Steve Buscemi and Anika Noni Rose have joined Liam Neeson, Laurence Fishburne and AnnaSophia Robb on South Africa-based Triggerfish Animation Studios’ Annecy-bound Khumba.

Jake T Austin, Loretta Devine and Richard E Grant also star in the new feature from the producers of the worldwide hit Adventures In Zambezia.

Cinema Management Group (CMG) handles international sales and Millennium Entertainment will distribute in the US.

Anthony Silverston directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Raffaella Delle Donne about a half-striped zebra who goes on a quest for a magic watering hole where it is said zebras first got their stripes.

Stuart Forrest of Triggerfish Animation Studios produces the feature. As announced on Tuesday [23], Khumba will screen at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France in June.

CMG head Edward Noeltner and his team has closed more than 30 territories and are holding back the UK, Australia, Italy, Spain and Scandinavia until the final film screens in 3D. Noeltner will present the film to buyers during the Cannes market.

“With his trademark voice, Steve Buscemi took the character of Skalk in a new and exciting direction,” said Noeltner. “Edward Noeltner. “Anika Noni Rose as Khumba’s mother brought a wonderful sense of warmth and tenderness to her character of Lungisa. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have them both onboard to complete the voice cast for Khumba.”

“We are continuously impressed with the amount of gifted actors that our film has attracted,” said Forrest. “Buscemi brings a unique skill set to Khumba and the voice work he’s recorded gives us a great deal of humour in the film. Anika Noni Rose likewise brings alive her character in a way that not many could.”