Iyanu movie & new Phineas and Ferb, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
IYANU: THE AGE OF WONDERS
First on Showmax | Stream now
Set 500 years before the rise of Iyanu, The Age of Wonders transports viewers to Yorubaland at the height of its magical civilisation. When Meje – the embodiment of the seven deadly sins – emerges, young warriors Dara and Ishe must stop the coming Age of Darkness. Their only hope lies with the Divine Ones, legendary beings who once walked the earth and upheld the balance between light and shadow.
The feature film’s all-Nigerian voice cast includes Shaffy Bello (The Black Book) as Emi, The One Mother; African Movie Academy Awards winner and Vogue US cover star Adesua Etomi-Wellington as Olori; and award winner Serah Johnson as Iyanu.
Created by Nigerian director Roye Okupe from his own graphic novel, the breakout first season of the animated series ranked as the #1 series on Cartoon Network, in the top 10 kids’ and family series on Max, and as the most-watched kids’ series on Showmax at its launch.
At the recent MIPAfrica Inclusive Lens Awards, Iyanu won the Diversity In Kids Programming: Older Kids category, beating out Iwájú and Supa Team 4.
Watch the trailer, which has over one million views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
FPB rating: 10-12 PG
THE WONDERFULLY WEIRD WORLD OF GUMBALL S1
Cartoon Network (DStv Channel 301) | 4:15PM on weekdays from Monday, 6 October
From the creators of The Amazing World of Gumball comes a brand-new series that’s just a bit more weird and a little more wonderful.
Follow the misadventures of 12-year-old Gumball and his family in their weird and wonderful town of Elmore. Dad’s a six-foot stay-at-home pink rabbit; Mom works hard in the rainbow factory; and Gumball’s school friends include a tyrannosaurus rex, a cheerleading peanut and a banana.
The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball has a 100% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.6/10 score on IMDb. Slate hails the animated series as “one of the best shows on television… like Bluey’s naughty cousin… as antic and inventive as ever.”
Watch the trailer, which has over 3.5 million views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Common Sense Media recommendation: 10+
PHINEAS AND FERB S5
Disney Channel SA (DStv Channel 303) | 4:30PM on weekdays from Monday, 6 October
Phineas and Ferb follows the inventive stepbrothers as they tackle another 104 days of summer. Candace is more determined than ever to finally bust her little brothers, while their pet platypus, Perry, continues to lead a double life as the suave Agent P, whose sole mission is to thwart Dr Doofenshmirtz from taking over the Tri-State Area.
After five seasons, Phineas and Ferb still has a 100% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.1/10 rating on IMDb. Previous seasons won three Primetime Emmys and have been nominated at the Annies, BAFTAs and Kids Choice Awards, among others.
Watch the trailer, which has nearly 10 million views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Common Sense Media recommendation: 5+
WIZARDS BEYOND WAVERLY PLACE S2: PART 1
Disney Channel SA (DStv Channel 303) | 5PM on Mondays-Thursdays from 6 October
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place follows an adult Justin Russo, who has chosen to lead a normal, mortal life with his family, Giada, Roman and Milo. When Justin’s sister Alex brings Billie to his home seeking help, Justin realises he must dust off his magical skills to mentor the wizard-in-training while also juggling his everyday responsibilities – and safeguarding the future of the Wizard World.
In S2, Billie grapples with the fact that being part of the Russo family might be more complicated than she thought – especially now that she’s not the only wizard in the house. Thanks to Roman and Milo’s new magical powers, Justin is now tasked with training three young wizards for the Family Wizard Competition. As the stakes rise inside and outside the family, a mysterious new threat emerges – one that could unravel the Russos forever.
At the 2025 Kids Choice Awards, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place was up for Favorite Kids Show, Favorite Male TV Star: Kids (David Henrie as Justin) and Favorite Female TV Star: Kids (Janice LeAnn Brown as Billie).
This is a spinoff of Wizards of Waverly Place, which won Emmys, BAFTAs, Kids Choice and Teen Choice awards – and launched the career of Selena Gomez, who exec produces and guest stars here.
Watch the trailer, which has over nine million views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Common Sense Media recommendation: 6+
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM
MM1 (DStv Channel 104) | 12:45PM, Saturday, 11 October
Showmax | Stream from Sunday, 12 October
Set 183 years before the events of the original films, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim follows the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. A sudden attack by a vengeful lord forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold that will later come to be known as Helm’s Deep.
The War of the Rohirrim is executive produced by Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson and directed by Kenji Kamiyama (the Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell franchises). The stacked voice cast is led by Emmy winner Brian Cox (Succession) as Helm Hammerhand and Miranda Otto as the narrator, reprising her award-winning role from the original trilogy as Éowyn.
Watch the trailer, which has over 23 million views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is available to binge on Showmax.
FPB rating: 10-12 PG
DID YOU KNOW?
South African kids content is becoming a regular feature at The International Emmys, where Takalani Sesame was nominated in 2024 and Play Room Live was nominated in 2025. Stream Play Room Live on DStv Stream and seven seasons of Takalani Sesame in Afrikaans, English, Ndebele and Zulu on Showmax.