Bring the little ones to a magical movie experience at the Hisense Kiddies Movie House during the Hermanus Whale Festival 2025! This year we’re proud to partner with Triggerfish Animation Studios, Africa’s leading animation powerhouse, to showcase a line-up of family favourites.
Kids can enjoy beautifully crafted films like The Snail and the Whale, Seal Team, Zambezia, Khumba, and Indlela Yokuphila — stories filled with adventure, heart, and a strong connection to nature.
The Movie House is located in the Lecture Room next to the Whale House Museum in Hermanus and will be running on 4–5 October 2025..
10am – Triggerfish Animation Studio Introduction including *WORLD PREMIERE*
Anthony Silverston, Creative Director of Triggerfish, will be in attendance to introduce the series of films showing over the course of the weekend. Kicking off with “Belly Flop”, directed by Jeremy Collins and co-directed by Kelly Dillon, Belly Flop is the story of Rosy, a fearless young girl learning to dive, unperturbed by a talented diver who keeps stealing the spotlight. Following on from the award winning short, Triggerfish will give The Hermanus Whale Festival a preview to a new series that will be released on youTube that follows Rosy on her further adventures in Cape Town.
10am – Triggerfish Animation Studio Introduction, including *WORLD PREMIERE*
Anthony Silverston, Creative Director of Triggerfish, will be in attendance to introduce the series of films showing over the course of the weekend. Kicking off with “Belly Flop”, directed by Jeremy Collins and co-directed by Kelly Dillon, Belly Flop is the story of Rosy, a fearless young girl learning to dive, unperturbed by a talented diver who keeps stealing the spotlight. Following on from the award winning short, Triggerfish will give The Hermanus Whale Festival a preview to a new series that will be released on youTube that follows Rosy on her further adventures in Cape Town.
11.30am – The Snail and the Whale (27 min)
Animated by Triggerfish, the award-winning short movie The Snail and the Whale follows the journey of a tiny snail who longs to see the world and hitches a ride on the tail of giant humpback whale. The 27 min short film is a joyous empowering story about the natural wonders of the world and discovering that no matter how small you are, you really can make a difference.
12.30pm – Indlela Yokuphila (6min) – Zulu with English Subtitles
(permission granted)
Indlela Yokuphila is a visually captivating and spiritually resonant short film, explores the intersection of intangible ocean heritages and transformative ocean governance in South Africa, using animation to shed light on cultural values and heritage in marine decision-making.
1pm – Adventures in Zambezia (1hr23min)
This South African animated comedy adventure film directed by Wayne Thornley, written by Thornley, Andrew Cook, Raffaella Delle Donne and Anthony Silverston is set in a bustling bird city on the edge of the majestic Victoria Falls. Zambezia is the story of Kai – a naïve, but high-spirited young falcon who travels to the bird city of “Zambezia” where he discovers the truth about his origins and, in defending the city, learns how to be part of a community.
3pm – Seal team (1hr41min) INTRO BY DIRECTOR
The Star-studded “Seal Team” is a celebration of the seals of Cape Town and was made by local animation firm Triggerfish. It is the story of Quinn, a seal who spends his days relaxing in the sun, splashing in the beautiful waters off the coast of Cape Town… and swimming for his life from Great White Sharks. When he decides it’s time for the food chain to bite back, Quinn recruits a ragtag team of like-minded seals brave, stupid, and crazy enough to try and teach those sharks a lesson.
5pm – Close
