Umthetho
Umthetho
Netflix
The latest gripping South African crime drama series from Netflix features a 7-episodes first season and was created by Black Brain Pictures. The series was adapted from the popular Brazilian Netflix series Brotherhood (Irmandade).
We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Black Brain Pictures to bring this gritty, high-stakes world to life, delivering over 223 visual effects shots that helped shape its cinematic feel from start to finish.
Our work spanned the kind of effects you’re not meant to notice: set extensions, explosions, gun fights augmentations, SFX enhancements, digital clean-ups, green screen compositing, screen replacements and motion graphics that slot in naturally into the live-action footage. It’s the quiet craft that holds a scene together. For the prison environment, our artists built out digital matte paintings and set extensions, giving key locations a bigger, more grounded sense of scale.
And when it came to the series’ action sequences, the team leaned into the enhancement and finishing work, such as wound effects, 3D smoke simulations layered within 3D scenes, muzzle flashes, continuity work, as well as fire and explosion work all built to sit convincingly inside the real footage, not on top of it.
Get ready for Umthetho – now streaming on Netflix.
Client: Black Brain Production
Production Company: Black Brain Production
Executive Producers: Mandla Ngcongwane, Mpumelelo Nhlapo
Directors: Mandla Ngcongwane, Johnny Barbuzano, Jono Hall
Producers: Mpumelelo Nhlapo, Annelie van Rooyen, Zikona Debese & Melissa Nayimuli
Post Production: Chocolate Tribe
Executive Producer: Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt
VFX Supervisor / Head of Production: Rob van den Bragt
Lead Technical Director: Tiaan Franken
Senior VFX Producer: Tracey-lee Portnoi
VFX Producers: Nikki Maistry, Simphiwe Mnculwane
On-set VFX Supervisors Pascal Martin, Johan Wentzel, Jean du Plessis
Lead Compositor: Johan Wentzel
Compostors: Jean Du Plessis, Alistair Johnson, Sven Hohmeier, Jaco Kraamwinkel
Junior Compositor: Thabang Mashalane
Matte Painting: Michael Howard
Accountant: Mookho Motshwane
Legal & Business Affairs Manager: Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt
The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix
The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix
Amazon Prime
Every so often, a project comes along that just blows you away. A project that has it all. An honest story, strong visuals, great concept, and lots and lots of heart. This is The Philipstown Wirecar Grand Prix. A documentary with an original twist.
In the remote desert town of Philipstown in South Africa’s Karoo, young racers turn scrap metal into wire cars and then race them in the Philipstown Wire Car Grand Prix, the only event of its kind in the world.
What started as a local tradition has grown into a global celebration of creativity, imagination, and community spirit. The project was directed by Paul Ward, produced by Giant Films, in collaboration with Accenture and Accenture Song, for the Philipstown Wire Car Foundation. We are thrilled to be part of turning Philipstown into a stage for the world to see.
Chocolate Tribe came on board in multiple capacities. We did the picture finishing and delivery, online, colour grade (through Comfort & Fame), compositing, clean ups, visual effects, 3D work (alongside our friends at MackevisionGermany), title sequence and more.
We can’t express enough how excited we are about the film. It’s an experience like no other and is not to be missed on Amazon Prime!
Client: Philipstown Wire Car Foundation, Accenture & Accenture Song Production
Production Company: Giant Films Production
Post Production: Chocolate Tribe
Executive Producer: Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt
VFX Supervisor / Head of Production: Rob van den Bragt
CGI Supervisor: Tiaan Franken
Senior VFX Producer: Tracey-lee Portnoi
Online / Lead Compositor: Johan Wentzel
Compositors: Alistair Johnson, Sven Hohmeier, Jean du Plessis
3D & VFX Team: Tegan Theron, Mpho Vukea, Sam Visser, Lloyd Bischoff, Taija Hartwig, Taryn Jordan
Accountant: Mookho Motshwane
Legal & Business Affairs : Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt
Post-Production Editing
Additional Editing: Xander van der Westhuizen
Assistant Editor: Farren Simon-Wolfe
Trailer Editor: Paul Speirs
Grade: Nic Apostoli (Comfort & Fame)
Children of Blood and Bone
Children of Blood and Bone
Paramount
Chocolate Tribe provided on-set VFX supervision for the second unit of Children of Blood & Bone by Paramount. Over three months, our focused team of artists, VFX supervisor and production delivered 34 shots, integrating digital matte paintings and seamless environmental elements into the film’s world.
The standout was a 28-shot, three-minute chroma sequence, requiring precise compositing of digital matte paintings into a blue-screen environment. It’s a showcase of Chocolate Tribe’s ability to sustain complex, high-volume VFX work over a long production window.
Client: Paramount(Children of Blood and Bone)
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Writers: Tomi Adeyemi, Gina Prince-Bythewood
Cinematographer: Polly Morgan
Production VFX Supervisor: Chris White
VFX Vendor: Chocolate Tribe
VFX Supervisor / Head of Production: Rob van den Bragt
CGI Supervisor / Technical Director: Tiaan Franken
Senior VFX Producer: Tracey-lee Portnoi
VFX Producer:Nikki Maistry
Lead Compositor: Johan Wentzel
Compositors: Alistair Johnson, Sven Hohmeier, Jaco Kraamwinkel, Jean du Plessis
Legal & Business Affairs: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
Castle Lager “Bafana Bafana”
Castle Lager
“Bafana Bafana”
For the latest Castle Lager’s football campaign, the audience are taken on a wild, time-hopping ride through football history from the raw nostalgia of 1996, to the electric celebration of 2010, and into a futuristic 2026 matchday all unfolding inside one seamless, high and low-energy stadium universe. Working with Giant Films, Chocolate Tribe delivered time spanning VFX that brought the nostalgic and future vision to life. Using in-house custom VFX pipelines, the team created large stadium crowds by expanding the on-set extras into tens of thousands of fans each one moving, reacting, and feeling like part of the game.
Combining our traditional 3D workflows with a custom hybrid AI solution the team delivered numerous unique digi-doubles and ensured every stand was feeling alive with its own rhythm and roar. Performance capture added the spark, turning simple recorded movements into massive waves of cheering, chanting, and celebration. Besides pack replacements, colour grading and clean ups, we also spend a lot of time creating the right filmic look for each era. Footage shot with today’s cutting edge cameras had to seamlessly blend with the old film and video stock footage inserts. The result is a fully immersive football world where different eras collide, stadiums pulse with energy, and live-action blends effortlessly with digital crowds, putting viewers right at the heart of the beautiful game.
Client: Castle Lager
Agency: Bananas & Retroviral
Creative Officer: Justin Gomes, Saf Sindhi, Mike Sharman
Executive Creative Director: Sean Harrison
Creative Director: Chantelle dos Santos
General Manager: Lynda Fiebiger
Strategist: Duncan MacLennan
Production Company: Giant Films
Director: WARD (Paul Ward)
Executive Producers: Emma Lundy, Cindy Gabriel
Producer: Nick Voortman
Production Manager: Khanyi Ngubane
Production Coordinator: Suki Kaur
Cast Coordinator: Dave Williams
Directors Assistant: Chloe Spreckley
Casting: Casting Directors
Post Production: Chocolate Tribe
Executive Producer: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
Head of Production: Rob van den Bragt
Senior VFX Producer: Tracy-lee Portnoi
On-set Supervisor: Rob van den Bragt
3D Supervisor: Tiaan Franken
Lead Compositor: Jean Du Plessis
3D Artists: Mpho Vukea, Kyle Nkosana Sibanda, Scott Lee Samuels, Tegan Theron, Taryn Jordan
Legal & Business Affairs Manager: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
Chicken Licken "Just Enough Extra"
Chicken Licken
Just Enough Extra
Johannesburg got a serious glow-up, turning everyday streets into a vibrant, India-inspired playground. Practical car rigs zipped, swooped, and strutted across the city, while compositing and a sprinkle of AI added just the right cinematic punch, all without losing that hands-on, real-world magic. Custom props, quirky signage, and atmospheric smoke effects gave the streets personality, while detailed cleanup made every frame feel polished and alive.
Working alongside Joe Public and in collaboration with Chicken Licken, we pushed the boundaries of what a cityscape could do on screen. A bold, playful, and slightly mischievous commercial where the city itself steals the show, proving that sometimes old-school techniques, with a modern twist, are the most unforgettable.
Client: Chicken Licken
Agency: Joe Public
Chief Creative Officer: Pepe Marais
Chief Creative Officer: Xolisa Dyashana
Executive Creative Director: Adam Weber
Creative Director: Tshepo Tumahole
Creative Director: Tshepo Mogorosi
Account Director: Kelly Bardon
Account Manager: Masibonge Ntuli
Head of TV: Di Cole
Production Company: Romance Films
Director: Greg Gray
Executive Producer: Helena Woodfine
Line Producer: Kelly Ryan
Director of Photography: Adam Bentel
Art Director: Chris Bass
Stylsit: Bridge Baker
Research & Development: Maghiel Van Dorssen
VFX / Post Production: Chocolate Tribe
Executive Producer: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
Animation & VFX Supervisor / Head of Post-Production: Rob van den Bragt
CGI Supervisor: Tiaan Franken
Senior VFX Producer: Tracy-lee Portnoi
Lead Compositor: Jean Du Plessis
Compositors: Sven Hohmeier, Alistair Johnson, Johan Wentzel, Thabang Mashalane, Jaco Kraamwinkel
Matte Painting: Michael Howard
Legal & Business Affairs Manager: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
Colourist: Nic Apostoli (Comfort and Fame)
Sound Mix: Pressure Cooker Studio
Marked
Marked
Netflix
“Marked” is a gripping crime thriller that follows the character Babalwa, played by Lerato Mvelase, a cash-in-transit security guard whose life takes a sharp turn when her daughter falls critically ill. Faced with overwhelming medical bills and no financial options, Babalwa is drawn into a dangerous heist scheme. The series powerfully explores how desperation and love can push even the most law-abiding individuals to the edge.
Chocolate Tribe had the opportunity to collaborate with Quizzical Pictures on Marked, produced for Netflix. Our team focused on delivering invisible VFX, the kind of subtle yet impactful visual work that blends seamlessly into the story, elevating realism without drawing attention to itself.
For Marked, we developed custom procedural workflows to create complex smoke VFX elements. Our goal was to enhance the atmosphere without distracting from the narrative.
We are proud to be part of another powerful Netflix project, bringing immersive visual storytelling to life through invisible VFX. Sometimes, the real magic is in what you do not see.
And we hope this story isn’t over yet….
Production Company: Quizzical Productions
Director: Akin Omotoso
Producer: JP Potgieter
Visual Effects/ Post Production: Chocolate Tribe
Executive Producer: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
VFX Supervisor/Head of Production: Rob van den Bragt
Senior VFX Producer: Tracy-lee Portnoi
CGI Supervisor: Tiaan Franken
Lead Compositor: Johan Wentzel
Compositors: Alistair Johnson, Angelo Collinicos, Jaco Kraamwinkel, Jean du Plessis, Sven Hohmeier
Digital Matte Painting: Michael Howard
Legal & Business Affairs Manager: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
Tropika Island
Tropika
Island
For the Tropika TV commercial, Chocolate Tribe delivered a full suite of Compositing that elevated the story’s vibrant, tropical energy. Our team worked intensively over a week of online editing and compositing to seamlessly blend real-world township scenery with Tropika’s signature island smoothness. The project included extensive sky replacements, double-pass grading, set extensions, and detailed clean-ups to enhance the environment without losing authenticity.
One of the standout elements was the beloved parrot character, which was filmed separately on greenscreen and composited into the scenes with precise colour matching, shadow work, and integration to ensure it felt naturally part of the world. This commercial is a great example of how compositing can bring imagination to life, adding flavour, character, and visual harmony to every frame.
Client: Clover / Tropika
Business Unit Head: Miantha Roux
Brand Manager: Sveti Kovatcheva
Trainee Marketing: Tiyang Phale
Agency: The Odd Number
Agency: The Odd Number
Managing Director: Sinqobile Mjali
Executive Creative Director: Tipi Manyelo
Creative Director: Susan Aukema
Senior Account Manager: Emily Kangwa
Producer: Leigh Visser
Production House: Your Girlfriend Production
Director: Morgan Dingle
Executive Producers: Linda Bogle, Ashish Doman, Zenele Nhleko
VFX / Post Production: Chocolate Tribe
Executive Producer: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
VFX Supervisor/Head of Production: Rob van den Bragt
Senior VFX Producer: Tracy-lee Portnoi
Online Artist: Johan Wentzel
Compositors: Sven Hohmeier, Alistair Johnson
Colourist: Nic Apostoli
Legal & Business Affairs Manager: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
Pick ‘n Pay
Pick ‘n Pay
Come Home to Pick ‘n Pay
When the shelves start talking, you know it’s Chocolate Tribe.
For the recent Come Home to Pick n Pay advert, we gave the grocery aisle a serious personality upgrade because in our world, there’s no such thing as boring shelves. Here, products have opinions, attitude, and a flair for the dramatic.
Working alongside Halo, we brought this playful vision to life by blending 3D, 2D, AI, and a whole lot of creative mischief. From irresistibly cute 3D bears to bold 2D icons like Ouma Rusks, Raja, and Pilchard, every character was crafted with its own distinct personality. And just to keep things interesting, we mixed in hybrid moments like cheeky cakes and a Husky that doesn’t just sit pretty, combining techniques to dial up the expression and charm.
In collaboration with Pick’n Pay, led by Katherine Madley and Ianthe Sandnes, as well as with Halo’s creative direction under Dean Oelschig and Amber Mackeurtan, we pushed the boundaries of what a retail world could feel like. The result? A colourful, slightly chaotic (in the best way) universe where products don’t just sit on shelves, they perform. Playful, unexpected, and full of personality, exactly how we like it.
Client: Pick ’n Pay
Executive Marketing, Digital & Brand: Katherine Madley
Head Of Department eCommerce & CX (asap!): Lanthe Sandnes
Head of Product Marketing: L’Andre Venter
Marketing Manager – Brand: Lameez Lawrence
Head of Marketing Operations: Tanya Peche
Marketing Creative Consultant: Alistair King
Agency: Halo
Chief Creative Officer: Dean Oelschig
Managing Director: Amber Mackeurtan
Agency Producer: Shanon Leicher
Business Director: Tatiana Drakoulas
Executive Creative Director: Coenie Grebe
GCD: Gareth O’Callaghan
Creative Director: Kelly Brazier
Writers: Geir Wilson, Antoinette Johnson, Lucy Bryant
Production Company: 0307
Director: Kim Geldenhuys
Executive Producer: Jacqui Bee
Production Manager: Jo Walker
Post Production: Chocolate Tribe
Executive Producer: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
Animation Supervisor / Head of Post-Production: Rob van den Bragt
CGI Supervisor Tiaan Franken
Senior VFX Producer: Tracy-lee Portnoi
Lead Compositor: Jean Du Plessis
Compositors : Johan Wentzel, Sven Hohmeier, Alistair Johnson
3D & VFX Team: Mpho Vukea, Kyle Nkosana Sibanda, Taija Hartwig, Taryn Jordan, Tegan Theron, Samantha Visser, Lloyd Bischoff, Glenn Ewan, Scott Lee Samuels, Ernst du Plessis, Julia Coull, Shady Sobhy, Mthuthuzeli Ngco (Intern)
Matt Painting: Michael Howard
Colourist: Nic Apostoli (Comfort and Fame)
Legal & Business Affairs Manager: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
Offline Editor: Gordon Midgley
Animation: Chocolate Tribe
Sound Mix: Sterling Sound
Sound design: Lorens Persson
Music Supervisor: Marc Algranti
Music Composition: Field Audio
Talent: Richard Lukunku, Thendo Nesani, Sarah Jonas, Christian Mazibuko, Shamyra Moodley, Gabriella Roberts, Kristen Raath, Simona Geyer, Nhlanhla Shabangu, Letlotlo Sekano, Wian Taljaard, Ben Albertyn, Neo Ngoma
Maynards
Maynards
Kaboom!
Step inside the mouth of Maynards Kaboom!
Directed by Kim Hinrichs and Helen Raine from Mercy, and conceptualised by FCB Africa.
In this wacky world of Maynards Kaboom, Chocolate Tribe brings to life what happens when you treat your mouth to Maynards winegums. It turns out that millions of taste buds wake up, dance, and compete for every flavour.
Blending live-action with full 3D Animation, we designed and build a colourful, energetic universe where each taste buddy has its own personality. A clever animation system and custom crowd tools were developed to make every Maynards buddy move, react, and party, making this one sweet, high-energy adventure from start to finish!
Client: Maynards
Marketing Director: Kyle Carson
Marketing Manager: Mbali Sithole
Senior Brand Manager: Wasiema Nassir
Assistant Brand Manager: Caeleb Thompson
Agency: FCB Africa
Executive Creative Director: Jacquie Mullany
Senior Art Director: Danike de Jager
Senior Copy Writer: Devaksha Vallabjee
Account Manager: Kreegan Govender
Agency Producers: Carlyn Agulhas, Lauren Trevelyan , Stephan Campher
Production Company: Mercy
Directors: Kim Hinrichs, Helen Raine
Executive Producer: Karen Kloppers
Line Producer: Michael Klein
Post Production: Chocolate Tribe
Executive Producer: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt
Animation Supervisor / Head of Post-Production: Rob van den Bragt
CGI Supervisor Tiaan Franken
Senior VFX Producer: Tracy-lee Portnoi
Lead Compositor: Johan Wentzel
Compositors : Jean Du Plessis, Sven Hohmeier, Alistair Johnson
Colourist: Nic Apostoli (Comfort and Fame)
3D & VFX Team: Mpho Vukea, Kyle Nkosana Sibanda, Taija Hartwig, Taryn Jordan, Tegan Theron, Samantha Visser, Lloyd Bischoff, Glenn Ewan, Scott Lee Samuels
Matt Painting: Michael Howard
Legal & Business Affairs Manager: Nosipho Maketo – van den Bragt