In the leafy suburbs of Cape Town, far from Hollywood or London, a team of artists is quietly reshaping what’s possible for animation studios outside the traditional industry hubs.

Sunrise Animation Studios, founded over two decades ago, has grown from a small operation producing short-form content to a powerhouse capable of delivering theatrical-quality features. Their latest, David, represents the culmination of years of building capacity and talent.

“We’ve always believed that great stories can come from anywhere,” says Executive Producer Phil Cunningham. “Cape Town gives us access to incredible talent, and being slightly outside the system has forced us to be innovative.”