Sule And The Case Of The Tiny Sparks is an animated short directed by twin sisters Shawnee and Shawnelle Gibbs. Screening this month at the Seattle International Film Festival, the film follows an African girl’s quest to learn the meaning of the proverb “Great fires erupt from tiny sparks” so she seeks guidance from a 10-year-old proverb detective named Sule. It recently screened at the American Cinematheque’s 6th Annual Focus On Female Directors as well as the Pan African Film Festival.

The duo are the creators of the award-winning, animated short, Ravishing Raspberry, and popular online animated series’ Adopted by Aliens, Old Ladies Driving, and Diva Smackdown!

Now with their own production company Reel Republic, the pair currently lend their comedic writing talents to the satirical, news web show, PurpleStuff TV.

Stating their inspiration, their website states…”There haven’t been many animations set in West Africa, but we did keep two of our favorite cartoons set on the huge continent in mind: The Lion King (1992) and Kirikou and The Sorceress (1998). Both are beautiful, 2d animations that really immortalize the sweeping beauty of Africa, and served as big influences.”

If you’d like to read about their behind-the-scenes process, go to their blog HERE. For schedule and ticket info, please go HERE. Below is the trailer as well as animation shorts Old Ladies Driving and Diva Smackdown 2.

Sule and The Case of The Tiny Sparks (Trailer) from The Gibbs Sisters on Vimeo.