A call for "uplifting family-friendly" stories that can be turned into animated films has attracted more than 1000 entries for the Triggerfish Story Lab. Just six weeks after calling on aspiring African filmmakers to submit their stories, the makers of Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba have started sifting through 1378 entries.Head of the Triggerfish studios in Cape Town, Anthony Silverston, said he and eight readers were going through the pile of 1174 scripts for feature films and 204 for television series. They will narrow down the list to 200.Said Silverston: "I told people I expected over 1000 submissions from across Africa; everyone laughed at me. Ha! Now who's laughing? Oh wait, I have to read all of these."The stories have been a mix of good stories that we loved and some that were not so friendly and would not make the cut. Eventually we hope to release one film a year while others will also be developed into television series."The company has invested R44-million in the project for the next three years and will work with The Department of Trade and Industry and Walt Disney Company, which will provide financial support, workspace and expert guidance for the short-listed storytellers.These applicants will take part in workshops in November before making their final pitches.In December, Triggerfish will announce the six projects it has decided to take on.The scripts will be judged by Peter Lord, the director of international blockbuster Chicken Run, Jonathan Roberts, the co-writer of The Lion King, and script consultant Karl Iglesias.Locals on the panel include South African storyteller Gcina Mhlope, comedian David Kau and Triggerfish's selected development team.Said Kau: "I'm looking forward to helping unearth new African talent in animation, and telling stories from Africa. This will show the world that there's an Africa beyond the genocide, Aids, corruption and dictatorship that's the daily gospel of most news outlets about Africa."The feature, which is expected to be released in 3D, will take four years to develop, and will only be out in cinemas in about 2020. The television series could be aired on one of Disney's channels."Animation is definitely a growing industry. This is why we are embarking on this development project to ensure it grows," said Silverston...