N LITE's 'Afro-Anime' Film MFINDA Casts Jaden Smith as Kozo
Multimedia company N LITE announced during its panel at Anime Expo on Friday that actor and musician Jaden Smith will voice the character Kozo in its MFINDA "AFRIME" or "afro-anime." N LITE previously showed the character art for Kozo earlier this year in February.N LITE added that Smith is also an executive producer for the project, and will also contribute music for the film.In addition, N LITE also announced on June 28 that star NBA player Joel Embiid and his Miniature Géant production company will be executive producers on MFINDA, and are also co-producing the film's companion documentary MFINDA: Spirits of the Congo. The documentary will show the film's production, as well as highlight the people, culture, and folklore of the Congo.Viola Davis and Julius Tennon's JuVee Productions is partnering with N LITE for the MFINDA film. Davis, Tennon, JuVee's head of film Melanie Clark, Genco, Inc.'s Tarō Maki, and GKIDS's Eric Beckman are executive producers.MAPPA's Masao Maruyama (In This Corner of the World, Tokyo Godfathers producer, Summer Wars planner) is producing MFINDA. Gisaburō Sugii (Touch, Jack to Mame no Ki, Night on the Galactic Railroad, Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie) is directing. Arthell Isom (D'Art Shtajio) is co-directing. U.S. animation producer and distributor GKIDS is a coproduction partner.Christiano Malik Terry, founder of N LITE, also leads N LITE Japan with Shin Koyamada (The Last Samurai, Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior) and Shigeru Igari (former CEO of Atlus). N LITE is producing MFINDA in Japan. Donald H. Hewitt (Spirited Away's English screenplay), Mika Abe (Forest of Piano), and MFINDA creator Patience Lekien are writing the screenplay. The production credits Lekien and Terry with the story. N LITE will release the first volume of MFINDA: The Manga adaptation in 2025. The manga will have three volumes, and will be written by Terry, with art direction from MFINDA creator Lekien, and illustrated by visual artist Tom Lintern. The manga will be produced in collaboration with a Japanese manga planning and inking team from D'Art Shtajio and Sakura Phoenix K.K. The manga will be available in Japan and the U.S.N LITE aims to bring black and indigenous stories in partnership with global creators. AFRIME, or afro-anime, is its hand-drawn 2D animation. The company plans to produce AFRIME films and television series. N LITE Japan is working on upcoming projects based on anime and manga IP. The studio is also producing the Chiure: Child of the Sea film.Sources: N LITE AX 2025 panel, press releaseANN's coverage of Anime Expo 2025 is sponsored by Yen Press and Ize Press!
