Bringing Rosy to life: Vanessa Sinden on animation and storytelling

Cape Town has a new little explorer! Rosy Days is here, and we’re spotlighting the talented animators who made it happen. Rosy Days is also one of the successful projects that have come through Film Cape Town’s Film Fund and we’re excited to see where else Rosy will go in Cape Town.  

Rosy Days is an animation series through Triggerfrish Animation Studios who have also brought us other South African animation favourites. 

In this feature, we spoke to Vanessa Sinden, one of the filmmakers behind Rosy Days, about bringing Rosy’s adventures to life and the power of local storytelling through animation.  

Q. What inspired the idea for Rosy Days?  

A. Rosy Days was inspired by the world and character from Kelly Dillon’s short film Belly Flop. That film travelled to over 150 festivals worldwide and won nearly 20 awards, many of them Children’s Audience Awards. Audiences just loved Rosy’s humour and heart, which inspired Triggerfish to partner with Kelly and Play Nice Pictures to develop the Rosy Days TV series. 

While we wait to find the best partners for the full series, we wanted to keep her audience engaged, so we created the Rosy Days Shorts. They’re inspired by the everyday magic of Cape Town, those small, beautiful moments that make the city so special. The stories are warm, local, and full of heart, all seen through the eyes of this a quirky, plucky six-year-old. After all Life’s never grey when you have a Rosy day in Cape Town! 

Q. How did you decide that Rosy would explore Cape Town specifically? 

A. Cape Town is home — both creatively and personally. It’s such a vibrant, layered city, and visually, it’s a dream to bring to life. When I pitched the idea of Rosy exploring the city through shorts, it just clicked. We wanted to give audiences a sneak peek of the Rosy Days series, set in Cape Town, and what better way than to take her to some of the city’s most family-friendly spots? From zooming around the Aquarium to riding the cable car up Table Mountain, it was the perfect way to introduce Rosy and celebrate the joy of exploring this amazing city. 

Q. What’s unique about creating animation in Cape Town?  

 A. Animation in Cape Town is a special mix of creativity and grit. We’re a small but passionate bunch, which means we get inventive, roll up our sleeves, and collaborate like crazy. The talent here is so diverse, from artists and writers to animators and sound designers and it gives our stories a really fun, textured feel. We take inspiration from the world, but everything we make has that unmistakably South African spark.   

Q. How big is your crew, and what roles were key in bringing Rosy Days to life?  

A. A passionate crew of 16 took on the challenge of bringing 10 Rosy shorts to life, exploring all the magic Cape Town has to offer. Nadia Darries, our brilliant director, wore multiple hats, artist, animator, compositor and absolutely nailed it, transforming Rosy from Kelly Dillon’s short film BellyFlop into the spunky, quirky six-year-old we all adore. 

Over the past 10 years, Triggerfish has loved nurturing Rosy alongside countless talented creatives, too many to name, each sprinkling their own sparkle into her world. Our team may have been small, but we packed a punch, leaving a personal mark on every frame. Collaboration wasn’t just important, it was the secret sauce that made Rosy’s world feel alive, joyful, and unmistakably Cape Town. 

Q. Were there any particular challenges (or fun surprises) during production? 

A. As a 3D animation studio, Triggerfish don’t usually work in mixed media, so getting our 3D Rosy to feel natural in the real world was a really fun challenge, and the results were so rewarding to see. Of course, it was the usual balancing act: big ideas, small budgets! But Cape Town also kept surprising us. We’d stumble across new spots or little details that sparked fresh scenes, keeping the whole process playful and full of joy. 

Q. What’s your favourite Cape Town location you’ve animated so far, or is that a secret until it releases?   

A. The Aquarium is always a fun place to visit, and Rosy really came alive there, zooming around the tanks, dancing for the sharks, and just soaking up all the underwater magic. And of course, Rosy had to meet the famous penguins at Boulders Beach! She loved waddling alongside them, watching their antics.

Q. How does Cape Town itself inspire your storytelling and visuals?  

A.It’s the people, the colour, the rhythm. The city’s energy and diversity are reflected in Rosy’s world, bright, bold, and full of texture, just like Cape Town. 

Q. What does Rosy Days mean for South Africa’s animation industry? Having the Rosy Days TV series in production here in South Africa would mean real job stability and a chance for junior artists to level up their skills on a full production. In today’s climate, the industry, and the City, really needs a win like this! 

Q. How do you see the local (African) animation space growing over the next few years?  

A. Africa’s animation scene is still young, just like its population, with a median age of around 19! There’s a huge, youth-driven audience hungry for entertainment, education, and stories that reflect their own culture. While global players still acknowledge the continent as a growth zone for audiences and production, the real opportunity is for Africans to lead the way, tell their own stories, get productions financed and distributed!  

Digital adoption on the continent is booming, with some of the fastest-growing mobile and internet penetration rates in the world. This makes Africa a perfect market for streaming, animation, gaming, especially formats aimed at young people. Local stories have global resonance, and young Africans are shaping trends not just regionally, but worldwide. The path forward is clear: lean into cost advantages, focus on stories with global appeal, prioritize short-form and multi-platform content, and embrace new technology to grow the industry from within. 

Q. What advice would you give young animators or creatives hoping to get into this field?  

A. My advice to young animators and creatives is to figure out quickly which part of the animation pipeline excites you most, whether it’s concept art, animation, or the technical side, and then go all in with passion and dedication. Seek out every opportunity to level up your skills, stay curious, and always be open to learning new tools and techniques. The industry moves fast, but if you keep experimenting, collaborating, and growing, there’s so much you can achieve.   

To see more about Rosy Days click here for Youtube and Instagram.