Magic Cellar

Executive Producer & Director
Magic Cellar

Magic Cellar is the first long-form 3D animated series based on African culture. It is a co-production between Canada and South Africa and 20 episodes of 11.5 minutes were completed under Mr. Kharas’ direction. For the first time, African children have been reflected in an animation series. The series is based on African folktales, partially collected via interviews with elders in villages. Magic Cellar features a multicultural cast of characters, with the principal character being an African girl. The series is aired on the South African Broadcasting Corporation in English, Afrikaans, Sotho and Zulu; and broadcast in the US on HBO Family. Magic Cellar is currently being sold around the world, bringing African culture for the first time to millions of children in non-African countries.

Magic Cellar won 42 international awards, including Gold and Silver World Medals at the New York Festivals, a Platinum REMI Award, First Prize at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF), the Grand Festival Award (Berkeley), two Telly awards, a Chris Statuette, two Aurora Platinum Best of Show, two Aegis Winners, a Gold and a Silver Davey, a Silver at the World Media Festival, the Best Animated Film FADE IN Award at the IBFF, the Silver Plaque (Intercom Chicago), a Silver Screen and two Certificates of Creative Excellence (the US International Film and Video Festival). Selected by several children’s festivals and by museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.