The founder of Ghanaian animation studio AnimaxFYB Studios, Francis Y. Brown, has called on the government to take intentional action to formalise Ghana’s animation industry.
He cautioned that without a clear policy framework and stronger investment in technical skills development, the country risks missing a valuable opportunity to establish itself as a leading animation hub in Africa.
He made the statement during a press briefing in Accra on Monday, following the studio’s return from the TAIDO African Animation Awards in Tokyo, Japan, where AnimaxFYB won three awards for its contributions to African animation and storytelling.
He noted that achieving this vision would require moving beyond the successes of individual studios and developing a coordinated national framework.
He said, “Ghana can become the animation hub of West Africa; we need to institutionalise it where it becomes not just a leading animation studio, but a leading animation hub that has all the players involved,” he added.
He further stated that the global animation market was valued at 436 billion dollars in 2024 and is projected to reach about 895 billion dollars by 2034.
According to Market Data Forecast, the African animation market was estimated at 15.7 billion dollars in 2025 and is expected to grow to 29.5 billion dollars by 2033.
“We have just eight years to double the industry’s revenue,” he said, highlighting streaming platforms, artificial intelligence, video games, and educational media as key drivers of growth.
Mr Brown also observed that shifts in the operations of major global studios have created opportunities for countries like Ghana. He explained that many large studios are downsizing their in-house teams and increasingly sourcing talent from across the globe.
“Studios are no longer interested in having large numbers within their spaces. They are relying heavily on talent globally, which we are not excluded from,” he said.
He also highlighted intellectual property as a growing source of economic value, contrasting it with Africa’s dependence on raw materials.
“IP creation is the new gold. Developed countries are chasing intellectual property, not extractive materials,” he said. Mr Brown said the recognition in Tokyo, earned through the TAIDO Project, a Japan-Africa animation initiative backed by the Japan External Trade Organisation and Sony’s non-profit organisation, Arc and Beyond, demonstrates what Ghanaian studios can achieve when given access to international mentorship and advanced technical systems.
The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, congratulated AnimaxFYB on its awards and described the TAIDO Project as an important step towards strengthening relations between Ghana and Japan.
He pointed out that 2027 will commemorate the centenary of Dr Hideyo Noguchi’s arrival in Ghana, the 7th decade of diplomatic ties, and the 50th anniversary of JICA volunteer programmes in the country.
“Let this be the start of a new era where Japanese technology and the Ghanaian soul create content that captivates the entire world,” Ambassador Yoshimoto said.
Mr Brown concluded by emphasising that animation is more than just entertainment, asserting that it serves a vital role in contemporary storytelling.
Animation is core infrastructure for digital storytelling,” he said. “Art and science are truly the development factors of every country in this world.”
