RIYADH: For decades the anime market in Saudi Arabia has been driven by dubbed imports from Japan. But all that is changing, thanks to a new breed of creators and producers.
At the center of the shift is Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation Misk, which is focused on nurturing local talent, producing original material and working with Japanese studios to build expertise.
The ambition is not to make animation that looks Japanese but rather to create high quality content filled with Saudi culture, history and identity.
For Lamees Alsantely, a producer at Manga, the move reflects both the emergence of a new generation of creatives and a growing appetite among local audiences.
“Saudi Arabia already has a strong audience for anime and animation, but much of what we consume reflects other cultures and perspectives,” she told Arab News.
