This week The Walt Disney Company Africa announced new short-form local content for Disney Channel (DStv Channel 303), as well as a content slate that is chock-full of new and exciting content from animation to live-action.
Production is underway for the first-ever Disney Africa YouTube series, a complementary extension of Disney Channel’s television offering, that features two local, young presenters Zimi (12) and Mnqobi (10) Ndlela. The series will focus on Disney news, highlights, reviews, trending topics, craft activities and field trips in and around the country. Audiences can expect exclusive behind-the-scenes and interviews, coupled with fun and adventure, which will no doubt please young viewers.
Inspired by Disney Channel’s core values of entertaining, informing, and inspiring children across the globe, My Magic is Me returns to the channel early next year. The initiative aims to strengthen the narrative of self-acceptance and celebration of diversity among young children while celebrating their magic and what makes them uniquely themselves. My Magic is Me first launched as a mix of live-action and animated short-form content that celebrated kids from diverse backgrounds who were cast as the leads in their own personal stories. This year the channel is calling for South African kids, aged 7-12, to audition to be part of this exciting and heartwarming series by uploading a video for consideration – see the link to this here.
“The Walt Disney Company Africa is focused on making our audiences feel even more a part of our channel through our content offerings and both the YouTube series and My Magic is Me are prime examples of that purpose. We are especially thrilled to be bringing a new season of My Magic is Me, simply because it’s the kind of content that gives South African kids from all backgrounds a platform to express themselves and be celebrated for their unique individuality,” says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa. She adds that Disney Channel will continue to entertain kids, while empowering and teaching them as they explore the world around them.
In addition to the local content, audiences can also look forward to brand-new content premieres as well as new seasons of beloved shows on the channel from as early as November. Viewers will also notice a new, evolved look on the channel and its logo, which visualizes a more contemporary positioning for the channel, where kids can laugh and adventure with our gang of unexpected heroes.
The Ghost and Molly McGee is an animated buddy-comedy that follows tween optimist Molly, who lives to make the world a better place, and grumpy ghost Scratch, whose job is to spread misery. When one of Scratch’s curses backfires, he finds himself forever bound to Molly, creating an unlikely friendship that leads to humorous misadventures as they navigate Molly’s new school and town. New episodes of Season 1 premiere on 7 November at 17:50
Brand-new series Ultra Violet and Black Scorpion comes to the channel on 14 November at 18:15 and follows Mexican-American teen Violet Rodriguez who is chosen by a magical luchador mask that transforms her into the superhero Ultra Violet. Taken under the wing of her luchador uncle, Cruz, known as Black Scorpion, Violet has to learn to be responsible with her powers and doesn’t always see eye to eye with him when it comes to his methods for capturing crooks.
The Villains of Valley View is centered around a teenage supervillain and her family as they are forced to uproot their lives and change identities. With the help of her effervescent new neighbor Hartley, Havoc — going incognito as Amy — must somehow hide her superpowers and quell her villainous nature in favor of something she and the rest of her family have fought against all their lives: being normal. This show premieres on 5 December at 17:50.
Also coming to the channel on 5 November, at 16:05, is the African original production, Team Sayari. Following its premiere on National Geographic Wild, the pan-African show sees Nairobi-based youths Mysha Hodson (13), Marita Lucas (12), Shanah Manjeru (14), Railey Mwai (10) and Adarsh Nagda (12) serve as studio hosts for the show. From Sayari basecamp, they link to field presenters that travel to East, West and South Africa to explore intriguing facets of the environment, interview experts on the ground and learn what is needed to protect and conserve our natural world. Joining them on location are Sheilah Sheldone (13, Kenya), Toluwanimi Olaoye (12, Nigeria), Christian Mekhi (10, Rwanda), Atule Mazane, Khahliso Khojane, Thandolwethu Fani, (13, 14, 15, South Africa) and Sabrina Kilumanga (10, Tanzania).
The ever-popular Raven-Symoné returns with Raven’s Home on 12 December at 17:00 for Season 5 of the comedy series that follows the hilarious adventures by somewhat psychic Raven Baxter and her son Booker who has inherited his mom’s gift to catch glimpses of the future. This season, Raven and Booker move back to San Francisco to help take care of her dad after a mild heart attack.
Everyone’s favorite superhero Marinette is back in Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir on 9 January at 15:15. Accompanied by Cat Noir, the two teenagers with secret identities save Paris from the evil Hawk Moth and his akumas.
And finally, Chip ‘n Dale: Park Life follows two tiny troublemaking chipmunks, Chip and Dale, trying to live the good life in a big city park while having giant-sized, sky-high adventures. Nervous worrier Chip and laid-back dreamer Dale make the perfect odd couple: they’re best buddies and they drive each other nuts. In their perpetual pursuit of acorns, these ultimate underdogs are joined by Pluto, Butch and other iconic Disney characters as they face down bullies great and small. Look out for this series premiere on 23 January at 17:50.