Congolese artist Komi M. Anthony, known as @akm.thesketchylab, is a character designer, storyboard artist, and 2D animator whose work is redefining how African stories are drawn, animated, and told. With a deep focus on character design and visual storytelling, Anthony’s art celebrates movement, expression, and the subtle emotional details that make animated worlds feel alive.
Through The Sketchy Lab, his creative moniker and digital studio space, Komi has built a portfolio that bridges experimentation with refined craft. His sketches — often fluid and spontaneous — reveal a process rooted in curiosity and observation. Each drawing captures a glimpse of story: a gesture mid-motion, a face caught between laughter and thought, a character suspended in possibility.
Anthony’s approach to character design begins with narrative — who the character is and what they want to express. This storytelling mindset drives his animation and storyboarding work, where he crafts visual narratives filled with rhythm, empathy, and cinematic pacing. His style is distinctly his own, drawing inspiration from African aesthetics, contemporary animation, and global pop culture, yet grounded in everyday human emotion.
As part of the growing wave of African digital artists and animators using online platforms to share their work, Komi’s practice represents the new creative momentum across the continent. His passion for storytelling reflects a broader movement among African illustrators and animators who are reshaping the global visual language of animation and design.
You can explore more of Komi’s work on Instagram, where he shares process sketches, character explorations, and snippets of animation that demonstrate his commitment to storytelling through design.
At African Digital Art, we continue to highlight artists like Komi M. Anthony who are expanding the possibilities of African animation and digital illustration. Discover more features on African character design, animation, and digital storytelling.
