UAE's animation industry thrives, concludes Dubai Press Club-held cartoon majlis

The wide ranging discussion at the 'cartoon majlis' was led by Haider Mohammed, Producer of 'Sha'biyat al Cartoon,' Mohammed Saeed Harib, Producer of Freej and Najla Al Shahhi, Producer of Khusa Busa, all popular animated cartoon series produced in the UAE.

A number of prominent figures from the animation industry attended and contributed to the discussions. Nour al Din Yousef of Dubai Press Club moderated the discussion.

While the producer of Freej attributed the absence of the popular series during this Ramadan to the need for a break and the time for preparing for a stronger return to the scene, Haider Mohammed said the animation industry in the country was still at the nascent stage and had a long way to go.

Najla Al Shahhi declined to comment on the experience of Khusa Busa during this Ramadan, saying it would be premature to do so before it is completed. However, she drew attention to the variety of characters and plots that marked the series, as well as the way recreation was combined with a good dose of politics and social issues of wider concern.

Mohammed Saeed Harib almost shocked the audience when he revealed that the production of Freej over the past three years cost a whopping Dhs50m. The producers also pointed out that their genre of animated cartoons required the services of a wide variety of specialists, making the task rather complicated and difficult to accomplish.

At the same time, they all appreciated the generous support they received from the government and the public, especially the recognition by H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. They were unanimous in concluding that the financial and other held from private and public sector organizations played a crucial role in the development of the animation industry in the country.

Providing a lighter touch to the occasion, some of the artists from the popular serials imitated the voices of the characters, sending the audience to long bouts of laughter and mirth. Similarly, the raffle draw that the Press Club organized saw a few of journalists winning prizes.

Close on the heels of the cartoon majlis, Dubai Press Club is all set to host a significant majlis on Tuesday on the state of the services sector in the country. The discussion on the services sector would be led by HE Hussain Lootah, General Manager, Dubai Municipality and HE Saeed Tair, CEO, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. Eminent media person Ahmed Majid of Dubai TV will moderate the program. The program will discuss threadbare all the issues concerning the services industry in the country today.