Anime is a type of Japanese animation for film and television that is aimed at both adults and children. According to Britannica, early anime films were largely geared towards the Japanese market, and as a result, many cultural references specific to Japan were used. The huge eyes of anime characters, for example, are widely regarded in Japan as multidimensional “windows to the soul.” With the Pokémon television series and films like Miyazaki’s Spirited Away (2002), which won an Academy Award for best animated feature film, anime began to gain wide international popularity.
With that being said, Anime has witnessed a significant increase in popularity in the Middle East as more people become interested in it. Anime shows like Grendizer, Captain Tsubasa or better known as (Captain Majid), and Detective Conan have shaped the lives of several generations.
What was it about anime that made it so appealing in the region?
A newly founded Gulf Cooperation Council agency was dedicated to providing media and television material for member countries in 1976, according to TRT World. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait were all members of the cooperation titled “GCC Joint Production Institution.” In a cultural allusion to the myths of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves, they launched their first offering: a dubbed version of Sesame Street renamed ‘Open Sesame.’
Following this success, the institution dubbed at least 12 anime series, which swiftly became a major consumption for many age groups that is not just in the Gulf but across the Middle East. Their strategy was to social engineer and develop content for Arab audiences using slightly altered narratives to create a more ‘moral’ narrative. This was clearly censorship, but it also resulted in anime series becoming increasingly popular throughout the region at the time.
Although Disney cartoons were available, anime shows were able to appeal to a broader audience thanks to the stunning animation that studios spent so much time creating and the action-packed shows that left us awestruck!
However, dubbed anime versions and altered narratives aren’t the only two factors contributing to anime’s growth in the Middle East over time. EGYcon and the Riyadh Season’s inaugural Anime Expo, the largest convention of its sort so far organized in the Middle East, bringing a taste of all things Japanese to the region. Visitors of the event have been lining up for photos with their favorite characters, which range from musical acts to popular booths.
A big fan of Pokémon dressing as Pikachu from EGYcon’s eighth edition back in Oct. 8, 2021.
Those are just two of the many platforms available for anime fans to demonstrate their love and commitment to some of the greatest series of all time! As it continues to grow in popularity, the Middle East is becoming more prepared to accept and appreciate it as a kind of art that is appropriate for people of all ages.