Mr. Crocodile: Nickelodeon Acquires Brand-New Animated Series

Nickelodeon announced the acquisition of Mr. Crocodile, a brand-new animated kids' series, based on the beloved French children’s book Monsieur Crocodile a Beaucoup Faim (Mister Crocodile is Very Hungry) by best-selling author Joann Sfar, published by Gallimard. Produced by Joann Sfar’s Magical Society and distributed by Mediawan Kids & Family, with the participation of Nickelodeon and France Télévisions, the series will air globally on Nick Jr. channels, and on France Télévisions in France.

Mr. Crocodile follows the toothy, loveable Mr. Crocodile, alongside his best friend Daisy, as he cheerfully navigates life with boundless enthusiasm and comical misunderstandings due to his instinctive crocodile logic. New to a diverse and lively mobile home community, Mr. Crocodile lives with Daisy, and they split their time between her Mom and her Dad’s homes. Together, they turn everyday activities into zany adventures as they share an unconditional acceptance of each other's approach to life.

“Nickelodeon is continuing the legacy of beloved kids' stories with the acquisition of Mr. Crocodile," said Layla Lewis, Senior Vice President, Global Acquisitions and Content Partnerships, Nickelodeon. "This delightful series brings the charm and adventure of Joann Sfar's original book to a new generation of viewers, emphasizing our commitment to delivering engaging and entertaining content for kids. We can't wait for audiences to join Mr. Crocodile and Daisy on their fun-filled adventures."

“We are delighted to collaborate with Nickelodeon to introduce Mr. Crocodile to audiences around the globe. Joann Sfar’s Magical Society has assembled an exceptional international team of passionate talent to bring to life this innovative story, conceived by one of France’s most creative and prolific artists. We are confident that the show will captivate and inspire children everywhere,” says Julien Borde, President of Mediawan Kids & Family.

“Joann and I are thrilled to launch Mr. Crocodile, our first CGI series based on Joann’s iconic book, through Magical Society, the studio we founded together. Our teams have done an incredible job adapting Joann’s characters and universe into stunning 3D designs, while staying true to his whimsical and mischievous universe. It was deeply moving to see Mr. Crocodile, Daisy, and all their friends come to life for the very first time. We are incredibly proud and grateful to have our friends and partners at Nickelodeon, France Télévisions, and Mediawan Kids & Family on board for this wonderful adventure. With their support, the brand will shine, and Joann’s beloved characters will enchant children around the world,” adds Aton Soumache, Magical Society Co-Founder and Producer.

Monsieur Crocodile a Beaucoup Faim is a beloved French children's book written by New York Times bestselling author Joann Sfar. Published by Gallimard, the story follows the adventures of a hungry crocodile who sets out to find something to eat, encountering unique challenges along the way. The book is a cherished favorite among children and parents alike, known for its charming illustrations and humorous narrative. For the past 30 years, Joann Sfar has created universes of fantastical worlds and magical characters, his works spanning comic books, novels, series, films that reach a worldwide audience. Sfar is also known for his bestselling illustrated book Little Vampire and for his adaptation of the French literary classic, The Little Prince.

Mr. Crocodile was developed by Simon Nicholson and Joann Sfar, and is directed by Fabien Brandily. Rachel Lipman serves as Executive Producer alongside producers Aton Soumache, Joann Sfar, Rachel Lipman, and Cédric Pilot. Max Goodman and Lynsey O'Callaghan serve as the Executives in Charge for Nickelodeon.

Iyanu Premieres On Showmax With All-Nigerian Voice Cast

The animated series Iyanu will make its African debut on Showmax starting on June 13, 2025. It will feature an impressive lineup of Nigerian voice actors, including Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Serah Johnson, Stella Damasus, and Shaffy Bello.

The show follows the story of a brave young orphan living in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland. When danger arises, she unwittingly activates divine powers that have been dormant since the Age of Wonders. With the help of her adventurous friend Biyi, voiced by Okey Jude, and the bookish Toye, played by Samuel Kugbiyi, Iyanu embarks on a journey to confront the evil threatening her community. They are joined by a magical leopard named Ekun, adding to the excitement of their adventure.

Iyanu has already made waves in the United States since its launch on Cartoon Network in April 2025. It has received critical acclaim and considerable viewership, ranking number one on the network and within the top 10 for kids and family series on Max. Screen Rant lauded it as “The Last Airbender and Black Panther hybrid you didn’t know you needed,” emphasising its innovative fusion of African mythology and contemporary superhero themes.

Adapted from the graphic novel Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Nigerian creator Roye Okupe, the animated series has captured audiences worldwide. Okupe expressed his excitement for the African premiere, emphasising the importance of representation in superhero narratives. “To see Iyanu launching on Showmax across 44 African countries is truly a full-circle moment,” he said.

Iyanu showcases the rich tapestry of Nigerian culture, music, and mythology and highlights the universal appeal of superhero stories. It invites viewers of all ages to connect with a hero who looks and feels like them. The series promises a magical journey of self-discovery and adventure for audiences throughout Africa and beyond.

Paramount May Be Looking To Distance Themselves From MTV, Comedy Central And Nickelodeon

Skydance is currently in a process of acquiring MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central's parent company Paramount Global with the deal valued at $8 billion dollars. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025 and similar to the Canal+/MultiChoice deal was undergoing media scrutiny.

"New Paramount" or "Paramount Skydance Corporation" is the purposed name for the merged company if Skydance acquires Paramount. Fro. what's outlined, they're looking to increase their reach with "New Paramount" venturing into sports and gaming with some citing Hasbro and Take One as potential investments.

In general, "New Paramount" is doing what Canal+ disliked about MultiChoice - diversification. Although these endeavours could leave you with extra money in your pocket, for MultiChoice they let it's pay-tv market crash which is where Paramount resides with MTV and Nickelodeon.

Skydance and Paramount are looking to slash costs which amounts to $2 billion dollars and there's a moderate to high chance this will affect MTV's suite of channels globally. According to an article on THR, New management doesn't view this offering as a priority like CBS.

They're likely to follow Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery in streamlining their endeavours which will led to reduced content and channel closures. Paramount has made several attempts at selling BET and Showtime so that could enter into the equation.

At the moment, Skydance only views Paramount's studio and streaming endeavours as a priority so most probable guesses is they'll reduce their linear footprint by slashing their operations in Europe and Asia. Especially if they're generating very little revenue and obviously this will lead to job losses.

Another scenario would be spinning most of its cable networks which include BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV. From what some platforms outlined, MTV Studios produces cheaper content so I'd imagine Skydance would want something on par with HBO which is CBS. 

If anything, Paramount will most definitely keep it's other studios including that of Nickelodeon Animation and integrate it with Skydance's existing lineup. The cable networks alongside MTV Studios become a separate entity presumably called MTV Entertainment Corporation.

MTV Entertainment Corporation could enter into various agreements with Paramount when it comes to IPs such as SpongeBob Squarepants and The Loud House. But then again, if Paramount is diversifying to gain extra revenue streams I'd imagine them wanting to close a couple of channels globally.

Internationally, Netflix has been licensing a batch of content from Nickelodeon so I'd imagine a couple of those channels closing in Europe, Asia and Africa. Most kids are watching content online and if these networks aren't bringing the income I'd imagine them wanting to sought out third parties.

Look at Britbox, when it was launched in South Africa most consumers sought to MultiChoice for its lineup with BBC even licencing content exclusively. Some sought how BBC executed it's rollout as a reason for its downfall but if I had to guess it mainly derived from a competitive landscape.

In South Africa, we have a number of streaming services from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Showmax as you know it not everyone can pay for this bulk of platforms. Britbox was a pay service and with existing competitors most would have likely paid if the content was with their current provider.

That's the same rationality management at HBO Max opted for when removing most of Cartoon Network's shows. They couldn't get it monetized as the audience was very small but the moment these shows popped up on other providers it started garnering traction and Warner was able to capitalise on its success.

Reminder: Iconic South African Battles Brought To Life By The HISTORY Channel Africa With New Documentary Series ‘Battlefields South Africa With John Robbie’ Is Launched

Battlefields South Africa with John Robbie, a documentary series which brings three of the country’s most notable historic battles to life, will start on Friday 6 June at 21h05 on the HISTORY® Channel (DStv 186). The three-part documentary series explores the pivotal moments, bold strategies, and fateful decisions that shaped some of the country’s most iconic battles. It is produced by The Schultz Creative.

Of the series, MultiChoice Group Acting Head of 3rd Party Channels Partnerships, Melusi Sibisi says, “At MultiChoice, we believe in the power of storytelling to not only entertain but to educate, preserve and deepen our understanding of who we are as Africans. Battlefields South Africa is more than just a history series—it’s a compelling exploration of the defining moments that have shaped our nation. By bringing these stories to screen through powerful visual storytelling and authentic voices, we are creating space for reflection, dialogue, and renewed connection to our shared past. We are proud to partner with the HISTORY Channel Africa in delivering a production that honours our complex history while igniting curiosity and pride in a new generation.”

The series is hosted by radio legend, John Robbie, who is joined by a different celebrity guest in each episode to unravel the story of a battle central to local history by using a large-scale model of the battlefield and figurines which represent the relevant armies.

Through devastating mistakes, and hard-fought victories, Battlefields South Africa uncovers many of the lessons that still shape modern warfare.

In episode one, comedian Themba Robin and Robbie explore the first major clash of the Anglo-Zulu War - the Battle of Isandlwana. They guide viewers through the terrain, formations, and fatal misjudgments of this battle. Of the series, Themba Robin says, “One of the things I love, is viewing things that are seemingly ordinary from a different perspective. With the actual battlefield board in front of us, viewers will be able to see tangible information moving about in real time.

In episode two, investigative journalist and avid history enthusiast, Ruda Landman walks the historic battlefields of Colenso and Spionkop during the South African War together with Robbie. She says, “We always hear about history in shorthand. Unless you really immerse yourself in it, you might only read two or three lines about a battle. So, to actually take it step-by-step and see how it evolved and the decisions that were made is fascinating.”

Radio and TV presenter Jeremy Maggs, who is the guest in episode three which tells of the Battle of Delville Wood, adds, “I think what really excites me about this series, is the way in which we see the visual personification of something which is so crucial to South Africa’s history. I have thoroughly enjoyed looking at the board, working around the board and actually seeing the graphic representation of this battle.”

So, what does John Robbie hope viewers take away from Battlefields South Africa? “I hope viewers take away the futility of war. The classic example is that 14 years after the South African War, fighting each other to the death, you had South Africans and British join forces to fight together against the Germans. The other key takeaway is the incredible bravery and the interesting individual stories that emerge during each of these battles.”

Audiences are invited to learn from history through the engaging storytelling, immersive visuals, and relatable discussions in Battlefields South Africa. Don’t miss it, every Friday at 21h05 starting 6 June on the HISTORY Channel (DStv 186) or catch the repeats on Sunday evenings at 20h15. 

Potential Effects Of MultiChoice's Cable, Streaming And Diversified Portfolio Under Canal+

Below is what I speculate will become "New MultiChoice" with a bit of what's reported or shared by other media outlets so far.

Discarding non-core assets

In June 2024, Canal+ had been interviewed by journalists regarding the MultiChoice takeover which is being reviewed by the Competition Tribunal and ICASA. If the deal is approved, MultiChoice is expected to divest from non-core assets such as Namola, NMIS Insurance Services and Moment.

Canal+ had stated that it's strategy is not that of diversification but rather content distribution. Although the Competition Commission put up a three year clause over the retention of jobs it doesn't account to sale of assets.

It's also possible that under "New MultiChoice" some of these services such as SuperSportBET will be retained to compliment SuperSport's stellar lineup. Canal+ had stated they'd review the South African business which to me was their way of keeping an open mind.

Further restructuring to DStv's offering

MultiChoice has been seeing in drop in its consumer base for the DStv service with plans underway to fold it into an entity known as LicenceCo. Under this spin-off, MultiChoice's voting rights will be capped at 20% with economic interests amounting to 49%.

Even though the purposed structure is expected to satisfy regulators as it keeps the licence in South Africa, Canal+ has the influence over the budget and content strategies. Under "New MultiChoice", they could look to optimise profitability by reducing channels.

That could as well mean discarding niche and low performance channels such as Discovery Family, Nicktoons and Travel Channel. Although regulators placed a cap which preserves local entities like SABC News for 3 years but there's no telling what's going to happen after.

Repositioning of MultiChoice's streaming 

During the month, Warner Bros. Discovery decided to revert the streaming service Max back into HBO Max of course this was dealt with a lot of media debacle. Firstly, HBO Max removed a ton of content from its platform with the latter licensed to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Warner Bros. Discovery is optimising for profitability and affected content on Max was generating little to no revenue for the company. This is where Showmax could end up as Canal+ is looking to position MultiChoice as "an entertainment leader in Africa".

This could imply reducing the amount of international content already seen on Showmax leading MultiChoice to prioritise Canal+'s francophone offering with Zacu Entertainment and Marodi TV.