Popular Emirati cartoon Mansour to relaunch with new adventure

The reboot will build on the success of the Arabic-language show that has been viewed more than two billion times online

The Adventures of Mansour: Age of AI, a reboot of the children's series Mansour, is due to be shown next year. Photo: Bidaya Media

Popular Emirati cartoon Mansour is making a comeback.

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority or ECA has signed an agreement with Bidaya Media in partnership with Mubadala to create a reboot of the Arabic-language cartoon series, titled The Adventures of Mansour: Age of AI, due to be broadcast next year.

The new series, targeted at children aged six to 12, will be created with higher-quality animation. The theme of the show will centre on encouraging cultural awareness, preserving national identity and strengthening a sense of belonging among Emiratis.

The Adventures of Mansour: Age of AI will also continue the legacy of the original show to inspire all children in the region to maintain a balanced mix between technology, social and human interactions, and outdoor play.

The new series will explore themes and global issues that speak to the current generation of children, including AI, the role of and reliance on technology, climate change and space exploration.

The relaunched Arabic cartoon will encourage children to find a balance between technology and the real world. Photo: Bidaya Media

“We are proud of our deepening partnership with Mubadala in expanding the available development opportunities for children through our sponsorship of such a popular show,” said Sana Suhail, director general of the authority.

“The relaunch exhibits the healthy balance that is needed in today’s world between the role of technology in our lives and the need for children to disconnect from their devices and connect with the real world. This healthy mix between the online and real worlds is at the core of this show and is key to better prepare our children for the future.”

The rebooted series will build on the huge success of the original show created by Rashed Alharmoodi, which currently has more than two billion YouTube views, three million subscribers and 300 million watch hours, which include more than 25 million unique viewers in the last 90 days at the time of writing.

As part of the relaunch, ECA and Mubadala will also be creating a series of youth-focused activities such as a roadshow, to local youth centres and summer camps and workshops where young people will have the opportunity to learn about channelling their inner creativity and creating high-quality content.

Nineteen graphic novels set in the Middle East — in pictures

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'The Rabbi’s Cat' by Joann Sfar is a comical story set in 1930s Algeria about a photo that gains the ability to speak after eating the family parrot. Photo: Joann Sfar

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'Pride of Baghdad' by Brian K Vaughan is a story based on true events set in 2003 Iraq where a pride of lions, Zill, Safa, Noor and Ali, escape from the Baghdad Zoo after the city is bombed by American forces. Photo: Brian K Vaughan

'River Jordan' by Merik Tadros is set in Chicago and Amman, Jordan and tells the story of Rami, 9, who is coming to terms with his father’s murder by creating art. Photo: Merik Tadros

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In 'Baddawi', Leila Abdelrazaq explores her father Ahmed’s harrowing childhood when he was raised in a refugee camp in northern Lebanon among thousands of Palestinians who fled their homeland after the 1948 war. Photo: Leila Abdelrazaq

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'Squire' by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas is an exciting fantasy adventure about swords, knights and squires. Photo: Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas

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