Why animation and storytelling are growing in Saudi Arabia
Deema
Al-Khudair, Arab News, May 14, 2018
There is
a large audience for animated films in the Kingdom. Verve Studios was
established in 2015, and now has more than 30 partners
a large audience for animated films in the Kingdom. Verve Studios was
established in 2015, and now has more than 30 partners
 |
| Members of Verve Studios say the platform provides them an ideal place to pursue their passion. (AN) |
JEDDAH:
There is a large audience for animated films in the Kingdom, according to Verve
Studios’ animator 23-year-old Saudi Ola Sfeeran.
There is a large audience for animated films in the Kingdom, according to Verve
Studios’ animator 23-year-old Saudi Ola Sfeeran.
“It gives
us a great opportunity to actually work and present new kinds of animation
related to Saudi culture and closer to the Saudi audience,” she told Arab
News.
us a great opportunity to actually work and present new kinds of animation
related to Saudi culture and closer to the Saudi audience,” she told Arab
News.
Sfeeran
said that the field of animation and storytelling had existed for quite a long
time, but on a small scale. “But now it is more efficient as we see some of the
local companies offering scholarships to Japan, sponsored by famous animation
studios and gaming companies such as Toei Animations and Square Enix.”
Sfeeran said that animation had a promising future in the Kingdom, highlighting
that “entertainment makes a good business.”
said that the field of animation and storytelling had existed for quite a long
time, but on a small scale. “But now it is more efficient as we see some of the
local companies offering scholarships to Japan, sponsored by famous animation
studios and gaming companies such as Toei Animations and Square Enix.”
Sfeeran said that animation had a promising future in the Kingdom, highlighting
that “entertainment makes a good business.”
Verve
Studios was established in 2015, and now has more than 30 partners. “We call
them partners instead of customers, and the numbers are rising every
year.”
Studios was established in 2015, and now has more than 30 partners. “We call
them partners instead of customers, and the numbers are rising every
year.”
Sfeeran
said that Verve Studios was the ideal platform for artists to pursue their
passion. “We welcome all artists and share with each other the same language of
art and collaborate to empower such passion,” she said.
said that Verve Studios was the ideal platform for artists to pursue their
passion. “We welcome all artists and share with each other the same language of
art and collaborate to empower such passion,” she said.
Another
animator is Samaher Bantan, from Effat University’s Visual and Digital
Production (VDP) department.
animator is Samaher Bantan, from Effat University’s Visual and Digital
Production (VDP) department.
Bantan
was interested in animation and storytelling from a young age, drawing comics
and sharing them with friends and family. She followed her passion for
animation by studying it in her free time, and registered at Effat University
as soon as she was told about the animation stream at the VDP department.
“VDP is the first filmmaking major in Saudi Arabia; it made a raucous movement
in the Kingdom at first, especially as it was the first major that was under an
all-female university. That motivated students to work harder to show what they
are capable of, and to share Saudi Arabia’s culture and life,” Bantan
said.
was interested in animation and storytelling from a young age, drawing comics
and sharing them with friends and family. She followed her passion for
animation by studying it in her free time, and registered at Effat University
as soon as she was told about the animation stream at the VDP department.
“VDP is the first filmmaking major in Saudi Arabia; it made a raucous movement
in the Kingdom at first, especially as it was the first major that was under an
all-female university. That motivated students to work harder to show what they
are capable of, and to share Saudi Arabia’s culture and life,” Bantan
said.
Bantan
explained the importance of animators in advertisements.
explained the importance of animators in advertisements.
“Now that
Saudis are animating and storytelling more; you notice it especially in
advertisements. Companies start asking for more animators to animate whether it
is an ad or a video for their websites. Storytelling has started before with
novels, and now it is going into films and will go more into animation,” she
said. “It made it easier for customers to get interested in the ad and
understand the company purpose in an entertaining way,” she said.
Saudis are animating and storytelling more; you notice it especially in
advertisements. Companies start asking for more animators to animate whether it
is an ad or a video for their websites. Storytelling has started before with
novels, and now it is going into films and will go more into animation,” she
said. “It made it easier for customers to get interested in the ad and
understand the company purpose in an entertaining way,” she said.
Bantan
also believes in the potential of animation and storytelling in Saudi Arabia.
“This field will have a bright future in the Kingdom. Many things are changing
with Saudi Vision 2030; cinemas are opening up and a number of Saudis have
received awards for their films, soon it will be global and the world will
understand Saudi better.”
also believes in the potential of animation and storytelling in Saudi Arabia.
“This field will have a bright future in the Kingdom. Many things are changing
with Saudi Vision 2030; cinemas are opening up and a number of Saudis have
received awards for their films, soon it will be global and the world will
understand Saudi better.”
Bantan
hopes to create her own animated stories one day. “I dream of making my own
stories, and animation that carries our good ethics and beliefs for the next
generations.”
hopes to create her own animated stories one day. “I dream of making my own
stories, and animation that carries our good ethics and beliefs for the next
generations.”
“Harb
Attaj” comic book series creator Wasim Shaer, a 34-year-old Swede, says that
storymaking and animation is a long and challenging process. “It needs time to
create good quality — building something out of almost nothing and turning it
into a stunning story,” he told Arab News.
Attaj” comic book series creator Wasim Shaer, a 34-year-old Swede, says that
storymaking and animation is a long and challenging process. “It needs time to
create good quality — building something out of almost nothing and turning it
into a stunning story,” he told Arab News.
“Beautiful
animation can take years in production, but when you have the passion and
commitment to making it right, you can really come up with a true masterpiece
that creates a memorable animated show for many people, and it will last for
decades and inspire many generations,” he said.
animation can take years in production, but when you have the passion and
commitment to making it right, you can really come up with a true masterpiece
that creates a memorable animated show for many people, and it will last for
decades and inspire many generations,” he said.
Shaer
creates original content, ideas, plots and art for comic books and
storyboards.
creates original content, ideas, plots and art for comic books and
storyboards.
He
explained that “these comics’ content become the very first stage and source
for animation and animated shows later on.”
explained that “these comics’ content become the very first stage and source
for animation and animated shows later on.”
Shaer
encourages pre-animators and storytellers to stay committed to ensure a
successful bright future in the Kingdom.
encourages pre-animators and storytellers to stay committed to ensure a
successful bright future in the Kingdom.
“Not only
a bright one but a golden one if the current and future creators stay committed
to doing what they are doing,” he said. “Only this will help build up rich
local content and make it ready and attractive to be animated.”
a bright one but a golden one if the current and future creators stay committed
to doing what they are doing,” he said. “Only this will help build up rich
local content and make it ready and attractive to be animated.”
Shaer
said that there are now Saudi publishing houses fostering pre-animations. “(One
is) Ironixcomix, the Saudi company and publishing house that is building up
artists and authors communities to help them build and publish high-quality
content that is good enough for future animations.”
said that there are now Saudi publishing houses fostering pre-animations. “(One
is) Ironixcomix, the Saudi company and publishing house that is building up
artists and authors communities to help them build and publish high-quality
content that is good enough for future animations.”
