Marylandian -- ANNECY, FRANCE — Achugogo: Tale of the Spring Chaser, an original animated fantasy project created by Michael Uwandi, with Sy Huq servingas Executive Producer and Writer and Tendayi Nyeke serving as Co-Producer and Lead Writer, has won the inaugural TCCF Prize at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, winning a development deal and marking a major international milestone for the project and its creative team.

The TCCF Prize, a co-production and development award launched through a first-ever partnership between Taiwan Creative Content Fest and Mifa Pitches, recognizes projects with strong international potential and a clear pathway for global co-production. According to the official announcement from TAICCA, Achugogo: Tale of the Spring Chaser was recognized for its "strong creative vision" and "thoughtful IP strategy across both feature film and series formats," with "excellent potential for international growth and significant global prospects."

As part of the award, the Achugogo team will travel to Taiwan later this year to participate in 2026 TCCF PITCHING, where they will present the project to additional financiers, broadcasters, investors, and international production partners. TAICCA has also stated its intention to support the partnership through TCCF investment resources and co-production
funding, helping convert the project's Annecy recognition into a lasting creative alliance with Taiwan's animation and content ecosystem. Achugogo is a Japanese–South African–American co-production.

Often regarded as the world's leading animation festival and market, Annecy is widely known throughout the industry as the "Cannes of Animation." Achugogo was selected from more than 900 submissions to Mifa, the festival's international market for animation projects. Uwandi

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and Huq presented the project live at Mifa as part of a highly selective group of international projects before receiving the inaugural TCCF Prize. Set in the African-inspired realm of Jooyo, Achugogo: Tale of the Spring Chaser follows three siblings forged of iron and magic as they embark on a dangerous pilgrimage to reclaim Spring. Blending mythic fantasy, family
adventure, elemental magic, and a distinctive visual identity, the project explores legacy, belonging, self-determination, and the courage to forge one's own path.

"Achugogo began as something deeply personal," said Michael Uwandi, Creator. "It is a love letter to my brother, to African fantasy, and to the feeling of discovering a world larger than yourself. To have the project recognized at Annecy, and to now begin this next chapter through TCCF and Taiwan's creative ecosystem, is incredibly meaningful."

"Winning the inaugural TCCF Prize at Annecy Mifa Pitches is a major step forward for Achugogo," said Sy Huq, Executive Producer and Writer. "We came to Annecy looking for partners who understood both the scale of the world and the emotional heart of the story. This recognition gives us a meaningful bridge into Taiwan, access to a powerful co-production pathway, and the opportunity to continue building Achugogo as a global animated franchise."

"Achugogo is for the young person in all of us that was born into a world with predetermined rules that sometimes boxed us," said Tendayi Nyeke, Co-Producer and Lead Writer. "The series, through its heroes, invites all of us to be brave enough to live beyond what we inherit and choose for ourselves who we will become."

The award arrives as Taiwan continues to expand its presence in the global animation industry. TAICCA's Taiwan Pavilion at Annecy featured 41 companies and 61 works, drawing international buyers and producers while spotlighting Taiwan as a growing hub for animation co-production, financing, and global content partnerships.

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About Achugogo: Tale of the Spring Chase

Achugogo: Tale of the Spring Chaser is an original animated fantasy project following Ife, Onawu, and Rustii, three siblings forged of iron and magic, as they journey across the realm of Jooyo to reclaim Spring. The project combines African-inspired mythology, cinematic worldbuilding, elemental magic, and an emotional sibling story about identity, family, and destiny. Developed with both feature film and series potential, Achugogo is designed as a global animated IP with long-term franchise possibilities.

About Michael Uwandi
Michael Uwandi is the Creator of Achugogo: Tale of the Spring Chaser. A visual development artist and art director with experience across major film, television, and animation projects, Uwandi has contributed to titles including Moon Knight, Wicked, Blue Beetle, Star Wars, and Predator: Killer of Killers. His work spans cinematic fantasy, character design, worldbuilding, and visual storytelling.

About Sy Huq
Sy Huq is an Executive Producer, Writer, and creative executive working across anime, animation, and international film. He is the Lead Executive Producer and Showrunner of D'Art Shtajio, the first Black-owned anime studio in Japan, and Head of Development and co-owner of Om Films, a 20- year-old production company producing live-action films including Paper
Tiger, which recently competed for the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Huq served as Regional Producer on The Journey, a landmark animated feature produced by Toei Animation and Manga Productions, recognized as the first multi-studio anime feature collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Japan's anime industry, and distributed by Sony Pictures and Crunchyroll. He has helped develop, package, and produce international animation and film projects across Japan, Hollywood, and global markets.

About Tendayi Nyeke
Tendayi Nyeke is an award-winning writer, producer, and creative executive working across animation, film, and television. She serves as Co-Producer and Lead Writer of Achugogo: Tale of the Spring Chaser. Her work spans global animation, development, and production, with a focus on building emotionally resonant stories and championing diverse voices for
international audiences.

Sy Huq is represented by Range Media Partners and Greenberg Glusker LLP. Michael Uwandi is represented by M88. Tendayi Nyeke is represented by The Gotham Group.