12 Cartoons That Shaped Our Childhoods in the Middle East
Cartoons are a fundamental part of any childhood, in any country. The difference is that now there are so many cartoons to choose from, while back in the day, we only had a few.
Cartoons stimulate our imaginations and let us explore worlds and vicariously live fantastical lives. This, during a time of intense growth and learning, helped us become who we are today. Cartoons opened our eyes to new possibilities, made us feel things and, sometimes, even taught us how to act.
Pokémon
I think all of us were obsessed at one point or another, and some of us still are. I mean, if you didn’t spend most of your childhood collecting cards, beating your friends and secretly hoping to one day become a Pokémon trainer, then I feel bad for you.
Bakar
Adults and children alike waited for this cartoon to come on. For kids, it was to see what Bakar and Rashida were up too, while for adults, it was a sign that another long day of fasting had finally come to an end.
Tom and Jerry
Watched by children of all generations and beloved by all, whether you’re on Tom’s side or Jerry’s, this is a cartoon that people can still watch to this day over and over again and still enjoy as much as when they were kids. Undoubtedly, the best love-hate relationship out there.
Captain Majid
I think this show is the sole reason why Arabs are obsessed with football to this day, and who could blame them? This show inspired players like Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi to actually play soccer professionally.
Sesame Street
This show is a worldwide phenomenon, yet Alam Simsim was created specifically for the Egyptian public. Truth is, I think I learned more from the Muppets than from school.
Boogie w Tamtam
I was confused when I saw Yunus Shelby in an actual movie and Hala Faher on TV. I remember thinking they sounded so similar to Boogie w Tamtam, and my mom didn’t want to ruin the fantasy and kept telling me it was just a coincidence.
Detective Conan
I think the reason we all love Sherlock Holmes so much right now is that we grew up watching Conan solve all those crimes on his own. We were in awe of his genius and he was the reason I wanted to be a detective when I grew up.
Courage the Cowardly Dog
This cartoon scared me more than most of the horror movies I watched as an adult. It legitimately gave me nightmares and I think is the reason why I’m still terrified when I see a little girl playing the violin.
Power Rangers
Though this isn’t a cartoon, it was something everybody watched. It was the life everyone wanted, a normal existence while secretly being trained to save the world after school. For a kid, what could be better?
Grendizer
Watching this show made me kind of hope that aliens would invade earth disguised as humans and that one day, they would reveal themselves to us.
Scooby Doo
This show had everything: mystery, intrigue, friendship, monsters, romance and, of course, a talking dog. It had something for everyone and was one of the only shows my friends and I could agree on.
Disney Classics
These films are timeless. Some of my favorite memories as a child were when I was with my entire family (parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins) just sitting and watching Lion King or Aladdin.
