The Hidden Hand Studios

13 Years can seem like such a long time but it all goes by in a blink of an eye. That is how long we have had the honour and privilege of being led by Lesego Vorster. Thus it is with mixed emotions that we announce his departure from The Hidden Hand Studios. We have been the most fortunate team by gaining ourselves an unsolicited but desperately needed champion in you and we wish you only the best in your future endeavors. You have taught us well and we hope to do you proud. We cannot wait to see what you do next… Goodbye Thanos.

🎨 Authentic African Aesthetics in Character Design with Lesego Vorster ✨🔥 What does it mean to design characters that feel truly African, rooted in culture, history, and lived experience? Meet Lesego Vorster: artist, animation film director, character designer, and co-founder of The Hidden Hand Studios. Born in Diepkloof, Soweto, and trained at both Wits University and the world-renowned Gobelins, l’école de l’image (Paris), Lesego has built a career dedicated to bringing African storytelling and aesthetics into global animation. His work spans over a decade as an Art Director, Visual Development Artist, Animator, and Educator, but he is best known internationally for directing “You Give Me Heart” in Disney+’s Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, which earned him a Children’s & Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Design. At AVIJOZI 2025, Lesego will unpack: 🎯 How to embed authentic African aesthetics in character design 🌍 Why representation matters in global animation 💡 The journey from Soweto to Emmy-winning storytelling Whether you’re an animator, illustrator, or simply passionate about African creativity on the world stage, this is a session not to be missed. 💡 Perfect for: Animators, illustrators, storytellers & design students 📌 Focused on: Character design, authenticity & African storytelling SAVE THE DATES: 📍 Summer Place, 69 Melville Road, Hyde Park, Johannesburg 🗓️ Saturday 13 September 2025 | 10:00–18:00 🗓️ Sunday 14 September 2025 | 10:00–16:00 🎟 FREE entry – but registration is essential 👉 AVIJOZI.com (Link in Bio) #AVIJOZI2025 #LesegoVorster #CharacterDesign #AfricanAesthetics #KizaziMoto #HiddenHandStudios #HeartOfSteel #CreativeTechFestival #WhereCreativityAndTechnologyMeet AVIJOZI 2025 brought to you by AVIJOZI NPC in partnership with @chocolatetribe

We've had the opportunity to bring a lovely, informative and fun comic book, SuperScientists, to life here at The Hidden Hand Studios. Here is the trailer to keep you company while we stay hard at work on the pilot episode. Until then, we hope you dig it deep. Client: @scisuperheroes | @code.makers Director: Ross Lelliott @ross_lelliott Co-Director: Adrean Sigogo @adrae97 Written by: Greig Cameron @greig_cameron Pete O'Donoghue @upstanding_productions Storyboad | Animatic: Adrean Sigogo @adrae97 Art Director: Lesego Vorster Layout & Environment Painting: Tshepo Sefadi @sefaditshepo Tumelo Thabane @tumelo_thabane Molefe Dithung Anathi Radebe @art_of_chaptersix Nicholas Stiller @solertree_artbeard Animation: Adrean Sigogo @adrae97 Ross Lelliott @ross_lelliott Immanuel Pirikisi @sonmadmax Joshua Penniken @pennikenjoshua Mohammed Hoosen @moelycaen Kagiso Keebine @blackguard.art Jack Machiridza @jackmachiridza Bothlale Manana @blakkbrodie Thorne Ndlovu Fulu Nemavhola @claimingagate Zamokuhle Thusi @tunnelvision94 Music: Tim Harbour @gwent_stefani Sound Design & Mastering: Pete O'Donoghue @upstanding_productions Compositing: Lesego Vorster Creative Producer: Clyde Beech @clydebeech Executive Producer: Kaya Kuhn @kayakuhn Production Manager: Ciara Petersen Production Services: Those Production Girls @those_production_girls Based on the Comic Book by Clyde Beech and Justin Yarrow @tvpaintanim @nfvfsa @scisuperheroes

So this weekend saw the official release of @superdragonpunchforce3 and for those that were fortunate to attend Comic Con in Cape Town, you got the chance of seeing this on the Main Stage. For those that weren't there, do not fret, we are here to heal the FOMO. We hope you dig it deep! Client: Talent Digital Art @talentdigitalart Director: Lesego Vorster Storyboard: Adrean Sigogo @adrae97 Thinus van Rooyen @thinusvanrooyen Animatic: Lesego Vorster Original Character Design: Venus Bambisa @venusbambisa Environment Layout: Tumelo Thabane @tumelo_thabane Production Painting: Övgü Pica Yeles @ovguyeles Tumelo Thabane @tumelo_thabane Tshepo Sefadi @sefaditshepo 3D Generalist: Reatile Mokoena @nga_truth Animation: Immanuel Pirikisi @sonmadmax Damon Edgson @2muchwaifu Tshiamo Kadiege @mak_t_animate Lesego Vorster Clean Up and Color: Tebogo Twala @tokentwala Josh Penniken @pennikenjoshua Compositing: Katlego Chauke @_katlego.chauke_ Animation Consultant: Tim Argall @argalltim Sound & Music: @sound_foundry_studios Executive Producer: Kaya Kuhn @kayakuhn Production Manager: Ciara Petersen Production Services: @those_production_girls @superdragonpunchforce3 🔥 Available on Steam Now! @tvpaintanim

Story time: In a galaxy not so far away, the awesome guys & gals over @talentdigitalart contacted us to collaborate on an animated teaser/trailer for their awesome game @superdragonpunchforce3 . Long story short, herewith the short but sweet teaser for ya'll to feast your eyes on. We hope you dig it deep. Client: Talent Digital Art @talentdigitalart Director: Lesego Vorster Storyboard: Adrean Sigogo @adrae97 | Thinus van Rooyen @thinusvanrooyen Animatic: Lesego Vorster Original Character Design: @venusbambisa Environment Layout: Tumelo Thabane @tumelo_thabane Production Painting: Övgü Pica Yeles @ovguyeles 3D Generalist: Reatile Mokoena @nga_truth Animation: Immanuel Pirikisi @sonmadmax Joshua Penniken @pennikenjoshua Tebogo Twala @tokentwala Lesego Vorster Animation Consultant: @argalltim Sound & Music: @sound_foundry_studios Executive Producer: Kaya Kuhn @kayakuhn Production Manager: Ciara Petersen Production Services: @those_production_girls @superdragonpunchforce3 🔥

So...what is HIDDEN TALENTS? Please check out our short studio promo outlining a little bit more on the origins, production and intention of the Hidden Talents. We hope you dig it deep and you have our utmost gratitude for the overwhelming positive response we have received for this project. More Hidden Talents coming your way. 🎬🎥✂🎼: Tseliso Monaheng @tselimon

As we get into Spring, we are proud to share with you all the first installment of the much-anticipated Hidden Talents, GUILTY. The Hidden Talents is an initiative where we give our team a chance to direct their first film, albeit with a maximum time limit of 30 seconds. Title: GUILTY Logline: A group of Luxiats track down Tyrian Color Wights across The Shattered Pleins. Director: Ross Lelliott @ross_lelliott Storyboard: Adrean Sigogo @adrae97 Character Design: Lesego Vorster Environment Layout: Tumelo Thabane @tumelo_thabane Matte Painting: Tshepo Sefadi @sefaditshepo Animation: Tebogo Twala @tokentwala Immanuel Pirikisi @sonmadjax Ross Lelliott @ross_lelliott Lesego Vorster Compositing: Lyle Bailie Sound Design: Pete O'Donoghue @upstanding_productions We will be sharing more of the behind-the-scenes, making-of, pre-production, interviews and the intentions of The Hidden Talents in the coming days. #thelightbringerseries @androssguile

What is your hidden talent? 🌒 Not much longer now, we promise it will be worth it. Stay tooned and Happy Tuesday to you all.

The Hidden Hand Studios is at Annecy....come say hi. If you bump into us by the lake, say something, we promise we're nice people 🙃

Oh ya'll didn't know!? Yeah we did a Ink & Paint thing with @studio_la_cachette for their #StarWarsVisions Volume 2 episode The Spy Dancer for @disneyplus Thank you to everyone at La Cachette & especially @thea.nicole.dk for placing your trust in us. 🙏 All the episodes are really cool in this instalment.

Something cooking in the Hidden Hand Kitchens... Soon to be unveiled.

Happy Holidays from The Hidden Hand Studios. See ya'll next year! Animation: @sonmadjax | @tokentwala | @pennikenjoshua