Creators Mshindo I and Gregory Walker and producer/voice artist Wesley Snipes will officially launch their animated science-fiction project, Zulu Mech 1, at Book Expo America in New York on May 30.
Walker, also known as Brother G, is the author of the Shades of Memnon trilogy, developed as a swords-and-sorcery series with an African consciousness. Mshindo I, who has also worked as Mshindo Kuumba, is a graphic artist whose work has included children’s books (Food Adventues With Charles the Chef) and graphic novels (The Fringe).
The basic plot of Zulu Mech 1 involves a kind of a reversal of the Planet of the Apes idea, with humanity as the Earth’s far-future successor civilization. Zulu Mech 1 is set in a utopian near future in which world nations are at peace and Africa is a prosperous united state, only to be invaded by strange, highly intelligent creatures called The Elder Race who come not from outer space, but from inside the Earth and who seek to return to world to the way it was before the dawn of humanity and their own self-destruction. The Elder Race seem unstoppable; in a final effort the Mthunzi family from South Africa stand against them and forge the heroic giant robot Zulu Mech 1.
“It’s Africa-based sci-fi,” explained co-author Brother G. “The Elder race is based on traditions of many African peoples that there was a creation before this creation, a world before this world that was destroyed. And the Zulu Mech is based on African practices involving spiritual ‘totems’ or power items, ancestor communication, and tapping into the power of the Earth. There are also heavy doses of nano-technolgy, advanced metallurgy, and other high-tech elements. I love the Transformers and Terminator, etc., but it’s time we had epics from another perspective. This is truly sci-fi for the age of Obama!”
Mshindo I noted that there’s more that’s unusual about Zulu Mech besides an African sensibility. “I am also a fan of giant robots; so it was great creating Zulu Mech 1,” he said. “As a mechanical creature ZM1 seems similar to other famous mechs, but believe me, he is something different. Zulu Mech 1 is unique, he is a Spiritual Cybernetic Organism.”
“I think the world will be just as pleased as I was when Brother G and Mshindo brought this ground-breaking adventure series to my attention,” said Snipes, who starred in the Blade trilogy. “Everybody knows I love sci-fi and there is really nothing like it on the market. Zulu Mech 1 can easily stand next to other epics like Star Wars on the strength of the story telling alone. But when you consider that it brings a fresh, untapped perspective to sci-fi, that really makes it hot.”
The unveiling will take place in the Expo’s African American Pavilion.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted under Animation
This post was written by Lobo on April 20, 2009
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