Not only is Cartoon Network pulling another weirdly amazing trick up their sleeve, but each time they do so it keeps getting better and better.
To start the school holidays off with a bang, Cartoon Network is launching a brand-new channel original show My Cartoon Friend on Monday, 12th of July.
This new, fun-loving, imaginative, and uniquely African series that composes of 13 one-and-a-half minute shorts, which was created especially for Cartoon Network Africa by South African animator Lwazi Msipha, shows that while cartoons are cool and friends essential, having a cartoon character as a friend can be super-cool, right? Errr … not always!
Synopsis
A young African animator, Lwazi, after experimenting with some new and unknown animation software, accidently exports his animated character into the real world. Lwazi finds he is now stuck with Themba, his new and unusual friend, with no knowledge of how to revers the entire thing. Themba is witty, sharp with his tongue, quick on his feet, and basically has an answer to everything – even if he’s extremely inaccurate. Themba and Lwazi have an entertaining and adventurous everyday life together as Themba learns to fit into the real world (definitely not by paying rent, that’s for sure!).
Lwazi Msipha
Lwazi Msipha, who is based in Johannesburg, is a self-taught designer and school taught 3D animator, won the 2019 Digital Lab Africa #3 pitching competition, a springboard and incubation platform for African creatives, which led to the creation of Africa’s first original hybrid comedy series. Not only did Lwazi create, write, animated, and guided the 13- episode production of the series, but he also played the show’s main protagonist.
“My Cartoon Friend is such an exciting project because it truly is out of the box and unexpected. Moreover, it lends itself very well to what Cartoon Network Africa has been aiming for in terms of content that not only resonates with our local African audience but is also created by and with African creatives,” says Ariane Suveg, Programming director and head of Kids Content Africa.
“Ever since I was young, I have been a massive fan of Cartoon Network. My family could tell if I was the last one watching TV because when they switched it on in the morning it would be on Cartoon Network. My Cartoon Friend is special to me because it is a unique concept that I never thought would exist beyond YouTube, but my friends at Cartoon Network loved it and believed in me enough to bring it to its audience. It’s been an amazing experience, but I need someone to pinch me, I think I might still be dreaming,” concludes Lwazi Msipha.
You don’t want to miss this exhilarating mix of live-action and animation comedy in My Cartoon Friend so tune into Cartoon Network Africa from Monday, 12th of July to Wednesday, 28th of July at 16:15 CAT.
