Hybrids: A Shared Court

Culture, Basketball, and the Power of Becoming

Five years ago, I sat in front of my computer for hours at a time, chasing the story that felt closest to my spirit. A story that could set me apart creatively and personally. Hybrids was that story. Well, technically I had already been telling that story with my photoseries, Jump Ball, but I wanted to take things further, much further. 

Hybrids began as a question I couldn’t let go of, what happens when variations of African culture, the spirit of basketball, and animation come together? 

That question became the foundation for an animated series I began developing off the strength of empowerment and identity. Hybrids is set in a fictional neighborhood called Little Africa, a place that may feel familiar to those raised within the diaspora. It reflects real communities around the world where numerous African cultures coexist, overlap, and influence one another daily. Languages mix, food carries memories, names hold meaning, and identity is something you inherit. By highlighting the continent and its diversity, the series aims to debunk the concept of “Africa as a sum of one”. In this series, basketball exists beyond the game itself, serving as common ground for this group of friends to understand one another deeply and build a cohort. . 

At the heart of Hybrids is a youth basketball team made up of five high school peers, each representing a generational story rooted from the African continent. Imagine a crew of first or second-generation kids, shaped by their parents’ histories while actively discovering who they are becoming collectively. As they play, each member begins to unlock a skill that feels like a unique and distinctive superpower.

Majok is long and lanky, with arms that stretch impossibly wide when he blocks shots or pulls down rebounds. His presence dominates the paint, and his length becomes a defining advantage. Idil, the female “Kyrie Irving”, moves with speed and finesse. She’s energetic, quick, and fearless, her dribbling skills allow her to glide from one end of the court. Adeyemi is often underestimated at first glance, but she’s the team’s quiet genius. Her unconventional passing is deceptive, with ambidextrous precision and no-look confidence that reveals a deeper understanding of the game. Naeem is the sharpshooter, give him a bit of space and the ball is in the net. He shoots with a confidence and form that feels audacious, pulling from anywhere on the court with ease. Bukasa is the team’s engine. He can do it all, but he’s best known for his explosive, high-flying dunks. He brings energy, spectacle, and momentum, lifting the team when it matters most. Though fictional, these abilities are discovered through play, teamwork, and trust, mirroring how young people uncover their strengths by simply showing up, being seen, and pushing boundaries. Kids are drawn to characters with extraordinary abilities, and this series uses that visual language to spark imagination while grounding each skill in realism.

Adding another layer of symbolism is the basketball itself. The team plays with a globe-inspired ball, which becomes both a visual anchor and an educational tool prompting curiosity about geography, and origin. The ball acts as a reminder that the game they love is global, and that their individual stories are part of something much larger.

Guiding the team is their coach, Coach B, who is Black American. This choice honors the profound influence Black American communities have had in shaping, popularizing, and carrying basketball into the global culture it is today. The coach represents that lineage, as he serves as a bridge passing down lessons not only about the game, but about discipline, unity, and self-belief. His presence honors where the game comes from while helping the players understand how it continues to evolve. Coach B’s presence is shaped by his own journey with the game. Once a promising professional basketball player, his career was cut short after a car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Rather than distancing himself from the sport, he redirected his passion choosing to invest in his community and mentor the next generation through inner-city basketball programs. Coaching allows him to remain connected to the game he loves, while redefining what purpose, leadership, and legacy can look like beyond the court.

Each episode of Hybrids explores culture through lived experience. Family dynamics, religious practices, traditional clothing, food rituals, language, and neighborhood life all unfold naturally within the story. The series reflects how culture is preserved, challenged, and redefined in everyday life, and for me this is personal. I often reference my upbringing as a key inspiration to a lot of the themes and storylines I explore. My first-generation Nigerian upbringing shaped my worldview and how I approached every aspect of this world from character building, art direction and narrative arc. I really wanted to use animation as a direct extension of my lived experience and a continuation of the cultural narratives I’ve explored through my creative work over the years. The allyship of Recess, meets the environment of Hey Arnold, while subtly referencing the expressions of Proud Family. I don’t know if that lands, but it makes sense in my head. 

Sharing Hybrids in 2026 is an act of transparency. I have come to recognize a pattern in my process: when ideas begin to outgrow my immediate capacity or lack a clear path to funding, I often set them aside, allowing meaningful concepts to live quietly in hard drives rather than evolve in the open. Even now, every time I open my archives, I am reminded that not knowing exactly what something will become does not make it less valuable. It could live as a comic book. It could become the animated series it was originally imagined to be. It could take on a form I have yet to consider. What this moment has opened up for me is a deeper conversation about self-belief, self-sabotage, and what it means to sit with your work long enough to honor it years after its initial spark. I’m finding ways to share, revisit, and present the stories I’ve been sitting on because they don’t deserve to remain hidden forever. In an era defined by honesty and openness, sharing this work feels like the right step forward. It invites conversation, encourages collaboration, and leaves room for Hybrids to find new life.

This is clearly not a finished product, but simply a living idea that many will see themselves in. If nothing comes from it, I am more than proud of the concept developed, the critical thinking, and the fact that you have read to conclusion.  Get a closer look at the concept through our pitch bible HERE.

Your story is waiting to be told.  

——

Words from Kashuss Belmar (2D/3D Animator)

Back in 2021, Josef and I were introduced to each other by a mutual friend and top-notch photographer from Toronto, O’shane Howard. Josef showed me the Jump Ball photo series that he had worked on with O’shane, and I was so impressed by the quality and how they integrated African culture into a world of basketball. Hearing about Josef’s passion for this project inspired me so much, and gave me the drive to give this project my all! As a black guy who loves to hoop, I felt like I was the perfect artist to animate this co-ed, African ball team!
Summer of 2021 had just rolled around and I had finished my second year in Sheridan College's Animation program. I was ready to use the skills that I had learned in my classes on a meaningful and unique project like this. At the time, this was my biggest freelance job ever. I remember stressing, researching, and asking friends for tips on how to make a contract for illustration/animation. Now, that's something I do all the time without breaking a sweat! Drawing the characters, creating the environment, and building the animation took me the entire summer! This project really pushed my skills and taught me a lot about time management.
While working on Hybrids, I was always looking for inspiration to fuel my art. I watched Kuroko’s Basketball on Netflix for the first time. I was constantly taking photos of myself and my sister to use as posing reference for the drawings. Even when I wasn’t working, I would go to the local ball court to hoop with friends, which subconsciously gave me more inspiration for the drawings.
Throughout this series, my favourite illustration that I’ve worked on was the front cover page. I love how the low camera angle captures the dynamic movement of all the characters on the court. To this day I still think that’s one of my best illustrations ever! My favourite character to design was Idil, Josef had made it clear that he wanted her to have impressive handles (like Kyrie Irving) who is one of my favourite players to watch! I had so much fun designing her dribbling poses while her hijab flowed in the wind behind her. The concept of a Female Music Basketball Player is so unique too!
Working with Josef was such a pleasure, and it still is today. The strong and creative ideas he brings to the table always elevates our work to the highest level possible. It’s crazy to think that we’ve been working together for 5 years now on a mix of personal and professional projects with many more to come!

I have never seen a project like Hybrids before. I truly believe it has the potential to be something great, something that can captivate the hearts of an entire generation! I hope that others can see the potential of this co-ed, teenage African ball team and envision the stories, the lessons, and the entertainment they can bring to the world!