Teenagers in preppy private school uniforms involved in all manner of mischief, mysteries and mayhem are in vogue in popular culture from Harry Potter to Glee and now the trend continues with House of Anubis that starts today on Nickelodeon (DStv 305) weekdays at 16:55 (repeat 20:15).
ALSO READ: Nickelodeon goes big with the new daily teen mystery drama House of Anubis from 13 June.
The MTV owned youth channel Nickelodeon couldn't bother with screeners for the South African press about this new high-buzz show that's taking over a sizeable chunk of the channel's programming real estate with daily episodes that include a daily repeat as well as a weekend omnibus of House of Anubis as well. Besides the one in the show itself, the biggest mystery here is why MTV and Nickelodeon haven't been doing more to promote the start of House of Anubis in South Africa through the press.
House of Anubis, an enjoyable teen soap and the channel's successful first venture into this genre, centres around an old dorm at an English boarding school where the attc and basement are firmly locked. New student Nina arrives from America just after another high schooler mysteriously went missing. This main mystery must be solved over the course of the first season's 60 episodes (House of Anubis has been renewed for a 2nd season) while the teenagers dabble in minor mysteries and riddles involving secret diaries, hidden panels, trap doors, books, paintings and mystery keys. There's also some teen romance and other social and school issues like friendship, homework and loyalty (this is high school after all with all the typical teen stereotypes).
In House of Anubis the scare factor is more implied that explicit and the narrative drawn out to keep luring viewers back for another installment of resourceful teens on a hunt for secrets. Adults will enjoy House of Anubis as much as older children and teens. There's no Voldemort here although sinister adults abound like the secretive caretaker Victor.
