Recap To The Year: Showmax Is Now Producing Original Animated Series (And Movies), Might Launch It Elsewhere

During the year, Showmax launched its first ever original animated series, Jay Jay The Chosen One. Inspired by the football legend Jay-Jay Okocha, it follows Austin, an 11-year-old football-loving school boy, blessed by animals with their abilities, becomes

the superhero Jay Jay, who tackles poachers and guides his school football team to victory.

At the time, it was stated that the streamer was looking to do short term series and depending on how the content performs they would look into rolling out more animation projects. So there entered the South African comedy Twende as the streamer's second attempt at animation.

The show follows a pangolin — an endangered species which is the slowest on the savannah and the most-trafficked type of animal in the world — who makes up for his natural lack of speed by driving a motorcycle taxi. A pilot was screened at Annecy back in 2021 and MultiChoice Studios handles international sales.

“Our long-term goal is to build the animation industry on our continent and to give our children characters and stories that reflect, educate and inspire them, and content they can enjoy with their parents,” says Phahle. “Ultimately we believe that if we do this well enough, the stories will also find audiences outside of Africa.”

Last month, Indigenous Film Distribution unveiled Headspace, the exciting new animation sci-fi feature from Johannesburg’s Luma Animation. The film starts with a freak accident, where Max, Sophie and Gus of the Space Protection Force, and their microscopic spaceship The SPF50, take up residence inside 14-year-old Norman’s brain. 

Disney Channel And Disney Junior's DISASTROUS 24 Hour Schedule Across Africa In November 2023

Disney Channel

Weekdays

00:00 Disney Saturdays

00:25 Disney Saturdays

00:50 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

01:15 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

01:40 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

02:05 Walk The Prank

02:30 Walk The Prank

02:55 Walk The Prank

03:20 Hamster & Gretel

03:45 Hamster & Gretel

04:10 Hamster & Gretel

04:35 Vikingskool

05:00 Vikingskool

05:25 Vikingskool

05:50 Descendants Wicked World

06:00 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

06:25 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

06:51 The Ghost and Molly McGee

07:15 The Ghost and Molly McGee

07:40 The Ghost and Molly McGee

08:05 The Ghost and Molly McGee

08:30 Big City Greens

08:55 Big City Greens

09:20 Phineas And Ferb

09:45 Phineas And Ferb

10:10 Disney Saturdays

10:35 Disney Saturdays

11:00 Zombies: The Re-animated Series

11:05 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

11:30 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

11:55 The Ghost and Molly McGee

12:20 The Ghost and Molly McGee

12:45 Kiff

13:10 Disney Saturdays

13:35 Disney Saturdays

14:00 Disney Saturdays

14:25 Disney Saturdays

14:50 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

15:15 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

15:40 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

16:05 Big City Greens

16:31 Big City Greens

16:55 Zombies: The Re-animated Series

17:00 The Villians of Valley View

17:25 The Villians of Valley View

17:50 Disney Saturdays

18:15 Disney Saturdays

18:41 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

19:06 Big City Greens

19:30 Big City Greens

19:55 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

20:20 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

20:45 The Villians of Valley View

21:10 The Villians of Valley View

21:35 Phineas And Ferb

22:00 Phineas And Ferb

22:25 Big City Greens

22:50 Big City Greens

23:10 The Villians of Valley View

23:35 The Villians of Valley View

Weekends

Italics for Sundays

00:00 Big City Greens

00:25 Big City Greens

00:50 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

01:15 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

01:40 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

02:05 Walk The Prank

02:30 Walk The Prank

02:55 Walk The Prank

03:20 Hamster & Gretel

03:45 Hamster & Gretel

04:10 Hamster & Gretel

04:35 Vikingskool

05:00 Vikingskool

05:25 Vikingskool

05:50 Descendants Wicked World

06:00 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

06:25 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

06:50 Zombies: Addison's Monster Mystery

06:55 Kiff

07:20 The Ghost and Molly McGee

07:45 The Ghost and Molly McGee

08:10 Phineas And Ferb

08:35 Phineas And Ferb

09:00 Phineas And Ferb

09:25 Big City Greens

09:50 Big City Greens

10:15 Big City Greens

10:40 StarStruck/Kiff

12:20 Hamster & Gretel

12:45 Hamster & Gretel

13:10 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

13:35 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

14:00 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

14:25 Disney Saturdays

14:50 Disney Saturdays

15:15 Raven's Home/The Villains Of Valley View

15:41 Raven's Home/The Villains Of Valley View

16:05 Descendants Wicked World

16:10 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

16:35 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir

17:00 Kiff

17:25 Big City Greens

17:50 Big City Greens

18:15 Phineas And Ferb

18:40 Phineas And Ferb

19:05 The Villians of Valley View/Raven's Home

19:30 The Villians of Valley View/Raven's Home

19:55 Phineas And Ferb

20:20 Phineas And Ferb

20:45 Disney Saturdays

21:10 Disney Saturdays

21:35 Big City Greens

22:00 Big City Greens

22:25 Walk The Prank

22:50 Walk The Prank

23:10 Walk The Prank

23:35 Walk The Prank

Notes

> Disney Saturdays consists of 8 episodes meaning Disney Channel is airing the first half of season 1 within 2 days during weekdays.

> Hamster & Gretel continues to airs weekday mornings.

> Wandi & Kabz might be awaiting a timeslot as well in the month.

> Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir gets the most airtime.

Disney Junior

Weekdays

00:00 PJ Masks

00:25 PJ Masks

00:50 PJ Masks

01:15 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

01:40 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

02:05 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

02:30 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

02:55 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

03:20 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

03:45 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

04:10 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

04:35 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

05:00 Eureka!

05:30 Eureka!

06:00 Eureka!

06:30 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

07:00 Eureka!

07:30 Kiya & The Kimoja Heroes

08:00 Bluey

08:30 Superkitties

09:00 Bluey

09:30 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

10:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Space Adventure

11:00 Firebuds

11:30 PJ Masks

12:00 Eureka!

12:30 Kiya & The Kimoja Heroes

13:00 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

13:30 Bluey

14:00 Bluey

14:30 Firebuds

15:00 Firebuds

15:30 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

16:00 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures

16:30 Superkitties

17:00 Kiya & The Kimoja Heroes

17:30 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

18:00 Bluey

18:30 Bluey

19:00 Superkitties

19:30 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures

20:00 Firebuds

20:30 Bluey

21:00 Bluey

21:30 Superkitties

22:00 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

22:30 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures

23:00 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

23:30 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

Weekends

Italics for Sundays

00:00 PJ Masks

00:00 PJ Masks

00:50 PJ Masks

01:15 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

01:40 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

02:05 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

02:30 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

02:55 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

03:20 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

03:45 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

04:10 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

04:35 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

05:00 Eureka!

05:30 Eureka!

06:00 Eureka!

06:30 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

07:00 Eureka!

07:30 Kiya & The Kimoja Heroes

08:00 Bluey

08:30 Bluey

09:00 Bluey

09:30 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures

10:00 Firebuds

10:30 Superkitties

11:00 Bluey

11:30 Bluey

12:00 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures

12:30 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

13:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally/A Goofy Fairy Tale

14:00 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

14:30 Superkitties

15:00 Superkitties

15:30 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

16:00 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

16:30 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures

17:00 Alice's Wonderland Bakery/Superkitties

17:30 Alice's Wonderland Bakery/Superkitties

18:00 Alice's Wonderland Bakery/Superkitties

18:30 Alice's Wonderland Bakery/Superkitties

19:00 A Goofy Fairy Tale/Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally

20:00 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

20:30 Bluey

21:00 Bluey

21:30 Superkitties

22:00 Spidey and His Amazing Friends

22:30 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures

23:00 Alice's Wonderland Bakery

23:30 Mickey Mouse Funhouse

Notes

> Repeats are minimised unlike Disney Channel

Foley Is Good: And the Real World Is Faker Than Wrestling (PDF)

The book covers the last years of Mick Foley's in-ring wrestling career up until the birth of his second son, Michael Francis Foley, Jr., which he mentions in the book's epilogue.

It has a more celebratory tone than his first book, as he is writing about the time of his career where he has already achieved success. The book alternated between in-ring wrestling activities and Foley's life away from the ring. In the book, he also describes his obsessions, such as theme parks and Christmas.

He also writes about his experience writing his first book without the aid of a ghostwriter. He defends himself against being misquoted by news program 20/20, and explains the events surrounding his "I Quit" match with The Rock at the Royal Rumble in January 1999, which can also be seen in the documentary Beyond the Mat. 

The book also heavily defends the World Wrestling Federation against accusations of being violent. Foley made an effort to pointedly refute claims made by detractors, citing statistical data and other evidence he compiled himself. He criticizes the actions of the Parents Television Council.

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Important Notice: Curiosity Channel Might Scoop Up Content From Da Vinci Kids Once The Channel Goes Dark On DStv In November

During the week, it was reported that MultiChoice would be axing Da Vinci Kids from various DStv and GOtv platforms across Africa in November. With the future of Operation Ouch, Science Max and Horrible Histories residing within StarSat in South Africa and StarTimes across Africa.

Play Room is a children's channel operated by Ngwato Nkosi Group which offers fun and learning with popular animated shows dubbed in Zulu alongside live-action shows. The channel would replace Da Vinci Kids on channel 300 from November 6.

But from what we've analysed in regards to the content, Play Room's offering match that of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network as opposed to Da Vinci Kids whose offering is similar to that of History and National Geographic so basically we're getting a random addition. 

Although Operation Ouch and Animal Rescue won't form part of the offering in the coming month. There's chances that some of this content may resurface on another TV channel or in this case, Curiosity Channel.

Curiosity Channel is a factual entertainment brand that was set up by Discovery founder John Hendricks. The brand offers a streaming service which bundles content from numerous brands like Tastemade, SOMM TV, One Day University and also Da Vinci Kids.

The only problem would be accessibility as MultiChoice regards this as premium channel and as such consumers would need to pay more in order to watch content from Da Vinci Kids or get StarSat which is very much affordable.

Recap To The Month: Consumers Seek The Help Of A Rival Platform For The Soon To Be Axed HONEY On DStv

During the week, it was reported that HONEY would be shutting down on DStv by the end of October and this comes after its disappearance from some parts of Africa on GOtv in August. With consumers curious on the fate of shows like 7 Colours, Making The Menu and The Buzz.

As mentioned, several shows from HONEY could resurface on various local channels from M-Net alongside Moja Love. A majority could end up dying out alongside the channel while other shows like Yes, I Have HIV Zambia could be restricted to only Zambezi Magic.

Similar to Novela Magic, consumers will be missing out on programming that is if no plan is set to motion to supplement this offering. Following the cancellation of HONEY, consumers have requested the help of another platform in order to keep the spark alive.

Even if an option was available (e.g. StarSat), they may not have the financial means to sustain it and another dealing with the content. Since it was technically funded by DStv, they have as much right to the content as Media24 meaning StarSat would need to find other content.

Although HONEY would end its run on DStv by the end of October with no replacement on the cards. Consumers can find a variety of entertaining shows on BBC Lifestyle (channel 174), Food Network (channel 175), TLC (channel 135) and Real Time (channel 155).