Urbo: The Adventures of Pax Afrika
BoingBoing, everyone’s favourite website of wonderful things, features an article on South African kid’s cartoon URBO – according to wikipedia, “URBO: The Adventures of Pax Afrika is an ongoing science fiction animated television series created by Octagon CSI. It started airing in October 2006. It chronicles the adventures of a gang of teenagers who live in an a futuristic Cape Town, re-named iKapa City, the last known city on the planet, as they fight the evil industrialist overlord Maximilian Malice. Pax Afrika, the son of the missing explorer Zingela Afrika, discovers that he has ancestral powers that allow him to see flashes of the future. Together with his friends, emo mechanic T-Man, hacker girl Keitu, and Una, Malice’s rebellious daughter, Pax plans to find his father and save the city from Malice Industries. But his fate is also tied to the mysterious, hidden city of URBO- an environmental El Dorado located somewhere in the ruins of Africa. SABC3 began airing the first 52 part series on 28th October 2006.” Lauren, the lady that alerted Boingboing to the series, has this to say about URBO: “UPDATE: More info on the show for anyone interested. It’s a sci-fi comedy series (which makes it as much a Star Wars rip-off as South Park, LittleVoice with a smidge of Harry Potter and Futurama in there too). It’s weird and silly and irreverent but we do try to take on big issues relevant to kids. Not, unfortunately youth apathy in politics, which is true of most countries, not just SA, because our target market of 7-11 is a ways away from that. But we have taken on AIDS and why it’s important to take medication as well as eating fruit and veg in an episode when the kids tackle an evil virus monster with a multi-pronged attack. We’ve also done disability, dodgy cell phone videos, acne, celebrity, junk food, the war on terror (really), racism, environmentalism, and now DRM through lunatic plots involving mutant sock monsters, burping apedroids, viciously cute fighting toys, a guy-in-a-bear-suit-in-a-shrimp-suit and the staple prerequisite of any kids’ show: lots of giant robots.” Watch Urbo here: Part 1 of 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4BopbZ—c Part 2 of 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nriFS6mHCH4 Part 3 of 3...
Represent Recommends: Theresa-Anne Mackintosh
Catch MENAGERIE from exciting upcoming young artist Theresa-Anne Mackintosh at the fab Momo gallery – it opens Thursday 8 November @ 18h30 and closes 26 November 2007. Theresa-Anne Mackintosh “Each has his or her own thoughts, as we know daydreams and visions are part of us all. These secret daydreams are revelations known only to the thinker. Everybody deals with something private in his or her head”. After having completed her MA (Fine Arts) degree at the University of Pretoria, Mackintosh joined a broadcast design and animation company in Johannesburg to further explore her interest in animation. Currently she is a full-time artist involved in various projects. Mackintosh works in various media, including painting; sculpture and animation. http://www.gallerymomo.com/ 52 7th Avenue Parktown North Johannesburg T: +27 11 327...
Who’s messing with LOVEJOZI?
We didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when we spotted these “Fongkongs” or ripoffs of local design label Love Jozi being sold blatantly in the streets of Johannesburg at a third of the price of the originals – see our previous LoveJozi article here. The laughing part is that they’ve incorrectly spelt LOVE as LUV and the crying part is the quality of these shirts in no way matches that of the originals – no doubt some cats will scoop them up for the bargain. It’s wack. Oh well, as long as our awesome city is getting lots of Love… or is that LUV. We’ve contacted the LoveJozi team and await their response....
Sadly, HHP didn’t win the MTV EMA
We’ve been trying to get information about the MTV EMA winners since the ‘live broadcast’ last night hoping that our man HHP scooped the honours he so deserves. We searched and scoured and this morning eventually came across ONE list that included the Best African winner announcement… Sad news guys, HHP didn’t scoop it – according to AceShowBiz D’Banj from Nigeria took it away. Congrats to D’Banj and Jabba – you know we love you and that you’re one of Africa’s finest treasures. We believe that you should have won. Keep on Keeping...
Impossible Monsters in Craighall
We’re always delighted to hear about a fresh gallery space opening in Jozi… the Jan Smuts Art Strip gets elongated as we welcome the spanking new “Arts Extra” opening next Wednesday in Craighall. The piping hot exhibition entitled “Impossible Monsters” looks to feature a slab of contemporary artists – we look forward to something edgy and visionary… heaven knows we’re in need of some disruption to the lazy end of the year. You’re invited so go go go. Art Extra is a contemporary art gallery opening in Johannesburg South Africa on 7 November 2007 at 6pm with a curated group show Impossible Monsters. Location – 373 Jan Smuts Ave, Craighall, Johannesburg. Map/Directions – go to http://www.artextra.co.za/ OR email info@artextra.co.za and we will send you a map. For any other queries please call David Brodie +27 (0)82 552...
VOTE FOR HHP @Mtv NOW!
Come on everyone, get all the troops together, rally up the people and get clicking ‘cos we need to VOTE our very own HHP into winning the MTV Best African Act award next week. Four easy steps: Just click here: http://www.ema.mtvbase.com/ , then click VOTE NOW, then click on category 9 – Best African Act, then look for your favourite HipHop boy and click on HHP! Don’t miss the the nefarious Snoop Dogg as host – “Presenters in the past have been great, but this year I’m takin’ it to a whole new level. I’ve called up the homeys from east to west and I guarantee it’s gonna be off tha chain, ya dig.” – Snoop Dogg. We’re holding thumbs...
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