Disney Africa And LIFT Unveil Plane Livery This Holiday Season

The Walt Disney Company Africa and LIFT today unveiled a co-branded celebratory aircraft livery to kick-off Disney’s biggest festive campaign to date in South Africa, “May Your Wishes Come True”.

The livery features some of the most iconic and memorable characters from Disney, MARVEL and Star WarsTM, including: Disney’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Moana, Black Panther, GroguTM, Elsa, Spidey. A brand new character also makes an appearance, Asha, from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming “Wish", which releases in cinemas nationwide from 22 November. The Disney inspired plane (tail number ZS-GAS) will appear in South African skies and at airports from 20 October and service routes between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

On board, customers can expect special Disney and LIFT surprises, as well as kiddies activity packs to make flying with little ones a breeze during the busy holiday season, with giveaways and more treats. The excitement won't stop there, because LIFT has additional surprises between 1 and 12 December for lucky travelers on select flights, as South Africans get ready for the festive season.

Fans and travellers who spot or travel on the Disney-inspired Plane can share their pics on social media, using the hashtag #DisneyandLIFT and tagging @DisneyAfrica and @LIFT__SA.

Says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa: "To mark our 100th year anniversary (16 October 2023), The Walt Disney Company is celebrating the fans and storytellers who have sparked the joy and magic that embodies Disney over the last century. We hope that this exciting and unique collaboration with LIFT will bring delight to travellers of all ages this holiday season as we mark this milestone anniversary.”

Says Luke Roberts, General Manager, Consumer Products, Games and Publishing, The Walt Disney Company Africa; “Rolling out in stores nationwide from November, “May Your Wishes Come True” is Disney’s biggest retail campaign to date. With the holiday season approaching and “Wish” releasing in cinemas nationwide from 24 November, we are inspired by the universal truth of wishing to be together at this special time. This collaboration with LIFT truly celebrates this togetherness with families and fans.”

Says Jonathan Ayache, CEO of LIFT.: “As a beloved family brand, Disney is a perfect fit for LIFT. With our new livery, together we celebrate the love, magic and family togetherness that signals the festive season. We’re proud to link arms with Disney, through this collaboration, our hope is to ignite a sense of fun, wonder and excitement for the whole family during the upcoming season of school holidays and family celebrations.”

Customers can visit www.lift.co.za to book flights and stand a chance of flying on the #DisneyandLIFT aircraft. Travellers aboard the airline will continue to enjoy all the perks LIFT has to offer including complimentary snacks, coffee from vida e caffè and extra-friendly service from the stylish cabin crew. LIFT has flexible flight changes with unlimited penalty-free changes and no cancellation fees up to 24 hours before departure.

From November, Disney’s “May Your Wishes Come True” will offer the perfect opportunity to stock up on those gifts for every member of the family – from stocking fillers, toys, apparel, books and so much more – featuring the very latest and greatest from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. With much more to share, this festive season is set to be an unforgettable one as we wish together for the holidays.

The Adventures Of Spider-Man (2002, PDF)

Your favorite web-spinning hero is here to save the world!

When a genetically enhanced spider escapes from a laboratory cage and bites Peter Parker, his normal teenaged life is transformed. Suddenly, Manhattan has its own superhero - one that can climb walls, soar through the air, and shoot spider-webbing from his wrists! But danger lurks in the streets -- the Green Goblin wants to take over the world. Can Spider-Man keep the world safe? Or will the Green Goblin squash him like a bug?

The Amazing Spider-Man (1963, PDF)

The FIRST issue of Amazing Spider-Man! The amazing Spider-Man swings into his very first starring series, fresh off of his debut in the pages of Amazing Fantasy #15. In one of his earliest adventures following Uncle Ben's death, Spider-Man must save a crew of astronauts aboard a malfunctioning space ship! Then, Spider-Man tries to join the Fantastic Four and then runs afoul of the Chameleon!

BBC Children’s Has Ordered A Trio Of New Shows For CBeebies and CBBC (BBC Kids)

For CBeebies, the pubcaster has commissioned Mojo Swoptops (52 x 11 minutes) from Blue Zoo and Tararaboom. The CG-animated preschool series stars an anthropomorphic vehicle who solves the problems in his local community by literally donning new headgear, such as helicopter blades. The series is based on Cindy Black’s book series of the same name.

CBeebies has also greenlit the animated series Rafi the Wishing Wizard from BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions, about a family of modern-day wizards who face the challenges of living in a bustling city.

And for the six-to-12 demo, CBBC has ordered Black Dog Television’s Pickle Storm (10 x 22 minutes), a live-action series about the adventures of a nine-year-old who has to leave his fantasy world and seek refuge in the UK.

In renewal news, CBeebies has reupped Maramedia’s
animated/live-action preschool series Olga da Polga (13 x 11 minutes) for a second season. It’s about an eight-year-old girl, her family and her pet guinea pig, and is based on a book series by Michael Bond (who is better known as the creator of Paddington Bear.)
CBBC has also renewed 9 Story Media Group’s A Kind of Spark for a second season. Based on the same-name book by Elle McNicoll, the series premiered on CBBC in April. Season two will continue the story of Addie, a neurodivergent 11-year-old girl who solves mysteries.

The BBC has been busy adding content to CBeebies and CBBC lately. Just last week, the pubcaster ordered a Hey Duggee preschool spinoff from Studio AKA called Hey Duggee’s Squirrel Club (26 x seven minutes), as well as renewing the original series for a 20 x seven-minute fifth season. And earlier this month, the broadcaster partnered with Toronto-based Sinking Ship Entertainment to produce a UK version of the live-action series Odd Squad (12 x 30 minutes).

BBC Studios Kids & Family Orders Hey Duggee Spinoff

BBC Studios Kids & Family and CBeebies have commissioned new preschool series Hey Duggee’s Squirrel Club from Studio AKA.

A spinoff of the London-based prodco’s Hey Duggee, the new 2D-animated series centers around a friendly dog who encourages his animal friends to try new things. A release date hasn’t yet been announced for the 26 x seven-minute show.

BBC Studios Kids & Family and CBeebies have also renewed the original Hey Duggee series for a 20 x seven-minute fifth season, which will premiere sometime in 2025. 

Since its debut on CBeebies in December 2014, several broadcasters have picked up Hey Duggee, including Nick Jr. (US), Tencent Video (China) and Cartoonito (Italy). The show remains popular—it was the most streamed CBeebies title on BBC iPlayer in 2022 and the second most-watched series on CBeebies between January and August this year, according to the pubcaster.

Hey Duggee also made the leap from screen to stage this year with Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show, which ran in the UK from December 2022 to August 2023. BBC Studios handles the IP’s consumer products rights, and to date has signed 28 L&M partners in the UK alone, including master toy partner Golden Bear.

Transformers: Earthspark Inked To More International Broadcasters

Hasbro has locked in ABC Australia as a new broadcast partner for its CG-animated adventure series Transformers: EarthSpark (26 x 22 minutes).

The first 10 episodes of this family-friendly show from eOne and Paramount will debut in December on linear channel ABC ME and the ABC iview streamer. The remaining 16 episodes will air next year. 

The show will join several other eOne series already in ABC’s lineup, including Peppa Pig and PJ Masks .
Hasbro has been paving the way for EarthSpark‘s Australian expansion this month, launching toys related to the show at mass retailers throughout the country.

The series premiered globally on Paramount+ in 2022, and eOne inked deals for the toon earlier this year with several international broadcasters, including Gulli (France), Channel 5 (Singapore), TV Cultura (Brazil) and Super! (Italy). In July, the
BBC picked it up for CBBC and BBC iPlayer, where it’s among the top-10 most-watched shows on the app, according to a release.