Tuesday, October 14, 2025

New Canal+ Africa boss David Mignot makes first public appearance - in Namibia - for MultiChoice's flattering new presidential documentary, tells assembled African politicians it's committed to 'dignified' storytelling


Thinus Ferreira

The new Canal+ Africa boss, David Mignot, has made his first public appearance at an event - and in Namibia and not in South Africa where Canal+ Africa is now headquartered - to celebrate MultiChoice Namibia's pandering upcoming documentary about that country's new president.

David Mignot told the assembled African politicians, with some who were invited and flew to Namibia, that Canal+ Africa is committed to "truthful, dignified and locally-rooted storytelling" and that the documentary is proof of this.

David Mignot, who has not yet met South Africa's media face-to-face, flew to Namibia to speak at the premiere showing on 9 October of MultiChoice Namibia's new, flattering and bizarre political documentary Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics which is about Namibia's current president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The timing feels off since Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics, screened at Ster-Kinekor Grove Mall in Windhoek, is not a reflective or historical documentary but an effusive and pandering MultiChoice Namibia production about the country's fifth and current president.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah came into office in Namibia in March this year.

The premiere screening happened after the MultiChoice Namibia and Canal+ Africa senior executives, including David Mignot, had a sit-down meeting with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah earlier the same day last week.

The premiere screening was David Mignot first physical outing to speak publicly before the media and he mentioned specifically how Canal+ Africa is dedicated to "truthful, dignified and locally-rooted storytelling".

According to David Mignot, Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics will "surely inspire generations to come, and reflect on an era where Namibian voices and visions deserve to be on the world stage".


Canal+ Africa and MultiChoice Namibia made sure that several other African politicians attended the screening of the effusive political documentary, including the current Botswana president Duma Boko and a former Botswana president, as well as several Namibian politicians.

Roger Gertze, MultiChoice Namibia managing director, who also spoke at the premiere screening, said that the pay-TV operator, now owned by Canal+, feels very privileged to make a documentary about Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as Namibia's current president.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said she liked the documentary about her. "The documentary, the way I liked it, is more about telling the history of Namibia's liberation struggle. I really like it that way because that is what we need our people to know - the current and the future generations."

Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics is produced by the Namibian production company Joe Vision Productions.

According to MultiChoice Namibia, Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics "offers an intimate and inspiring look into Her Excellency’s life through decades of public service to her historic election as Namibia’s first woman Head of State in March 2025".

Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics will be aired on Zambezi Magic on 29 October at 20:30.

M-Net and ITV Studios filming The Invisible wildlife poaching drama series in Hoedspruit based on Deon Meyer novel


Thinus Ferreira

ITV Studios is working with production company Scene23 and M-Net (DStv 101) in South Africa to produce a new drama series, The Invisible set in the Kruger National Park.

M-Net publicity gave the press release to the American trade publication Variety first and then sent the same press release to South African media to repeat the same basic information from the "exclusive" press release with nothing new.

The 8-episode The Invisible is based on Deon Meyer's novel Blood Safari and has actors Dougray Scott and Abbie Cornish in on-screen roles as well as co-executive producers, with Jozhua Malherbe as director.

The Invisible has been filming in Hoedspruit in South Africa's Limpopo province.

Deon Meyer created the TV-adaptation of his book with William Josef Schneider "taking the lead in writing the TV adaptation".

The rest of The Invisible cast includes Tim Theron, Tumisho Masha and Kim Engelbrecht.

One character is called Dekker who is a "former bodyguard with a haunted past" with no indication who this is - Dougray Scott or Tim Theron or someone else.

Then there is also an Emma character - again no indication from M-Net whether this is Abbie Cornish or Kim Engelbrecht or someone else.

Tumisho Masha obviously plays "local inspector Jack Phatudi".

According to ITV Studios and M-Net "In the shadow of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, a mysterious killer begins executing local poachers. As the body count rises, local Inspector Jack Phatudi is drawn into a dangerous manhunt to unmask the vigilante".

This "Dekker" is then hired to protect "Emma" a "South African expat who returns home to search for her brother who she believes is still alive, despite his disappearance 20 years ago. When Phatudi’s investigation collides with Emma and Dekker’s quest, they uncover a buried conspiracy reaching back to the political assassination of a pivotal African leader."

In the prepared statement first given to Variety, Deon Meyer is quoted as noting "To say I’m proud, grateful and excited about The Invisible as a TV series is a vast understatement".

"We've worked so hard for two years to put the series together, and now, it’s finally going into production with an excellent broadcast partner and executive production team, great writers, a stellar, international cast, a brilliant director and the best film crew in the world. How cool is that?"

Cobus van den Berg, Scene23 executive producer, is quoted as saying "Based on the work of acclaimed author Deoon Meyer, it’s about more than just a television series – it’s a chance to showcase our talent, our landscapes, and our storytelling on an international stage".

"We are proud to partner with BMG, M-Net and ITV Studios to bring this story to both local and international audiences."

Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice's director of content for general entertainment for English and Portuguese-speaking Africa - the new very long title following MultiChoice's takeover of Canal+ - is quoted in the media statement as saying"The Invisible is a contemporary South African retelling inspired by true events – including the mysterious plane crash that claimed former Mozambican President Samora Machel".

The part that ITV Studios contributed to the press release given to Variety first is Julie Meldal-Johnsen, ITV Studios executive vice president of global content, with this drop-in quote: "We're delighted to be partnering with M-Net, Scene23, BMG, and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), to bring this thrilling and action-packed drama to global audiences".

"The Invisible marks our first scripted project from a South African producer - hopefully the first of many."

And yet another superfluous quote - this one from Yu-Fai Suen of Berkeley Media Group, echoing what everyone already said: "We are proud and excited to be working with Abbie Cornish, Dougray Scott and a hugely talented group of creatives in South Africa on Berkeley Media’s latest international production".

"With our partners Scene23 and ITV Studios, we aim to bring alive this amazing African story to an appreciative global audience".

GOAT Productions gathers 10 fighting females from across Africa for Showmax and NBCUniversal's The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa releasing 28 November


Thinus Ferreira

After The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: South Africa of 2024, Showmax and NBCUniversal Formats are once again expanding the tacky reality skein with The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa that will be released on 28 November and see women who have appeared in various iterations of the African franchise go fight with each other in Brazil.

Although MultiChoice last year said that it had probably "over-indexed" on the fighting females reality format, it has greenlit The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa for its streamer, that is produced by GOAT Productions.

Ten women from across Africa, including South Africa are included in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa.that will release on Showmax on 28 November and on M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel from 29 November.

They are Angel Ndlela, Annie Mthembu and Jojo Robinson from The Real Housewives of Durban, Christall Kay and Evodia Mogase from The Real Housewives of Johannesburg, Catherine Masitsa and Zena Nyambu from The Real Housewives of Nairobi, as well as Marian Timmer from The Real Housewives of Lagos and Princess Jecoco from The Real Housewives of Abuja.

Graeme Swanepoel, executive producer in a prepared quote, says "The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa is more than just a reality show, it's a celebration of African womanhood in all its power, diversity and glamour".

"For the first time, we’re bringing together iconic housewives from across the continent to share their worlds, their stories and their sisterhood. It's unapologetically Pan-African, women-led and bursting with the kind of energy and authenticity that makes Africa unlike anywhere else on Earth."

In the statement, Barrie Kelly, vice president of international format production and development for NBCUniversal Formats, says "Every African version of The Real Housewives has captured the vibrant diversity of its country while resonating with audiences both locally and globally".

"With The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa we are taking that energy to the next level. Partnering once again with GOAT Productions and Showmax, this series brings together some of the most formidable Housewives for an unforgettable journey. We can't wait for viewers to join them on the trip of a lifetime to Brazil."

Monday, October 13, 2025

Apple rebrands Apple TV+ as simply Apple TV


Thinus Ferreira

Apple on Monday afternoon announced that it is rebranding its Apple TV+ video streaming service to simply Apple TV and dropping the "+".

Apple TV+ will no longer be distinguishable from Apple's connected smart TV product.

"Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV, with a vibrant new identity," Apple said in a press release announcing that its Apple Original Film F1 The Movie will be released for global streaming on Apple TV on 12 December.

Friday, October 10, 2025

MultiChoice Kenya: Shocking plunge of 84% in a year from 1.2 million to just 188 948 DStv subscribers after multiple massive price hikes


Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Kenya has seen a shocking DStv subscriber plunge in just a year that has almost completely wiped out MultiChoice Kenya's subscriber base, with an 84% drop in customers.

MultiChoice Kenya's Dstv subscribers fell off a cliff from 1.195 million subscribers in June 2024 to just 188 948 Dstv subscribers by June 2025. 

That is a massive drop of 84.2% in East Africa in what is MultiChoice's third largest pay-TV market after South Africa and Nigeria in West Africa.

MultiChoice Kenya's digital terrestrial television (DTT) subscribers plunged a shocking 88.7%, with GOtv subscribers falling from 2.79 million in June 2024 to just 362 543 GOtv subscribers by June 2025. 

MultiChoice Kenya's decimated subscriber numbers are contained within the latest Broadcasting Services Report for the third quarter of 2025 of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK).

While rival StarTimes from China had a lot fewer DTT subscribers than MultiChoice, the drastic plunge in GOtv subscribers mean that StarTimes at 492  330 subscribers now have more DTT customers in Kenya than MultiChoice.

On satellite pay-TV StarTimes now also has more subscribers in Kenya than MultiChoice with 195 948 subscribers, although it also saw a 45.9% decline from a year ago when it still had 361 953 satellite pay-TV subscribers.

MultiChoice Kenya hiked DStv prices by over 5% in the East Africa country in November 2024 - the 4th steep increase in two years, after which DStv customers became very vocal that they're cancelling DStv. 

Adding insult to injury and driving DStv cancellations have been the utter lack of any real explanations to existing and potential DStv Kenya consumers about what's behind the steep increases.

After the last round of DStv price hikes customers spoke out across social media, like Michelle Katami who called Dstv "greedy and uncontrollable": "You cannot increase pricing, whenever, wherever you feel like. What is your excuse this time? DStv subscription in Kenya is overpriced. Only sports channels matter to me. MultiChoice Kenya needs to be regulated at this point".

Ron Peter asked MultiChoice Kenya to "provide justification for the increases in your prices. Otherwise I haven't seen any improvements in content except for SuperSport channels. Over the years you have remained stagnant. We welcome other pay-TV into the Kenyan market".

eNCA 's latest anchor shuffle has Andrew Barnes and Aviwe Mtila fronting primetime


Thinus Ferreira

eMedia's eNCA (DStv 403) has once again changed its anchor line-up with Andrew Barnes and Aviwe Mtila now fronting primetime on the South African TV news channel since 6 October.

e.tv and eNCA didn't give a heads-up to media about the anchor changes or issue a press release but the latest anchor shuffle comes after John Bailey's exit as eNCA managing editor, which also went unannounced.

It's not known who the new eNCA managing editor is and it's unclear why eNCA once again moved news readers to different timeslots.

Since Monday, the SA Morning strand, which is also shown free-to-air on e.tv, on eNCA is now anchored by Masego Rahlaga and Dan Moyane between 06:00 and 09:00.

This is followed by Newslink between 9:00 and 12:00, anchored by Naledi Moleo.

All Angels between 12:00 and 14:00 has Gareth Edwards as anchor, with Jenna-Leigh Bilong as the face of Today in the afternoon block between 14:00 and 17:00.

Andrew Barnes has been moved to the evenings as the new face of eNCA primetime between 17:00 and 20:00 of SA Tonight, followed by Aviwe Mtila as the anchor of Newsnight between 20:00 and 23:00.


UPDATE Monday 13 October 2025:
A tip of the hat to a reader who messaged that Lukhanyo Calata is currently eNCA director of News. 

Norman Munzhelele is eNCA managing director, and Jody Jacobs has returned from the United States to eNCA and is now eNCA broadcast manager. Mmanaledi Mataboge-Mashetla is eNCA news editor and Aakash Bramdeo is currently the eNCA politics editor.

Thanks to the reader who made me aware of these names that appear at the end of eNCA's current affairs shows.

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Nu Metro unveils new and refurbished 9-auditorium Gateway cineplex in Durban with South Africa's first 270-degree ScreenX experience and VIP Premiere Cinemas


Thinus Ferreira

Nu Metro has opened the cinema chain's new flagship cinema complex at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping shopping mall in Durban on 3 October, with South Africa's first-ever 270-degree ScreenX auditorium as well as its new VIP Premiere Cinemas.

I only discovered this yesterday since Nu Metro didn't send any press release or any communication about it and had to reach out from my side to find out what's going on.

Nu Metro's new cineplex at Gateway now has 9 refurbished cinemas, including the ScreenX auditorium.

This ScreenX auditorium has a 270-degree "panoramic format" that surrounds cinemagoers with 3 walls to create an even more immersive in-theatre movie experience.

Besides ScreenX, Nu Metro Gateway now also offers 4DX, Scene Xtreme, as well as a Kidz Cinema option.






Also new at Nu Metro Gateway is its new VIP Premiere Cinemas - Nu Metro's latest, highest-tier and most expensive offering, with a more exclusive movie-going experience.

Nu Metro VIP Premiere Cinemas has plush leather recliners, an exclusive lounge area, as well as a gourmet curated menu with a full-service bar.

According to Nu Metro, its VIP Premiere Cinemas will be "redefining cinema hospitality".

About taking over Nu Metro Gateway, Beverley Govender, Nu Metro senior marketing manager, says "We're incredibly proud of this acquisition and renovation".

"Nu Metro Gateway is more than just a cinema — it's a showcase of our brand's evolution. From the sleek new design to the immersive formats, every detail reflects our commitment to delivering unforgettable entertainment."

"This complex sets the benchmark for what the future of cinema should feel like."

As an introductory price, ScreenX tickets will cost R100 each during October, with titles like F1, How to Train Your Dragon and Superman. Thereafter, Nu Metro's ScreenX pricing will be R200 per ticket.

BAD BRAVO IMPRESSION. NBCUniversal International Networks has launch event for DStv's E!-replacement TV channel Bravo


Thinus Ferreira

On Wednesday, NBCUniversal International Networks held a launch event for its E!-replacement channel, Bravo, in Johannesburg, for just some Johannesburg-based media and influencers.

NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer replaced E! with Bravo on MultiChoice's DStv channel line-up after 21 years due to two reasons.

Firstly, E! has become a zombie channel filled with repeats and little to no new content, with even E! News getting cancelled and the schedule that was shamelessly padded the last few years with shows that actually air on Bravo in the United States.

Secondly, NBCUniversal decided to get rid of its steadily worsening set of pay-TV channels - a collection that includes E! - into a new company called Versant. So, NBCUniversal no longer runs E! or wants anything to do with it. 

Cue Bravo which remains within the NBCUniversal stable as one of its TV channels, as the new E! placeholder.

Bravo isn't suddenly on DStv because it's "better". 

Bravo simply replaces E! because of corporate changes and decisions that watered down E! (NBCUniversal decided to no longer invest in content for E! in the way it did before), after which NBCUniversal decided to get rid of E! that it no longer considers valuable. 

Indicative of the sorry state of traditional pay-TV entropy and just how far things have really fallen: Wednesday's Bravo launch event held at Four Seasons, The Westcliff in Parktown was only for Johannesburg media and influencers (and even within that, an incomplete subset with some media not even made aware something would be taking place).

In bygone years, a place like NBCUniversal International Networks - especially for the "launch" and introduction of new TV channel - would have ensured it had all relevant media there. This time - not so much.

Instead, NBCUniversal International Networks which hasn't held any upfront or even roundtable press interactions with South Africa's media in years, focused on getting "personalities" - likely social media notables who would "amplify" its Bravo launch event with tweets and Insta-posts into the ether.

What was said at Wednesday's NBCU Bravo launch with Thulane Hadebene isn't known - nothing about what happened there, was shown there, or said there, had been shared or communicated a day later by Thursday afternoon.

The media launch event included a screening of an episode of the upcoming The Real Housewives of London, as well as a question and answer session with the personalites who appear in the second season of the South African version of Dating #NoFilter South Africa.

Either Marco Giusti, senior vice president of marketing for NBCUniversal International Networks in London was physically present in person at Wednesday's Bravo Africa launch or did some pre-recorded video message, but also what he had to say was solely just for those who were physically at the channel launch event.

NBCUniversal couldn't make any of this accessible to media, or actually even worse, lacked the insight that perhaps media not physically present at Wednesday's event might have an interest, or might be instrumental in hearing what happens and is said, and reporting that out.

The last time NBCUniversal International Networks properly bothered and managed to engage the media in South Africa was exactly three years ago in October 2022 with the addition of Universal+ to DStv. 

The Universal+ launch just three years ago wasn't even a TV channel "launch" - yet compare what NBCUniversal International Networks still bothered to do then and how it communicated and involved the news media, compared to now. 

Since then NBCUniversal International Networks seems to have continued to devolve into a type of sad situation where it's about "the less, the better" when it comes to promotion and everything around its channels set in South Africa and Africa.

How many South Africans appear constantly across the different iterations of the Below Deck franchise (on E! and now on Bravo)? How many interviews with any of those people, or media roundtables, have appeared on been done with South African press over the past years?

And it's not for a lack of asking and trying on the part of the media.

The way that Bravo was "launched" as an E!-takeover with little regard to actually involve, communicate with and taking the broader and real media covering it, with it on a journey, further underscores the headshaking devolution and devaluing of NBCUniversal International Networks and what's left of its pay-TV brands.

What a bad first Bravo impression (that will be quite lasting).

Yet, given how NBCUniversal International Networks has drifted over recent years from trying to interact with South African media to a much more laissez-faire approach, it's a bad first impression that isn't actually surprising.

Thinking back to how NBCUniversal launched E! on DStv 21 years ago - and I was there and can fully compare - the start and launch of Bravo is regressive and perfunctory and looks very badly done.

How much has the world and technology changed since NBCUniversal launched E! in South Africa two decades ago and had a media launch event for the channel with the late Lebo Mathosa? 

And yet, it's still connection - and real connection and communication that's valued, and that truly gets results.

Was it too much effort, too costly, too cumbersome and too difficult for NBCUniversal International Networks to organise a simple virtual for all of South Africa's media about Bravo? 

To get any three South Africans from across the franchises and seasons of Below Deck to do a Zoom roundtable with media and a Q&A about their experiences? To introduce a NBCUniversal International Networks executive or PR - anyone! - to South Africa's journalists covering TV in a basic meet-and-greet, and to talk about NBCU's plans and content for its channels and Bravo?

That is what gets traction, that is what media require, that is what will get coverage and create a good impression and engender positivity towards a "new" TV channel called Bravo. Not champagne-sipping influencers showing up for self-interested selfies at a Fenty "beauty station" and sniffing Carolina Herrera's Good Girl, who will never truly care.

Should there suddenly be a "bravo" for Bravo conveniently showing up from NBCUniversal International Networks on DStv? How about rather a big boo for a botched fail.

INTERVIEW. The voice cast of The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball on Cartoon Network on the revived series' wackiness and 'gentle wisdom'


Thinus Ferreira

The voice cast of The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball sat down for an interview about the new adventures of the multi-coloured animation family on Cartoon Network and how the new stories, even more than before mirror the absurdity, challenges and wackiness of modern-day family life and help to open conversations between kids and parents.

The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball on Cartoon Network (DStv 301) is a new continuation of the beloved animation series following the misadventures of Gumball Watterson, a blue 12-year-old cat, as well as his adopted 10-year-old brother, Darwin who is a goldfish.

There is also blue cat mom Nicole, pink rabbit dad Richard, as well as younger sister and pink rabbit Anais.

Although a revival of Gumball, The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball is really the 7th season of Gumball with 20 (of about 40) new episodes available and released so far.

TVwithThinus sat down with Alkaio Thiele, who voices Gumball, Hero Hunter voicing Darwin, Kinza Syed Khan voicing Anais, Teresa Gallagher, who is the voice of mom Nicole, as well as Dan Russell, who is Richard. 

Episodes of the new "7th season" of The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball are thoroughly 2025 and don't shy away at tackling and exploring issues and themes which are all extremely relatable to modern family life.

From AI to the struggle to eat healthily due to expensive and bad food availability, body shaming, traffic, deteriorating schools and a lack of proper school funding, video-sharing app addiction, drug-use, economic inequality and various difficult extended family dynamics (hello Granhy Jojo!), The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball touches on it all with humour, sharp commentary and stories relatable to both kids and parents.

Right off the bat I wanted to know from the voice cast what they make of the new season and all of the fascinating, and interwoven contemporary issues that have been made stories, and which are so relatable to anyone watching in the crazy world of 2025.

"I feel like they balance the craziness of it all very well and put in into little lessons so well so that we can all learn from it, but also enjoy the laughs and the giggles of all the crazy things they put in," Kinza said.

'all that wackiness,
 kept relevant to today'


"I completely agree," said Teresa. "To have messages and lessons with a very heavy hammer in anything - you know, the fun disappears, whereas I think the balance is exactly the right word, Kinza. I think they've managed to bring in all that wackiness, keep it all relevant to today and the scenarios."

"We are all trying to find our way through the social media circus of some things and I think they've done a really good job of getting that balance just right."

Alkaio says that " when you're watching a series, especially like an unenjoyable series, sometimes it's because it feels like they are hitting you over the head with the moral of the story".

"The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball put you as the viewer into such ridiculous, dramatic situations that would never happen, that you don't realise until after you finish the episode that they really did give a message. But you got that message while enjoying the episode."




Dan notes that The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball "has an effortlessness to it that can be very hard to achieve".

"They do great things without appearing to be trying very hard. And that's a really cool and a very clever thing to do."

One of the standout things within The Wonderfull Weird World of Gumball continues to be the depiction of the emotionally involved and fully rounded parents within the story and the experiential world of Gumball and his siblings. 

The parents love their kids, are flawed characters, try their best, have their own issues and insecurities and challenges and themselves don't always make the best or the right choices.

Nicole gets them trapped in traffic on the way to an amusement park, dad Richard has a body image cheerleader past story, there is parental disapproval across generations, and parents feeling unable to live up to expectations depicted in an episode about a neighbour who has a swimming pool.

"I've played many mothers in various series through the years, and Nicole is, I can honestly say = she is flawed but my goodness, you know, the love of family - she will do anything for her children and her husband," Teresa said.

"Sometimes she has some really weird ways of going about things, and her anger issues, yeah, still need addressing."

"I can't take any credit at all for the way that the parents come across, but I think that's one of the reasons, certainly, why an awful lot of adults also still engage and continue to engage with the show - it is because of that lovely portrayal of deeply flawed characters that we can all understand and recognise."

'a lovely portrayal of
deeply flawed characters
 that we can all understand'


Dan says someone once asked him what he does to be Richard. "And I said no, that's the trick. And I've kind of been that way as a dad in real life as well".

"Richard doesn't kowtow, he doesn't order around, except within his own capacity to do so."

"Perhaps, quickly, one of the best words I can say, my kids were eight and ten when Gumball started, and they'd seen me on television and stuff before, and we were sitting there watching, and they watched Richard and Nicole, and Richard just being complete Richard - I'm eating butter for no reason, or whatever it is. And I said, so what do you think of that?"

"And they looked at me and just said, 'dad'. They couldn't tell the difference between Richard and me."

"So I consider that a bit of an accolade that I've managed to stay hands-off enough with my kids. On a serious note, you can, you know, you have such power over kids, and you've got to be very careful not to wield it. You've got to be careful to let them see you fail, for real."

"The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, and sorry, I don't know if it's too intellectual or not, but I like the way they just let the parents be the parents."


'they just let the parents
be the parents'

Alkaio says "as a kid who thinks he might be in touch with his parents and adults, I think Gumball does a really good job of opening conversations for kids and adults, and how they can watch it together".

"It doesn't give all the answers, and it doesn't explain everything, but it introduces younger people to topics that they wouldn't normally be introduced to, so that the parents can maybe have something to reference to, and can explain it in a very safe way."

Besides parents not always making the "right" or best choices the kids are also very prone to making wrong decisions and then having to deal with the chaos of the outcomes.

"At the end of each episode Gumball learns something," explains Alkaio.

'That's part of the beauty: Because sometimes characters can get a little redundant, and they're kind of the same every time, and I really didn't know what Gumball was gonna try and pull off this time in each of the episodes, and learn about life."




Kinza says she feels "like the characters around Gumball like to join him in his mistakes, but also try to learn from him what not to do".

"So I think it's really like trying to figure out and learn from your mistakes, but also try to have fun."

Hero says "In life we all make mistakes, but we learn from them. And I think that's cool how they do that in the show with Gumball, Darwin and Anais - I think it's cool how we'll all make mistakes".

"And in the end, at the end of the episode, we'll all learn from that mistake".


'learn from your mistakes,
but also try to have fun'


"It's really so easy to get overwhelmed by all the negativity that we're fed and I've got to have hope all the time," says Teresa.

"If The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball can teach us anything, it's that we know that the core things will get us through life: Love and friendship. So let's be positive."




Alkaio says "I really think everything in the world is just so complicated and it takes a lot to fix something, even something really small. It takes work to fix it and make it right."

"But part of the beauty of Gumball is that things sometimes can be so simple. Like having a remote that just controls everything in the world and clicking a button and things are just magically fixed. But also in terms of storylines in Gumball, where you don't need much to make a storyline for Gumball."


'part of the beauty of Gumball is
that things sometimes
 can be just so simple'

"There's a lot to be distrustful about the world today, but that doesn't mean you have to live your life as a cynic," says Dan.

"As the great Paul McCartney once said, he thinks there are more nice people in the world than not nice people.

"I remember when I was once at a lake in New Hampshire where we went every summer and there was a very wealthy, lovely man who went up there from New York and he was in his 80s."

"And I'm not going to let you guys do any math at all, but if he was in his 80s, he was born in about 1880. That's how long ago this was."

"And he was sitting there one afternoon working on his second rum and Coke. And he creased himself laughing because somebody had given him a newspaper from when he was 18 years old. And he laughed and laughed and laughed - this wise guy from Wall Street."

"And he said, you know what? Nothing's changed. Everybody was arguing about the same stuff."

"You know, you got to ask yourself: Are there any design faults in humans? And I think we can all, we just work on our own design faults and just be good people."

"And getting back to Gumball, there is this kind of a gentleness about it and a wisdom about it that I really, really like."


The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball is on Cartoon Network (DStv 301), on weekdays from 6 October 2025