It’s time for Upside-Down Magic!

A whimsical summer adventure for kids and families awaits as the Disney Channel Original Movie “Upside-Down Magic”, an enchanting twist on a classic story of friendship and self-discovery, premieres on Friday, 29 January 2021, on Disney Channel (DStv 303) at 17:00.

In honour of this great news, Disney Channel and DStv’s School of Laughter are teaming up to make a few lucky kids winners! Keep reading to find out how.

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Your new best friend

Based on the New York Times bestselling children’s book of the same name, this movie stars newcomer Izabela Rose (“Amazing Stories”) and Siena Agudong (“No Good Nick”) as two best friends, Nory and Reina, who begin their journey at the Sage Academy for Magical Studies. Vicki Lewis (“Newsradio”), Kyle Howard (“My Boys”), Max Torina (“Raven’s Home”), Elie Samouhi (“Bizaardvark”) and Alison Fernandez (“Once Upon a Time”) also star in this unique fantasy movie.

As 13-year-old Nory Boxwood Horace (Rose) and her best friend, Reina Carvajal (Agudong), enter the Sage Academy for Magical Studies, Reina’s expert ability to harness the power of fire lands her at the top of her class of Flares. But Nory’s wonky magic and proclivity for turning herself into a “Dritten”– a half-kitten, half-dragon – lands her in a class for those with upside-down magic, or UDM, led by the wisecracking groundskeeper and “professor” Budd Skriff (Howard). While stern Headmaster Knightslinger (Lewis) believes the UDM’s unconventional powers leave them vulnerable to dangerous and evil “shadow magic,” Nory and her fellow classmates set out to prove that upside-down magic beats right-side up.

Nory refuses to give up on her powers and sets out to prove herself to Knightslinger, inspiring her fellow UDM classmates in the process. As a dangerous force descends on Sage, Nory and the rest of the UDMs begin to hone their unusual talents and discover that upside-down magic can be just as powerful as right-side up, while Nory and Reina learn that true friendship can overcome any obstacle.

“We cannot wait for Disney Channel viewers to meet Nory – she is both charismatic and eternally optimistic. She is also a great friend who aims to inspire her fellow classmates and it’s her unwavering positivity that moves her forward to prove herself and her abilities,” says Evert van der Veer, Vice-President, Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We are thrilled to be bringing this latest Disney Channel Original Movie to our exciting 2021 lineup that will bring the very latest live action and animation kids' content to families across the continent.”

Filmed on location in Vancouver, Canada, and on picturesque Vancouver Island, “Upside-Down Magic” places a unique new spin on the magic school genre with naturalistic sets inspired by the beauty of the surrounding landscape. In a departure from the traditional boarding school milieu, production designer Bill Boes (“Sleepy Hollow”) incorporated freeform organic shapes and relied on natural materials such as bark, wood and stone to create the magical world of Sage Academy.

Joe Nussbaum directed “Upside-Down Magic” and serves as executive producer alongside Suzanne Farwell (“The Holiday,” “The Intern”) and Susan Cartsonis (“Descendants 3,” “What Women Want”). Two-time Art Directors Guild Award-winner Bill Boes (“Sleepy Hollow,” “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”) serves as production designer, Adam Santelli (“Descendants 3,” Disney Channel’s “Freaky Friday”) serves as director of photography, and Barbara Somerville (“Nikita,” “American Gothic”) serves as costume designer. With a teleplay by Nick Pustay (“Ramona and Beezus”) and Josh Cagan (“Kim Possible”), “Upside-Down Magic” is based on the Scholastic book from bestselling authors Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins.

Watch Upside-Down Magic Friday, 29 January 2021, on Disney Channel (DStv 303).

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