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52 x 11 minute animated television series for 4 – 8 year old boys and girls.

GENERAL OVERVIEW

The Magic Cellar is South Africa's groundbreaking first 3-D animation production. With it’s multi-cultural cast, it marked the first time South African children could see themselves reflected in an animated series. It offers young viewers all the allure of African landscapes and the enchantment found in African folk tales and legends, while helping them to understand and cope with the familiar problems that beset all youngsters. Children across the globe have been mesmerized by the combination of engaging animation, African music and a likable cast of characters that they can easily identify with.

The series follows Pula, a young African girl who goes to live with her grandmother (Gogo), and makes friends with four neighbourhood kids, Navitha (an Indian girl), Melissa (and Asian girl), Marcus (and African mixed-race boy) and Josh (a Caucasian boy). They soon discover that Gogo’s cellar is home to two magical creatures, a talking cockroach, Mr. Zee, and a talking gecko, Gigi. These two creatures introduce the kids to a world of storytelling as they bring African folktales to animated life and consequently help the kids deal with their everyday difficulties.

Each story is geared to a pro-social objective. When the kids are faced with modern-day dilemma, Mr. Zee tells them an African folk tale, which comes to life as the kids take on various roles in the folk tale, interact with quirky animals and engage in fantastical adventures to learn valuable lessons. Folk tales were collected from all over Africa (South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, to name but a few) - many were harvested from village elders and were at the risk of being lost as oral storytelling tradition diminishes. Set in the backdrop of a colourful South African township and the majestic African plains, The Magic Cellar brings African stories to the children of the world, and teaches not only valuable life strategies but also the importance of reading and storytelling!

The first season of The Magic Cellar proved its world wide international appeal by winning 42 international awards from 2006 to 2007. Most notably, these include Gold and Silver World Medals at the New York Festivals, Best Animated TV Series at the Chicago International Children's Festival (CICFF), Platinum REMI Award at WorldFest Houston, Best Animation Film at the Independent Black Film festival, 2 Telly Awards, Grand Festival Award at Berkeley, 2 Aegis Awards, 2 Aurora Awards, Silver Plaque at Chicago Intercom, 2 Davey Awards, Silver Globe at the World Media Festival and US International's Silver Screen and 2 Certificates of Excellence.

The Magic Cellar was also selected by the following competitive festivals in 2006 and 2007: BAMKids; Berkeley Video and Film Festival; Bimini International Festival of Animation Films; Clermont-Ferrand; Columbus Film and Video Festival; Deadcenter Film Festival; Hiroshima Animation Festival; Kids First Festival; Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival; One World Festival;

Oxford Film Festival; Pan African Film and Arts Festival; and San Francisco Children's Festival. The Magic Cellar has received an "All Star" endorsement by the Coalition for Quality Children's Media.

MAIN CHARACTERS

PULA (8 years old)

Pula is the new kid on the block, her parents are recently divorced and she has come to live with her grandmother (or in Zulu, Gogo), whom she loves and respects greatly. She is African and of Tswana and Zulu decent.

She is a likable young 8-year old, she’s also remarkably independent – mainly because she’s an only child – and makes up her own mind. She is imaginative, and inquisitive with a vivid imagination and loves reading and listening to Mr. Zee’s stories, but she can also easily entertain herself and have fun on her own. She loves her friends, but her challenging mind will not let her to succumb to the will of the group.

Like any 8-year old she is often faced with questions and conflicts surrounding school, sports, her friends and fears. Pula is kind and loving, she is sensitive to her own and her friends’ feelings, and she has a great moral compass which often leads straight to asking Mr. Zee for his wise counsel on the right thing to do.

MARCUS (8 years old)

Marcus has stayed on the block all his life. He is a zealous young mixed-race boy. He’s a natural leader and as mischievous and boisterous as they come!

Marcus comes from a large family and has learnt to make his mark by voicing his opinion and staking his claim. He’s confident and strong-willed, with a firm belief in his way… as children are at that age, but Marcus stakes his claim! He’s seemingly unafraid and daring… and sometimes comes across as naughty. But his soft heart stops him from becoming boorish. His feelings can be hurt, and he doesn’t like it… and he doesn’t like being the cause of his friends’ feelings being hurt either.

Marcus loves sports, any sports and all sports… ALL THE TIME! He’s very competitive and often has to be reminded that it’s not all about winning.

He’s a born joker, and loves being the center of attention. He often rubs heads with Navitha as they have the strongest personalities in the group, and is prone to insensitivity when it comes to soft-spoken Josh. But Marcus is very good at seeing the parallels between his own actions and Mr. Zee’s stories, and he is not afraid to apologise when he’s erred.

NAVITHA (7 years old)

Navitha is a feisty Indian girl who is passionate and proud of her Hindu culture. She is a born leader, and uses diplomacy and negotiation to get her way, that is until she doesn’t…

She is a team player and loves team sports and group activities. She is also very competitive and borderline bossy, but in a well-meaning way. She has a very high regard for doing the right thing and seeing to it that everyone “plays nice”, when one of her friends cross the line, she is first to point it out.

Navitha loves having her way, but also has a strong belief in the greater good. She is a smart cookie who easily deducts deeper meaning from Mr. Zee’s stories.

MELISSA (7 years old)

Melissa is a soft-spoken Asian girl. But don’t let her soft demeanor fool you, she has very strong opinions and is just as confident as any of her friends.

Being a little quieter than some of her boisterous friends, Melissa is a thinker. She likes thinking things through and considering all the options before she makes a decision. She’s the more analytical of the group of friends, and consequently she sometimes thinks herself into irrational fears and misconceptions like not being as fun or popular because she is not as good at sports as the others.

Melissa is a talented young artist and excels at drawing, music and the like. But she doesn’t scurry away from sports and knows that you don’t have to be the best to take part.

Melissa loves the stories Mr. Zee tells and is probably Gigi’s biggest fan!

JOSH (6 years old)

Josh is the youngest in the group of friends. Josh is soft-spoken and stutters but is never teased about his stutter and nor does it hold him back.

He is incredibly smart and considerate, always putting the needs of others in front of his own. Josh easily crafts all types of things out of seeming junk. He is an ideas person and loves to question things around him. Though he’s more intellectual, he is also very adventurous and always up for team sports, games or anything the group wants to do. He has the spirit of a young explorer.

Josh loves getting lost in the adventures of the characters in Mr. Zee’s stories!

MR. ZEE

Mr. Zee is an old cockroach who has been living in The Magic Cellar with his companion, Gigi, for a very long time. He and Gigi are magical creatures who can talk to the kids and be sympathetic to their problems. Mr. Zee is the “keeper” of the cellar – he looks after the books, he’s the custodian of the stories and he looks out for the very clumsy Gigi. He is patient and understanding, and the children look to him for guidance. And through his many stories he helps them draw their own conclusions and make their own informed choices.

GIGI

Gecko Girl, or Gigi as she likes to call herself is a lovable, inquisitive, over-the-top gecko and the comic relief of the show! She loves it when Pula and her friends come and play in the cellar; in fact she loves them so much sometimes she just watches them from the window, as she and Mr. Zee never leave the Magic Cellar. Gigi sees things as they are. Subtlety is completely lost on her. She is ditsy and clumsy – which gives her character much opportunity for humour and funny physical antics. She is the centre of her own world and talks about herself in the third person. But she is always sincere and her naiveté although very funny is touching and many times revealing.

Gigi is all heart, albeit in an over-the-top, mind-your-head kind of way!

GOGO

Gogo is Pula’s grandmother. She is a wise, just, but traditional lady. She loves having Pula and her friends playing in her house and cellar, and has an instinctive understanding of their emotional anxieties.

Her house is home to The Magic Cellar, where the children go to hear Mr. Zee’s stories, but she is blissfully unaware of all this. She is merely under the impression that the children entertain themselves when they go down there.

SECONDARY CHARACTERS

In the African folk tales, our main characters take on roles like Princesses, Chiefs and dwellers of kingdoms far away and fantastical.

They are joined by a cast of quirky African animals full of personality from the heart of the African bush. There’s…

Tusker the elephant…

… A domineering elephant who is rather set in his ways.

Tito the tortoise…

… The clever Tortoise, who despite his size and speed has adventures in realms beyond imagination.

Maddie the hippo…

… An over-the-top hippo who charms her way into the hearts of all the animals in the jungle.

Bonobo the chimp…

… An agile but clever little rascal who can outsmart the cleverest of animals…

Then there’s also mighty King Lion, the Springbucks, the Giraffe, the Hare and the Jackal….

… an array of Baboons and Meerkats…

… the Genet and the Warthog …

A fast talking Weaverbird and his cronies…

… the Vulture…

…and the Bee-eaters!

The Magic Cellar boasts a vast number of extraordinary African animals that capture the imaginations of our young viewers!

LOCATIONS

Gogo’s House on Morula Street

The main setting for the series is Pula’s grandmother’s house on Morula street, where Pula’s friends often come to play. Gogo’s quaint little house is set in a truly South African neighbourhood and has a yard where the children play, a kitchen and of course a magic cellar where stories come to life!

Gogo’s yard is the hub of activity for Pula and her friends, where they play soccer, practice for sports days and build hide-outs. Gigi and Mr. Zee has a clear view over the yard from the cellar and can see when something goes amiss during all the fun.

The Kitchen is the heart of Gogo’s home where people meet, cakes are baked and even homework is done. And best of all it’s not far from the best place to be…

The Magic Cellar. At the foot of staircase, a small room filled with books and trinkets is home to Mr. Zee and Gigi. It’s a magical and safe place where the children not only go to have fun, but also a place where they feel safe enough to share how they feel and ask for help or advice from the wise and understanding Mr. Zee.

Gogo’s house on Morula Street truly captures the spirit of South African township life, but the pulse of Africa is found in the folk tales as they unravel on the backdrop of the majestic African plains….

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… in mythical African villages in far and forgotten lands…

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… in the kingdoms of the people of the sky…

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and in underwater wonderlands!

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STORIES / SERIES FORMAT

Episodes follow Pula and her friends through their every day lives as they encounter social issues and moral dilemmas. Mr. Zee then offers them guidance or advice in the form of a folk tale illustrating their problem and guiding their thinking processes toward a solution. In the end they are able to draw their own conclusions on how to approach their problems and find a resolution.

STORY PREMISES

STORY PREMISES – FIRST SEASON – EPISODES 1 to 20

Episode 1

Where Stories Come From

Pula arrives at her grandmother’s house and meets Marcus, Navitha, Josh and Melissa. The children discover the Magic Cellar, where they meet Mr. Zee and Gigi. Mr. Zee tells them the tale of where stories come from. Pula is taken to an underwater palace to the Spirit People. The children are drawn into the wonders of learning through adventure stories read from books.

Episode 2

The Tortoise and the Elephant

When the gang are having problems with sharing, Mr Zee tells the story of the elephant who wants to eat all of the tortoise’s food, so the tortoise challenges the elephant to a running race. The winner gets to keep the food. With the help of his friends, the tortoise wins the race. The elephant learns the importance of sharing.

Episode 3

Shakutara

Questions of loyalty threaten our gang so Mr. Zee tells them about a King who gives his bride a magical ring to help her remember him while he is away. But the King’s advisors steal the ring and the Queen’s loyalty is severely tested before the King and Queen are reunited.

Episode 4

Birds of Clay

The kids are having difficulty compromising with each other and Mr. Zee tells the story of a group of Birds that eat half the farmers’ seeds. The Farmers insist they go away and never come back. Soon, a large group of locusts arrive. Without birds to scare them off, the locusts eat all the crops. A terrible famine hits the land. Through the selfless act of a child, birds return to the land and the farmers learn to compromise by sharing with the birds.

Episode 5

The Hare and the Jackal

The hare gets caught by the jackal, who wants to eat him for dinner. The hare talks the jackal into letting him get a drink from the river. The jackal sees his reflection in the river and the hare tricks the jackal into believing his reflection is really another jackal. As a result, the hare is able to escape.

Episode 6

Monkey Business

When no one owns up to a mistake, Mr. Zee tells the tale of the Baboon who finds that a tailor’s dress has been torn by someone. The Baboon holds a trial and questions a Rat, Jackal, Elephant, Wood, Fire and Water. When everyone insists they are not guilty, the baboon decides to find them all guilty.

Episode 7

Water snake and the Magic Stone.

Greed becomes a problem among the kids until Mr. Zee tells the old folk tale of a water snake that has a magical red stone, capable of making the owner very rich. X’am, the great Khoi San (tribe) hunter, steals the stone away. The angry water snake drinks all the water in the river. The villagers are suffering by the greediness of the hunter. But the hunter realizes what he has done and returns the stone to the snake and learns not to be selfish.

Episode 8

The Devil’s Trick

Being healthy is the subject that leads to the retelling of South Africa’s most famous folk tale that has the impish ‘Devil of Table Mountain’ persuading a Sea Captain to puff on a pipe until he sickens and dies… Leaving the cloud on Table Mountain as a warning against excessive consumption.

Episode 9

The Chief’s Bride

A village woman has two daughters. The Chief needs help to be released from a curse and asks for help from the villagers. One daughter takes the short cut and fails … the other takes the proper way and is able to help. In the end, respect and obedience carry great reward.

Episode 10

The King’s Gift

Concerns about being different leads to the tale of the Lion King who decides to give all the animals something special to make them unique. He gives Eagle feathers so it can fly; Elephant a long nose and strong tusks; Rhino a short, sharp horn; Hyena a silly laugh and Zebra black and white stripes.

Episode 11

Lonely Old Woman

When relationships become a bit strained, Mr. Zee promotes mutual respect by telling the gang the folk tale of an old woman who dislikes children catching those that play tricks on her and warning them not to return. But they do return after several months and

discover that the old woman has become ill. She asks the children for help. They agree and in exchange, she tells them a story every day.

Episode 12

The Hare and the Elephant

Misunderstandings among the five friends are examined when Mr. Zee relates the folk tale about the elephant who wants to make friends with a hare but the hare did not want to be friends. The two of them set off to find food together and come across a farmer’s field. The elephant is attacked by the villagers but the hare does not help him. Later, a jackal appears and starts intimidating the Hare. The only way for the hare to escape being eaten by the jackal is by jumping on elephant’s back. They learn the benefits of co-habitating.

Episode 13

The Lion’s Promise

The importance of promises culminates in the telling of the famous folk-tale where a hunter comes across a lion trapped in a thorn-bush. The lion asks for help but first the hunter gets the lion to promise not to eat him when the lion is free. The lion agrees but then reneges on his promise when he is freed. The children learn about the value in a promise.

Episode 14

How Chameleon Got a Bad Name

The kids concerns about reputations are examined when Mr. Zee relates the ancient legend where the Great Animal Spirit decides that creatures will live forever and asks Chameleon to spread that message. But then the Animal Spirit changes its mind and sends Gecko to let the world know. The Gecko arrives at the village first and Chameleon gets blamed for spreading false rumours.

Episode 15

The Jackal and the Lion

The difficulty of sharing compels Mr.. Zee to tell a fanciful tale that takes place long ago when animals lived in homes just like humans. Jackal arrives at a home, feeling very hungry. He asks Lion if he could share his food but Lion refuses. Jackal offers him help and service and still Lion refuses to share his food. In the end, Lion goes hungry because he was not willing to share his food.

Episode 16

Magic Cattle

Honesty is the problem that prompts Mr. Zee to tell the tale of a village that had a herd of magic cattle. The villagers from the next village decide to steal the magic cattle. They also take the twins that look after the cattle. But when the thieves are asleep, the twins and the cattle escape – by calling on their magic to part the river. But, when the thieves try to follow them, the river closes up again.

Episode 17

Lazy Hare and the Well

Not doing your share is the subject that is examined in the tale of the animals working together to dig a well. But, lazy Hare does not want to help and thinks he can drink the water after the other animals have done their work. The animals decide to trick Hare and get him stuck to a root in the well. They free him only when Hare agrees to dig his own well, which is more work than helping the other animals would have been.

Episode 18

Baboon and Grandmother

Trust is examined with an African folk version similar to Little Red Riding Hood where a trusting Grandmother is feeling very cold. A baboon comes by and tricks the grandmother into warming herself by getting into a pot on top of a fire. Soon, the grandmother wants to get out of the pot but the baboon refuses to help her as he intends to eat her. Fortunately, the grandmother’s sons arrive at the village and save her. The woman learns that not everybody is trustworthy.

Episode 19

Leopard and Her Spots

Vanity is explored using the tale of the vain Leopard who thinks she is very pretty. A snake challenges her to tell him how many spots she has. Leopard tries very hard to find out how many spots she has and finally asks the snake to count them – which allows the snake to trap the Leopard.

Episode 20

Sikulume – Xhosa Hero

Mr. Zee tells the story of Sikulume’s quest when his seven elder brothers, the strongest men in the village, do not return from the valley of the giants. They had gone there to gather food for the village. Sikulume decides to find his brothers. But the only way for him to succeed is by doing an act of great bravery. He does the brave deed, brings his brothers back and becomes a great Chief. This story shows Pula, Marcus, Navitha, Melissa and Josh how strong the love of family and friends can be.

STORY PREMISES – SECOND SEASON – EPISODES 21 to 52

Episode 21

The Flying Tortoise

Melissa gets a new bike for her birthday. She excitedly shows it to her friends they all ask for turn to ride it. Pula goes first and, in her glee, rides on the bike longer than agreed, ignoring her friend’s pleas to stop allow them a turn. Mr. Zee tells a story about a hungry Tortoise whose equally hungry bird friends go out of their way to get him to a lunch with the cloud people. Once at the lunch, the Tortoise rudely forgets about his bird friends and proceeds to finish all the food. Having forgotten that it was his friends that got him to the lunch on the clouds and he is forced to find his own way back to earth, with dire consequences.

Episode 22

The Springbok’s House

Pula is very afraid of her upcoming first visit to the dentist. Gogo’s reassurances offer her little comfort. Unable to sleep from the anxiety she ventures into Magic Cellar. The story Mr Zee tells is about the Springbok who, after a day of visiting, goes back to his house only to find himself too frightened to enter because of a scary voice coming from inside. His friend Elephant, who claims to be more courageous, is equally scared when he hears the voice coming from the house. They both run away in fear - and into Lion. Upon hearing their story Lion insist on confronting the monster and true to his King of the Jungle title, goes into the Springbok’s house only to find a mischievous and harmless intruder. Pula learns that sometimes it is your mind and not the reality that creates fear.

Episode 23

The Maker of Mischief

Josh teaches Melissa some soccer moves. Melissa is great student and everyone is happy for her except for Marcus. Whilst they are playing soccer, Josh accidentally hurts Melissa. Marcus waits for Melissa to be by herself and tells her that Josh did it on purpose, which in turn angers her. In the Magic Cellar the children hear about the mischievous Hare who tries to break up a friendship between the Jackal and the Lion. Hare has a gift of mimicry and fools Lion into thinking he is Jackal and vice-versa. Hare’s trickery however does not take him far and Marcus apologizes for his jealousy.

Episode 24

The Rabbit and the Elephant

The children are helping Melissa with her school project whilst Marcus is outside practicing soccer. Nearly finished with the project, the children realize they need Marcus’ soccer ball and he refuses. They try to trick him and take the ball from him when he is distracted. In the Magic Cellar the children hear a tale about a stubborn Elephant who refuses to use his might to help break a spell that has been cast over the King. Lion and Snake both fail to convince him to help but Rabbit tricks Elephant into unwittingly breaking the spell. Marcus gets the message that being stubborn is not a good idea among your friends.

Episode 25

A Friend Indeed

Melissa and Marcus insist on interrupting their friends’ game, after taking over the game they build further resentment amongst the others by not wanting to play with them. Mr. Zee makes peace with a story about a kindhearted Tortoise who starts to share his daily lunch with Eagle and over time considers Eagle a friend. However Tortoise’s friend Baboon is not entirely convinced that reason Eagle never invites Tortoise to his nest for lunch is because Tortoise cannot fly. To convince Tortoise, Baboon hatches a plan that takes a Tortoise to Eagle’s nest and it is there that Eagle, who is caught off guard, reveals his true intentions. Both Melissa and Marcus realize that they have been very self-serving.

Episode 26

The Disobedient Son

Pula is invited to a birthday party, but Gogo won’t allow her to go because the party is for much older kids. Pula decides to go to the party and disobey Gogo. Mr. Zee tells a story about a young boy who disobeyed his father’s wishes and went hunting. The young boy encounters a series of dangers and is kidnapped by an Elephant who traps him in a drum, and uses his beautiful singing voice to impress the Queen. The boy goes missing for some time and his mother and father have to desperately search for him. The story convinces Pula that Gogo has legitimate concerns and changes her mind about sneaking out.

Episode 27

The Leopard’s Trick

Pula completes her homework while Marcus and the other children play soccer. Marcus steals Pula’s homework and leaves her to search for it. Mr. Zee tries to calm the situation as he tells a story about a jealous Leopard who steals a baby calf from his neighbour, the Jackal, and claims that his ill-tempered donkey gave birth to it. Despite Jackal’s protests, Leopard insists that his donkey did indeed give birth to the calf. So the two friends leave it up to a Hare, a Springbok and a Baboon to decide. In the end the Leopard’s trickery does not get him far and the calf is returned to its rightful owner and Marcus returns Pula’s homework.

Episode 28

Who Took The King’s Crown

Josh and Marcus are playing with a cricket ball. It begins to rain and in the rush to get inside the house, the cricket ball goes missing. Josh and the other children accuse Marcus of taking the ball, without any proof. Mr. Zee tells a story about King Aja who wrongfully accuses two guests of stealing his crown. If they do not find it they will be banished forever. They search the entire kingdom unsuccessfully and are to be banished. Just then one makes an interesting discovery. In the end the King’s premature accusations see him apologising to the wrongfully accused. And the other children apologize to the innocent Marcus for their premature accusations.

Episode 29

A Feast Fit for a King

Marcus and Josh are playing with Pula’s new clay animals, they have a school project to do and decide to take Pula’s animals without asking. Pula is highly upset that her friends wouldn’t even ask her to use her toys and she feels betrayed. Mr. Zee tries to provide some perspective on the situation by telling a story about an Eagle and a Jackal who betray their friend the Lion.

Episode 30

Kalulu’s crop of Money

Mr. Zee, Gigi, Navitha and Pula are playing in the Magic Cellar when they notice Navitha is upset. She reveals that Josh borrowed a pencil and didn’t return it. Mr. Zee tells a tale of a naughty Rabbit who takes money from Queen Maya, promising to plant it and harvest a crop of money. After sometime, the Queen enquires after her money, but Kalulu has no crop to show her. With rising suspicion the queen sends a Lion, an Elephant, and finally Tortoise to investigate and the rabbit must ultimately face the consequences.

Episode 31

Kimwaki’s Song

Navitha spends her whole month’s allowance on her friends. Mr. Zee tells her the story of Kimwaki who inherited a great fortune as well as ample food stock from his father, but neglected it. One day he saw the weaverbirds work hard together taking care of each other and their resources. He worked hard and restored the land. Navitha decides to make wiser / more responsible choices with her allowance.

Episode 32

Hippo Leaves The Land

Pula won’t go swimming with her friends, because she can’t swim and believes she doesn’t belong at the water’s edge. Mr Zee tells her a story of Maddie the hippo who feels she doesn’t belong on dry land and journeys to Papa Rock to ask if she could live in the water. Papa Rock fears that Maddie will scare the fishes. In the end Maddie gets to live in the water but promises to open her mouth at the end of everyday so Papa Rock could see that she hasn’t eaten any of the fishes. Pula decides to try and like the water, even if she can’t swim.

Episode 33

The Thorn Tree

Pula and her friends feel left out, when a schoolmate doesn’t invite them to her party. When Gogo tells them it’s a misunderstanding the children are torn between forgiving her and not forgiving her. Mr. Zee tells them a story about two lush trees who were patrons to a young Springbuck. When the springbuck leaves them to have his own adventures in the world, they vow to never forgive him. The springbuck is injured and the trees have to help. One tree forgives, while the other refuses and grows into a Thorn Tree for not forgiving.

Episode 34

The Good Friend

Josh is a friend that never says NO to helping others. Josh’s friends don’t really notice that Josh is sacrificing his time, and his deadlines, to help them. Mr. Zee tells them a story about a poor man who shares whatever little he has with a weaver bird and a hippo. The poor man reaches a village where he is faced with challenges in order to become the next leader. The weaver bird and the hippo do not forget the poor man’s kindness, when he is need, and return the favour. The poor man becomes king. The children decide to be good friends in return.

Episode 35

Only A Story

Josh is bullied at school by bigger boys and Mr Zee teaches him and the children about handling a bully through a story. They learn that there’s no shame in telling the teacher / your parents / an adult. You don’t have to handle this on your own. In the folk tale, Meerkat, is bullied by the elephant and the hippo. So he arranges a tug of war, with each but instead of being at the other end of the rope he tricks them into pulling against each other – picking on someone their own size! Josh realizes the underlying message – that stories are not like real life and his best choice is to tell his teacher.

Episode 36

Do It My Way

Melissa brought a jig-saw puzzle to put together with her friends. As they put it together, Melissa believes it should done her way and no other way. Mr. Zee tells them a story about Lolo the leopard who is a very skillful drummer and dancer. Lolo finds his friends drumming, chanting and dancing, he joins in and excels. He teaches them and they love it. But in his zeal, Lolo starts giving too much instructions and soon his friends leave him and go play their way else where. Lolo and Melissa agree to let everyone have fun their way.

Episode 37

Choosing A Leader

The children made a model boat out of recycled materials for a school project, but have to decide on who is to present the project to the class. Mr. Zee tells the story about how the animals chose a Leader. The children realise it’s wiser to make a choice based on good values than leaving it to chance.

Episode 38

A Promise Broken

Melissa made Gigi a clay statue as a surprise, but when she wants to show it to Marcus, she drops it and it breaks in half. Marcus promises not to tell anyone about the surprise, but once in the cellar lets it slip that Melissa made a surprise for Gigi. Mr. Zee tells them a story about Thulani who broke his promise to Princess Mbali, who has her philanthropy suspended as a result.

Episode 39

Two Wrongs

Pula and Marcus bake a cake to share with the others. When there is an extra piece, Marcus decides to hide the extra piece. Pula calls him on it, she decides to punish him by not sharing with him. Mr. Zee tells them a story where they learn that two wrongs don’t make a right. Zuzu the zebra planted a fig tree but couldn’t reach the figs, when Bonobo the chimp helped, instead of sharing the figs with Zuzu, Bonobo had all the figs for herself! Zuzu’s act of revenge ends in Bonobo accidentally destroying the fig tree and nobody won in the end.

Episode 40

The Elephant’s Beans

When Pula divides marbles between her friends, Melissa sneaks marbles from Navitha and Josh. When they notice the missing marbles they wrongly accuse Marcus. Mr Zee tells them a story. King Tuscan has the best crop of beans in all the forest and also cared for all the animals as well. He offers his beans as reward for hard work, but Bonobo the chimp steals the beans when all the other animals are working. In the end, they find out who the thief is and Melissa comes clean.

Episode 41

Jabu And The Lion

Pula struggles with the task of making five lion masks for her school play, and tricks her friends into doing her work for her. Mr. Zee tells the tale of “Jabu and the Lion” to show the children the repercussions of breaking a promise. In the end, Pula learns that by breaking her promises, it makes it very difficult for people to believe you in future.

Episode 42

Is It True

Navitha tells her friends that Miss Carrim, their teacher will be leaving them. The kids are devastated by this news. Pula suggests that they go and consult Mr. Zee, who tells them the story about a Hippo who spread the word that the jungle was falling into the river, and started anarchy. King Lion investigates, only to find the rumour is not true… Pula goes to verify with Gogo, only to find out that Miss Carrim is getting married and will only be a way for a short while. The kids learn not to rely on hear-say or rumour.

Episode 43

The Baboon Trial

Marcus and Navitha argue over building either a clubhouse or a fort, they argue so much that neither gets their way. Mr. Zee tells them a story. Ostrich and Jackal find a branch full of morulas and can’t decide how to share it. They decide to take the case to the Baboon Court, where the Baboons trick them out of all their morulas. Marcus and Navitha learn it’s better to compromise so each get some of what they want than to argue and no-one wins in the end.

Episode 44

The Talent Pool

Melissa is the most talented of all at painting, the children wonder where talents come from and why some people are good at some things and not at others. Mr Zee tells them a story, and they learn that they all have different talents, and that makes them special in their own way. The old story shows how a Meerkat gets a pot of talents to share with the world, but is selfish and wants to keep it all to himself. In his quest to hide it so no-one can find it, he inadvertently drops it and the talents spread themselves to all the animals in the bush.

Episode 45

Hand Prints

Marcus is rude to everyone because he’s having a bad day, culminating in him hurting Josh’s feelings. Mr. Zee reads a story about Moji a friendly genet, who was a bit insensitive at times. Moji mocked her friends in good fun, but one day she gets into trouble and her friends have to help her using the very qualities she mocked. Marcus sees his mistake and apologises to Josh.

Episode 46

Hungry For Praise

Pula breaks her arm on the day of her school’s big spelling competition. She believes she is an unbeatable and when she can’t defend her title she is upset. Mr. Zee tells her a story and she learns that no-one is good at everything or unbeatable. The story centers on a Lion who is a braggart who likes to scare and frighten the other animals, because he believes no creature in the jungle is stronger than him. The warthog challenges him that there is a creature stronger than him, it is revealed that the creature is Hunger. In the end, Lion has to admit that no animal is invincible.

Episode 47

Sweet Music

Navitha and Pula have been chosen to play for the school soccer team. Melissa is hurt that she is not in the team and Mr. Zee decides to read them a story to cheer Melissa up. There was a chief who had two daughters, Inzelo was the best hunter in the village, the other, Lindiwe, was a very talented musician who played the harp. When the skies refused to rain, Inzelo had to go and battle the clouds but

failed. When Lindiwe plays her music though, the clouds are moved to tears and it rains. Melissa learns to honour the talents she has rather than pine over the ones she doesn’t have.

Episode 48

No “I” In Team

Disappointed at having lost their first 5-on-a-side basketball game, Josh, Navitha, Melissa and Pula decide they should all play more like Marcus who was all over the ball. But Mr. Zee tells a story to explain the importance of working together as a team to achieve a goal. Vulture saw a gigantic forest fire coming toward a valley with only one entrance. The animals have to work together to beat the fire and save their home.

Episode 49

Be Careful What You Wish For

During practice, Pula gives up on the idea of athletics day and wishes school would disappear so that she didn’t have to compete. Mr. Zee tells a story about Jackal and Rabbit, who wished ‘Bush Camp’ would disappear, and it did! Jubilant, Jackal and Rabbit celebrate as they decided on all the fun things they could do now that Bush Camp had disappeared. But they soon realize that by wishing Bush Camp away, they had also wished away all their friends and so had no one to play with.

Episode 50

The Magic Tree

Navitha, Melissa, Josh and Marcus are playing, but a sad Pula doesn’t take part. They don’t notice that she’s upset as they go to the cellar for a story. Mr Zee is concerned and reads them a story. Thandi is tricked into believing an old tree is magic, by the chief’s mean daughters. When she goes to it, she meets an old woman from the tree. Thandi helps the old woman and she embellishes her with gifts due to her kindness. They learn that kindness means being attentive to your friends needs.

Episode 51

Face The Fear

Melissa has a fear of getting her vaccinations. Mr. Zee offers a story to explain that courage is not the lack of fear but the control of fear. Vulture has an irrational fear of heights, and never leaves the lowest branch of the Morula Tree. But when his best friend gets caught in the crevice of a rock on top of a mountain, Vulture decides to face his fear, flies up and rescues his friend. Vulture is so happy that to this day he makes his home on Mountain tops. With the support of her friends, Pula decides that she will face her fear too.

Episode 52

Broken Wing

Pula and Melissa are at the tail-end of a run of the chicken pox, and when they can’t play outside their friends are disappointed. Mr. Zee offers a story in consolation. Giraffe (stiff neck), Vulture (broken wing) and Elephant (knotted trunk) go on a quest together to find the “Healing Rock” so that their ailments might be cured. On their journey they have to help each other with their remaining gifts and virtues to overcome obstacles. In the end they find the Healing Rock and they are all healed. The children learn that one has to support one’s friends when they are feeling sick.

CONCLUSION

Modern problems, old folk tales, friendships, emotion, comedy, wonderful characters, amazing creatures and stunning animation combine to produce a unique African panorama that will enchant, enlighten and entertain young audiences all over the world as they eagerly take the stairs down to THE MAGIC CELLAR.