Khumba, the upcoming 3D animated feature film from South Africa’s Triggerfish Animation Studios has added the voice talents of Steve Buscemi (Monsters Inc., Boardwalk Empire) and Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and The Frog) to it’s already impressive cast list. Buscemi and Rose join Liam Neeson (Braveheart), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix Trilogy), Jake T. Austin (Rio, The Wizards of Waverly Place), Richard E. Grant (TV’s Doctor Who, Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride) and Loretta Devine (TV’s Grey’s Anatomy).
Khumba follows the journey of a half-striped Zebra (Austin) as he leaves his family and his home to find a magical waterhole to aid his superstitious herd during a major African drought. Khumba is joined on his trek by a wildebeest (Devine) and an Ostrich (Grant) on his mission of self-discovery and of salvation across the Great Karoo.
Buscemi is not stranger to voice work, having given life to characters in such films as Monsters Inc., Monster House, Hotel Transylvania, and the upcoming Monsters University (we see a pattern here). His distinct voice will give life to Skalk, a “colorful vagabond” that aids Khumba on his quest.
Khumba is written by Raffaella Delle Donne and Anthony Silverston, with assistance by Jonathan Roberts who co-wrote Disney’s The Lion King. Silverston also directs. The $20 million dollar feature is scheduled to hit theaters later this year.
Animation Fascination 
Anika Noni Rose in another voice role? Hmm…