Set against the backdrop of war-torn medieval Africa, SHEGUE is a coming of age story, chronicling the endearing adventures of an orphaned child heroine blessed with supernatural powers and supported by her friends as she embarks on an epic journey to bring the balance back to Africa.
Crafted as a real feast for the eyes and a sprawling quest with a pinch of magic, SHEGUE will be a genuine marriage between true-life adventure and children fantasies, full of wonder, slapstick humor and thrilling suspense.
SHEGUE is a three seasons arc primarily marketed to children – from the age of eight to twelve years old.
SHEGUE
SHEGUE is twelve. She is a secretive girl who retreats in her own world and has a vivid imagination. She has wit, style and has the best intentions towards her friends.
SHEGUE has special skills unique to her, including an innate knowledge in herbal healing.
Born out of farmers, SHEGUE experienced deep rejection because she was epileptic.
Later, she will find out that her epilepsy is linked to the emergence of her supernatural powers. Frightened to unleash them, her brain switches off. In order to heal herself, SHEGUE will have to learn to come to terms with her magical skills.
Throughout the journey, SHEGUE will discover the true origin of her powers and will realize that she is the central element to the balance of the cosmic world. As she is going through puberty, SHEGUE will also experience love for the first time…
Ndoki
Ndoki is our super-villain, a mysterious and fascinating figure. Living a solitary life, he rules his ruthless Empire from the heart of a twisted and cryptic maze, hidden in the darkness of the jungle. Like Shegue, he also wants to bring order back to Africa but he believes this balance can only be achieved through totalitarianism. Ndoki has a mythical status and his legendary persona was born out of various rumors. One pretends he is reluctant king, a prince who initially did not want to become a king but who was forced to ascend the throne. Others say he is possessed by the legendary Fetish of Nzambe…
Nganga
NGANGA, fifty years old, is a former powerful magician with a solid experience in the spiritual world. She seems to have been an outcast and in exile for many years. Her past is very mysterious. She acts as a mother figure towards SHEGUE. She is willing to offer her guidances, advices and helps to develop her skills but it is not easy.
One the one hand, SHEGUE puts up barriers, is reluctant to learn and doesn’t show her respect. Indeed she fears that her transformation as a wizard will make her a freak. One the other hand, NGANGA is haunted by a feeling of guilt related to an ancient failure. Training SHEGUE is a chance for her to atone for a past mistake.
Nganga
NGANGA, fifty years old, is a former powerful magician with a solid experience in the spiritual world. She seems to have been an outcast and in exile for many years. Her past is very mysterious. She acts as a mother figure towards SHEGUE. She is willing to offer her guidances, advices and helps to develop her skills but it is not easy.
One the one hand, SHEGUE puts up barriers, is reluctant to learn and doesn’t show her respect. Indeed she fears that her transformation as a wizard will make her a freak. One the other hand, NGANGA is haunted by a feeling of guilt related to an ancient failure. Training SHEGUE is a chance for her to atone for a past mistake.
Azanga & Pelende
AZANGA and PELENDE, both ten years old, are twin brothers. Although revered as a blessing in some tribes, AZANGA and PELENDE were unlucky to be born in a village which regards twins as demonic figures, and got shunned away. Working as a pair and being a peer buddy to each other, the are the spies of the gang, closely operating together as single unit in order to conduct reconnaissance and scouting operations.
Whilst AZANGA is the spotter, PELENDE goes in the field, which sometimes ends up in comical situation with surprising characters. In order to communicate in silence or at distance, they talk with their hands, using their own codified sign language. They are full of life and energy. One of them, AZANGA, is secretly in love with SHEGUE. Will he manage to give her a kiss before the journey ends?
YEWA
YEWA is thirteen years old and a good friend of SHEGUE. He is a beautiful kid but his albinism led him to much bullying in the past. He is very defiant, extremely sensitive, awkward and aloof. Despite being an introvert, he is opinionated and extremely honest.
YEWA has genuine skills for mechanical engineer and has a real passion for technology. He is very good at laying traps, hiding, disguising, constructing, inventing and he is the king of illusionist tricks.
YEWA
YEWA is thirteen years old and a good friend of SHEGUE. He is a beautiful kid but his albinism led him to much bullying in the past. He is very defiant, extremely sensitive, awkward and aloof. Despite being an introvert, he is opinionated and extremely honest.
YEWA has genuine skills for mechanical engineer and has a real passion for technology. He is very good at laying traps, hiding, disguising, constructing, inventing and he is the king of illusionist tricks.
And Many More…
The Roots
Although fictional, SHEGUE will take place during the golden age of flourishing African civilizations with its powerful kingdoms and prestigious royal households.
The supernatural in SHEGUE will be about magic but it will take profound inspiration in Bantu sacred wisdom of ancestral spirituality and traditional religious beliefs.
Characters like healers, magicians, wizards, witchdoctors and sorcerers will therefore be a notable influence.
In this perspective, Artifacts, such as masks, fetishes, talismans and weapons will be prominently featured in the narrative.
African Mythology with its prestigious divinities, legendary knights, folkloric characters, heroïc warriors and fearsome monsters will also be a cornerstone of this show.
Thus SHEGUE will repack ancient African History, Spirituality and Mythology in an entertaining way.
The Setting
The journey of SHEGUE will take place in a specific geographical region of the African continent: the BANTU area.
The term BANTU refers to a linguistic and cultural group of people that lives in a region that stretches from Central Africa across African Great Lakes to Southeast Africa.
The journey of SHEGUE will take place in a specific geographical region of the African continent: the BANTU area.
The term BANTU refers to a linguistic and cultural group of people that lives in a region that stretches from Central Africa across African Great Lakes to Southeast Africa.
Daniel Cattier
Drawing as a child, Daniel discovered his love was about creating image of things as much as telling stories of things. But stories linked with Africa. Indeed Daniel has strong ties with Africa, which is deeply rooted in his own personal story. His mother was born in Zambia, grew up in Zimbabwe and her lineage can be traced back to Zulu South Africa. One of Daniel most important childhood experience was his upbringing in Western Africa when his father was working there.
In order to further his grounding and knowledge of Africa, Daniel went on reading Politics and History at the London School of Oriental and African Studies. For the last years, he was fortunate to direct ambitious documentaries on African History, which were commissioned by international broadcasters. These films include the four-parts documentary series “Slavery Routes” about the trade of African slaves from the 7th to the 19th century. His latest documentary entitled “Totems and Taboos” explores the issue of repatriating African artifacts from Western Museums.
With SHEGUE, Daniel returns to what ignited his initial desire to become a storyteller: Animation and Africa.
Nadia Micault
Nadia Micault was born enthusiastic about drawing. The matter became very serious as soon as she was able to hold a pencil. She naturally chose that path as a career and started her education at the Applied Art School of Art of Paris, also known as les Arts Appliqués de Paris Duperré, majoring in graphics design. Right after graduation, she worked in the animation industry in Paris. Then Nadia started her own freelance activities. She designed many posters, sleeves, websites, storyboards etc. Mostly for the cultural industry, and advertisement.
She also started to create short animated films that caught the eyes of producers. That’s how Nadia started her animation director career. Since then, she has written and directed multiple short films and worked on lots of animation projects, as director, animator and designer. Nadia Micault also taught at La Cambre School of Design in Brussels. Two years ago, she was contacted to work as a designer on SLAVERY ROUTES through which she met Daniel.
With SHEGUE, Nadia wants to bring a new perspective in representing Africa’s diversities and its people.
