ideas from him that will shape my next film.”
Ugbodaga added that he continues to hone his craft across different stages of production. “I try to get as much as I can from all fields so I can be a director,” he said. “That’s my current goal.”
Boluwatife Enome
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