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Rosalind Murphy, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, PortugalAbstract
This paper explores how contemporary Afrofuturist animated works, including Entergalactic (Netflix, 2022), Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony theatrical, 2023), and Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (Disney+, 2023) employ immersive technologies such as AI enhanced visual effects, 2.5D animation, and metaverse-inspired world-building to redefine cinematic storytelling and Black speculative culture. Positioned at the intersection of cultural studies, media studies, technology, and digital humanities, this interdisciplinary study investigates how these works present diverse expressions of Black speculative futures that range from Afrofuturist romance and multiverse heroism to reimagined African heritage grounded in diasporic memory, emotional resonance, and collective joy. Using comparative case study analysis and thematic readings, the paper draws on Afrofuturism, technoculture, and narrative design to demonstrate how these animated films serve as innovative storytelling approaches that challenge dominant narratives, reimagine identity, and expand cultural agency. It highlights the leadership of digitally native Generation Z creators and audiences in shaping participatory, engaging stories created and shared across streaming, social media, and interactive technologies. By situating Afrofuturist storytelling within broader conversations on cultural representation, technological innovation, and speculative world-building, this paper offers a model for understanding how animation can function as both a cinematic and socio-cultural tool. These works entertain, educate, empower, and provide celebrated visions of the future that center Black imagination, emotional depth, and creative sovereignty. Ultimately, it argues that Afrofuturist animation exemplifies the transformative power of media and technology to imagine inclusive, culturally resonant futures that bridge digital creativity and global storytelling.
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Conference: KAMC2025Stream: Cultural Studies
This paper is part of the KAMC2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Murphy R. (2026) Cinematic Futures: Afrofuturist Animation, Immersive Technologies, and Black Speculative Joy ISSN: 2436-0503 – The Kyoto Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 643-650) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.52
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.52
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