Created by Ben Bocquelet and once again directed by Mic Graves, the new series has been produced by Cartoon Network Studio EMEA.

The Amazing World of Gumball is an animated sitcom for 6 to 11-year-olds and cartoon fans of all ages shot using a unique combination of live action backgrounds with 2D and 3D animation.

It follows the chaotic life of the Watterson family: stay-at-home dad Richard, a giant pink rabbit; hard-working mum Nicole, who rules the roost; 4-year-old genius bunny Anais; Darwin, a goldfish with legs and, at the centre of it all, 12-year-old Gumball himself, incurably optimistic, charmingly stupid, always up for staggeringly silly adventures and hopelessly in love with his schoolmate Penny, a peanut with antlers.

“Gumball and Darwin have grown neither wiser nor more mature since season one but they are still the best of friends,” says series executive producer Daniel Lennard, VP, Original Series at Turner Broadcasting Europe. “The beating heart of the show remains the Watterson family and, no matter what absurd and unlikely adventures they are thrown into, they always look out for one another. This season, we also find out more about the show’s secondary characters who have become firm favourites with our viewers, such as Hector the furry giant, Idaho the potato and everybody’s favourite laughing fool, Banana Joe.”

Since its debut on Cartoon Network a year ago, The Amazing World of Gumball has been honoured with a raft of awards, including two BAFTA Children’s Awards, the Annecy Cristal, an Annie and the Prix Jeunesse.

The Amazing World of Gumball has also proved a spectacular digital hit. The show’s site on the Cartoon Network website has had over 50 million page views; over 2.5 million characters have been created so far on Gumball Character Creator game, and the show’s Facebook page sees more than 700 000 likes.

Michael Carrington, Turner Broadcasting Europe’s chief content officer, who is responsible for commissioning children’s programming that has both global and multi-platform potential, comments: “The Amazing World of Gumball has a unique tone on Cartoon Network.

“There’s a real warmth to the story-telling that has endeared it to kids and parents alike and its distinctive use of mixed media has been critically acclaimed – added Carrington – As a result, the show has garnered a host of much-deserved industry awards. I’m delighted in particular by our Prix Jeunesse Award because it acknowledges excellence in children’s programming that also has a positive effect on kids’ lives. Meanwhile, the show’s quirky, funny and complex characters have built a huge on-line fan base among both young and old. My personal favourite is Banana Joe’s crazy dance on YouTube - over 2.5 million views so far and still counting.”

The second season of The Amazing World of Gumball will be launched on South African television screens on Cartoon Network, DStv, channel 301 on Wednesday, 5 December at 17:25. After this, all die-hard fans of the series will be able to catch the new season every Wednesday at 17:25. Cartoon Network will also premiere a special Christmas episode of Gumball on Friday, 21 December at 18:15.

More information on the show, videos and the new game Dino Donkey Dash – played 18 million times since its on-line debut in the US this August! – are now available on www.cartoonnetworkafrica.com/gumball.