Dianne Makings

Dianne Makings is a South African animation producer and creative collaborator working across animation, exhibition design and immersive media. With a background spanning advertising, production and creative development, she brings both creative and technical understanding to animation projects. After more than a decade in advertising, Dianne moved into animation, working across commercial production, original content and international projects. In 2022, she co-founded Fancy Horse Studios with multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker Colin Payne. The studio works across animation, sculpture and exhibition design, with a focus on storytelling and visual communication. Fancy Horse Studios led the design and implementation of the Karoo Origins Fossil Centre in Graaff-Reinet, developing an exhibition that interprets the Permian and Triassic periods through dioramas, sculpture, physical exhibits and animation. The project brought together a team of more than 30 South African artists and creative practitioners. The studio’s work has received international and national recognition, including the 2025 Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Lanzendorf PaleoArt Prize for Digital Modelling and Animation, a prestigious international award recognising excellence in palaeoart. In 2026, the studio received a National Arts Council Award for Interior Design and Architecture, recognising the project at a national level. Dianne’s film credits include Aau’s Song for Lucasfilm Ltd, the first fully CG Star Wars short created in South Africa and released globally on Disney+, as well as the award-winning short Troll Girl and documentary work for Shark Town. She is currently producing Fancy Horse Studios’ first original 2D short film, Unreachable. Dianne is also the founder and director of the Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF), which she established in 2014. CTIAF has grown from a small industry gathering into one of the largest dedicated animation events on the African continent, connecting African and international filmmakers, studios, educators, students and industry professionals. Her work is focused on strengthening the African animation industry, supporting original IP development and creating opportunities for African stories and studios to engage with international markets.