Supa Team 4: Netflix's First African Animation in Trailblazing Debut

Supa Team 4: Netflix's First African Animation in Trailblazing Debut
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Supa Team 4: Netflix's First African Animation in Trailblazing Debut

Supa Team 4: Netflix's First African Animation in Trailblazing Debut

Netflix's first original African animated series premiered on Thursday in a debut its creator said she hoped would pave the way for more productions from the continent.

Set in a futuristic version of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, "Supa Team 4" tells the story of four teen girls who turn undercover superheroes after being recruited by a retired secret agent to save the world.

"I'm excited that the world finally gets to see the fantastic show that the incredibly talented super team, from Africa and beyond, have put together," Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema told AFP in a statement.

"We hope 'Supa Team 4'... will lead to further investment and collaboration so we can continue to grow the industry."

Mulendema created the series after pitching it at a pan-African talent search by animation studio Triggerfish, where she became one of the winners in 2015.

When the show was first announced in 2019, Mulendema said she set the story in her home country to "illustrate that anyone from anywhere can be a superhero".

"(Animation) series shaped our childhoods and to know young Zambians get to see what they've never seen on TV before is Amazing!!" Zambian singer Sampa the Great, who worked on the theme song, wrote on Instagram this month.

Netflix has bet on diversifying its production outside the United States in recent years, scoring big with series including Spanish smash "Money Heist" and South Korean dystopian drama "Squid Game".

In April, the firm said it planned to expand operations in Africa and give "more African storytellers an amplified voice on the global stage".



Netflix Shares Rise as Rosy Outlook Calms Investors’ Nerves amid Tariff Fears

In this Nov. 4, 2017, file photo, the logo of entertainment company Netflix is pictured in Paris. (AP)
In this Nov. 4, 2017, file photo, the logo of entertainment company Netflix is pictured in Paris. (AP)
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Netflix Shares Rise as Rosy Outlook Calms Investors’ Nerves amid Tariff Fears

In this Nov. 4, 2017, file photo, the logo of entertainment company Netflix is pictured in Paris. (AP)
In this Nov. 4, 2017, file photo, the logo of entertainment company Netflix is pictured in Paris. (AP)

Netflix shares rose about 3% in premarket trading on Monday as the streaming giant's upbeat annual revenue outlook reassured investors that it could withstand any economic downturn amid a tariff laden economic climate.

The company's co-CEO Greg Peters noted that the entertainment sector, and Netflix specifically, had proven resilient during previous downturns.

Peters said they had not seen any significant shifts in customer behavior, after the company reported first-quarter earnings above analysts' expectations on Thursday.

Netflix also reaffirmed its 2025 revenue forecast of between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion.

These remarks offered some respite to investors who were worried that President Donald Trump's tariff policies could likely lead to a recession, forcing consumers to rein in spending on streaming services.

"Even in a global recession scenario, Netflix is likely to be highly resilient given the price-to-value of the service remains very attractive," said Jeffrey Wlodarczak, an analyst at Pivotal Research Group, who is five-star rated for both estimate accuracy and recommendation performance, as per LSEG data.

"Their advertising business should demonstrate strong growth in any scenario given its nascent state," Wlodarczak said.

The lower-priced, ad-supported tier accounted for 55% of new sign-ups in countries where it is available, Netflix said.

"While advertising is a small portion of the business today, the longer-term prospects are notably robust...while investments in ad-tech capabilities should drive healthy growth for years to come," BofA Global Research analysts said.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Netflix aims to double revenue from $39 billion in 2024 and earn about $9 billion in global ad sales by 2030.

The company has upped the ante on delivering steady revenue growth as it ceased reporting subscriber data from this year, leaving Wall Street with fewer metrics to gauge its health.

Peers Walt Disney and Warner Bros Discovery shares were down under 1% each in premarket trading.

At least seven brokerages raised price target for Netflix following its results, bringing the median target to $1,147.50, according to data compiled by LSEG.