Celebrating the Art, Craft and Business of Animation https://www.awn.com/ en-US 15 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:58:57 -0800 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:59:32 -0800 https://www.awn.com/news/rsiff-annecy-festival-partner-boost-saudi-animation-industry Deal calls for Saudi animators to participate in MIFA; annual ‘Best of Annecy’ festival to be held at Culture Square; animated Saudi shorts and features to be showcased at Annecy. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/rsiff-annecy-festival-partner-boost-saudi-animation-industry Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:58:57 PST Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/toikido-spacetoon-partner-battalor-animated-series The long-term deal will kick off with the production of 3 shows, which will debut across Spacetoon platforms in MENA and Türkiye; the projects will expand into global markets Spring 2027. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/toikido-spacetoon-partner-battalor-animated-series Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:08:29 PST Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/michael-moore-joins-ground-zero-executive-producer The shortlisted Oscars entry, a collection of short films by 22 Palestinian filmmakers living in Gaza that blends animation, documentary, and fiction, hits U.S. theaters on January 3. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/michael-moore-joins-ground-zero-executive-producer Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:12:10 PST Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/totally-spies-season-7-heads-cartoon-network-emea In the new season, Sam, Clover and Alex leave Beverly Hills for Singapore, where they experience a new culture as well as a fresh crop of bizarre villains; the series now airing in the UK, Middle East, and North Africa.  L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/totally-spies-season-7-heads-cartoon-network-emea Fri, 08 Nov 2024 8:44:21 PST Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/batwheels-animated-preschool-series-arrives-netflix From Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the first ever CG-animated Batman action-adventure comedy series developed for preschoolers is now available to stream in all key EMEA markets. L'Wren Alexa https://www.awn.com/news/batwheels-animated-preschool-series-arrives-netflix Mon, 30 Sep 2024 16:37:59 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/animationworld/digitales-champions-healing-trauma-saleem-jordans-first-animated-feature Studio co-founders Cynthia Madanat Sharaiha and husband Shadi Sharaiha discuss their 3DCG film that’s ‘not a war story’ but instead focuses on a 9-year-old boy’s recovery and hopes for his future after losing his father and living as a refugee with his mother and two sisters. Victoria Davis https://www.awn.com/animationworld/digitales-champions-healing-trauma-saleem-jordans-first-animated-feature Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:47:33 PST Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/mbc-group-and-tokyopop-launch-2-new-anime-series ‘Kami.App’ and ‘Protocol: Rain’ debut in Japan and worldwide, with the shows streaming as simulcasts on the Arabic streaming platform this week. Debbie Diamond Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/mbc-group-and-tokyopop-launch-2-new-anime-series Tue, 24 Oct 2023 10:47:21 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/boomerang-rebrands-cartoonito-across-nordics-turkey-middle-east-and-north-africa The preschool pay-TV channel will add Warner Bros Discovery shows like ‘Thomas and Friends,’ ‘Bugs Bunny Builders,’ and ‘Batwheels,’ to existing lineup that includes ‘Tom & Jerry,’ ‘Mr. Bean,’ ‘Masha and the Bear,’ and ‘Thomas and Friends: All Engines Go.’ Whitney Whitener https://www.awn.com/news/boomerang-rebrands-cartoonito-across-nordics-turkey-middle-east-and-north-africa Wed, 06 Sep 2023 9:27:13 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/mbc-group-and-tokyopop-team-mbc-anime-initiative The two companies will develop new world-class anime titles through investments and relationships with key studios in Japan. Debbie Diamond Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/mbc-group-and-tokyopop-team-mbc-anime-initiative Fri, 31 Mar 2023 13:16:38 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/peppa-pig-expands-disney-across-emea The new streaming partnerships bring the popular preschool animated series to 19 new markets in an additional 25 languages. Debbie Diamond Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/peppa-pig-expands-disney-across-emea Mon, 13 Mar 2023 11:20:58 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/blog/i-wanted-walk-out-kantors-letter-pig-not-what-you-think Some narrative animations owe their brilliance to simultaneously evoking pleasure and angst.  Janet Blatter https://www.awn.com/blog/i-wanted-walk-out-kantors-letter-pig-not-what-you-think Fri, 13 Jan 2023 14:10:47 PST Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/harry-bunnie-and-chuck-chicken-heading-mena Animasia Studio inks deal with MBC Group, bringing 2 original animated series to the Middle East and North Africa; shows feature the slapstick adventures of a wannabe magician, and Chuck and the Kung Fu master with his magical egg. Debbie Diamond Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/harry-bunnie-and-chuck-chicken-heading-mena Wed, 04 Jan 2023 9:07:28 PST Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-teams-climate-action-project-combat-climate-change The annual student-focused initiative encourages students and educators to participate in a six-week climate change program; it sets out to inspire kids with daily challenges that can collectively make a difference in the health of our planet. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-teams-climate-action-project-combat-climate-change Wed, 29 Sep 2021 16:29:45 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/omens-studios-inks-mena-deal-mbc-media Animation studio’s trio of kids’ series heads to SVOD and AVOD platforms Shahid VIP and Shahid; the deal kicks off later this month with the debut of ‘Counting With Paula’ Season 5 and ‘Leo the Wildlife Ranger.’ AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/omens-studios-inks-mena-deal-mbc-media Tue, 20 Jul 2021 8:36:21 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-emea-study-finds-climate-change-key-kids-concern 13-country study, undertaken as part of network’s ‘Climate Champions’ campaign, shows health of the planet a top priority for kids 6-12. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-emea-study-finds-climate-change-key-kids-concern Tue, 06 Jul 2021 9:33:32 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-climate-champions-initiative-launches-across-emea New 18 language campaign looks to educate kids about climate change, empowering them to join a community of young people to take on small changes that can ‘Make a World of Difference.’ AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-climate-champions-initiative-launches-across-emea Tue, 01 Jun 2021 7:09:03 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/platige-image-creates-work-weary-mandrill-tajawal-travel-agency The music-video inspired commercial features an emotionally nuanced CG primate portraying an everyday, burned out businessperson needing a break from life’s mundane routines. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/platige-image-creates-work-weary-mandrill-tajawal-travel-agency Mon, 10 May 2021 15:06:17 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/spacetoon-and-eone-extend-multi-year-strategic-partnership MENA families will be able to view ‘Transformers: Rescue Bots,’ ‘Power Rangers Beast Morphers,’ and ‘My Little Pony: Pony Life’ on Spacetoon T.V channel and Spacetoon GO. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/spacetoon-and-eone-extend-multi-year-strategic-partnership Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:44:33 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/warnermedia-rebrands-emea-studio-hanna-barbera-studios-europe Company resurrects legendary studio name; Sam Register and Vanessa Brookman to co-lead flagship TV animation studio formerly known as Cartoon Network Studios Europe. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/warnermedia-rebrands-emea-studio-hanna-barbera-studios-europe Wed, 07 Apr 2021 6:00:14 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/1st-edition-animatex-festival-coming-cairo-november-11-14 The go-to destination for the Egyptian animation community will feature four days of screenings, workshops, and discussions suitable for all audiences. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/1st-edition-animatex-festival-coming-cairo-november-11-14 Wed, 28 Oct 2020 12:05:35 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-emea-reveals-first-look-elliott-earth From the team behind global hit ‘The Amazing World of Gumball’ comes a new animated sci-fi comedy series about a boy and his mum suddenly transported across the universe; global rollout begins later this year. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-emea-reveals-first-look-elliott-earth Fri, 11 Sep 2020 8:47:11 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/twofour54-abu-dhabi-and-unity-creating-gaming-centre-excellence 10-year partnership will build regional gaming hub for industry offering a training and entrepreneurial platform for cultivating talent and launching new careers throughout Middle East and Africa. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/twofour54-abu-dhabi-and-unity-creating-gaming-centre-excellence Wed, 09 Sep 2020 12:29:42 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/asif-2020-award-winners-announced ASIFA Israel’s annual event celebrating Israeli animation, held virtually August 20th, saw 209 film submissions. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/news/asif-2020-award-winners-announced Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:11:54 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/jujutsu-kaisen-coming-exclusively-crunchyroll-fall ‘The God of High School’ director Sunghoo Park leads the production of new series based on Gege Akutami’s manga published by Shueisha in Japan and VIZ Media in the U.S.  AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/jujutsu-kaisen-coming-exclusively-crunchyroll-fall Wed, 12 Aug 2020 9:30:22 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/call-entries-more-films-freedom-deadline-august-16 Program encourages submissions from UK-based LGBTIQ+ filmmakers working with storytellers/filmmakers from the African continent and Middle East. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/call-entries-more-films-freedom-deadline-august-16 Thu, 23 Jul 2020 12:00:24 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/watch-gayatri-parameswaran-talks-home-after-war-vr-fmx-2019 Journalist and director discusses her award-winning room-scale VR experience, which chronicles the ever-present dangers of hidden IEDs for civilians in Iraq after the war against IS ended. Dan Sarto https://www.awn.com/vfxworld/watch-gayatri-parameswaran-talks-home-after-war-vr-fmx-2019 Tue, 13 Aug 2019 8:45:25 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/first-animated-kids-film-about-holocaust-air-may-1-israel After successfully broadcast run in Italy, Rai and Larcadarte’s ‘The Star of Andra and Tati’ will air in Israel on Yom HaShoah, the Holocaust Memorial Day. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/first-animated-kids-film-about-holocaust-air-may-1-israel Wed, 01 May 2019 7:56:49 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/michel-ocelot-details-his-next-animated-feature Featuring tales by women storytellers, the two-time César-winning filmmaker’s next animated feature will be set in Morocco and Istanbul. Jennifer Wolfe https://www.awn.com/news/michel-ocelot-details-his-next-animated-feature Wed, 03 Apr 2019 12:28:53 PDT Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/zafari-makes-mena-debut-spacetoon First CG-animated series to be produced using the Unreal game engine celebrates our differences. Jennifer Wolfe https://www.awn.com/news/zafari-makes-mena-debut-spacetoon Mon, 04 Mar 2019 12:33:46 PST Middle East https://www.awn.com/news/giveaway-win-free-tickets-hayao-miyazakis-castle-sky Special three-day screening event from GKIDS and Fathom Events returns the Oscar-winning director’s timeless story of courage and friendship to U.S. theaters on November 18, 19 & 20. AWN Staff Editor https://www.awn.com/news/giveaway-win-free-tickets-hayao-miyazakis-castle-sky Thu, 01 Nov 2018 20:00:00 PDT Middle East