Coming to the small screen this week, Nature Nerd takes kids across land, sea, and sky to spark a love for nature and the world around them!
Gqeberha, South Africa (06 October 2026) – There is something wonderfully unpredictable about childhood: a coral reef can hide a secret laboratory, a pencil can become a friend, and a puppy can offer a first real lesson in responsibility. Now, those kinds of stories that move from the ordinary to the extraordinary are coming to life on the small screen, created with young viewers’ imaginations, curiosity and growth in mind.
Storytellers Polly Cordell and Bronwen Nel, together with their teams, have crafted three children’s shows that invite young minds to wonder, explore and imagine.
Produced by Media Seven and airing this October on eToonz and e.tv, Nature Nerd, The Pencil Tin and Gordon are three animated shows inspired by the things young viewers already know, love and encounter every day.
Leading the season is Nature Nerd, a brand-new animated and live-action hybrid that pairs a lovable animated explorer with real wildlife footage and South African conservationists. The series will air in both English and isiXhosa from Wednesday, 7 October.
Polly, the show’s editor, camera operator and director, tells Good Things Guy that Nature Nerd began as a short television piece designed to spark children’s interest in nature and help them understand the world around them.
“It grew into a series with the incredible support of our friends at Nyosi Wildlife Reserve and Raggy Charters, who jumped in to help us bring the concept to life,” Polly tells us.
“For South African children, particularly those growing up alongside such extraordinary biodiversity, the series is an opportunity to discover that nature isn’t something distant or abstract – it is right on their doorstep and worth protecting.”
Bronwen, Nature Nerd’s director, English narrator, music composer and final mix engineer, says her long-standing love of cartoon-style animation made blending it with live action an exciting challenge.
“But seeing the episodes come alive was incredibly rewarding. The music was an absolute joy to work on, and I think we learned as much as we hope the kids will.”
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“Lots of colour, lots of energy and a few facts they’ll want to tell everyone at the dinner table. We kept every episode short and playful so kids can follow along, and it’s in English and isiXhosa so the whole family can enjoy it together.”
Part superhero, part scientist and entirely obsessed with the natural world, Nature Nerd takes young viewers on a weekly mission to explore the incredible creatures of land, sea and sky, armed with curiosity, a trusty khaki outfit and a serious love of facts.
Each episode follows a signature four-part formula: a warm welcome from the lab; a Fact Dive featuring five bite-sized animal facts brought to life through real wildlife footage; a live Expert connection with conservationists from Nyosi Wildlife Reserve and Raggy Charters; and a playful recap in the lab that encourages children to repeat what they have discovered.
From buzzing bees and speedy cheetahs to chatty dolphins, colour-changing chameleons and mighty rhinos, Nature Nerd explores 23 unmissable topics. Each episode airs as a matching English and isiXhosa pair, giving South African children the chance to learn in the language that feels like home.
When to Watch
English Premiere: Wednesday 7 October, 3:00 pm – ongoing, every Wednesday at 3:00 pm, with repeat broadcasts throughout the week and on weekends.
isiXhosa Premiere: Sunday 18 October – two episodes back-to-back from 5:30 am; from Sunday 25 October, one new episode every Sunday at 5:45 am.
Sources: Pauline Cordell and Bronwen Nel
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