UAE production studio Blink Studios has sights set on developing an international hit

Karim, left, and the ‘lanbot’ Noor. Courtesy Blink Studios

The award-winning UAE production studio best known for its part in the successful revival of Iftah Ya Simsim, the Arabic version of Sesame Street, has launched its latest show across the region – and has its sights set on developing it into an international hit.

Blink Studios, which has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, debuted the animated Karim and Noor on the Spacetoon TV channel, and on its own YouTube channel.

The first season consists of 15 dialogue-free two-minute episodes that explore universal human traits and values through the relationship between a young boy, Karim, and his magical friend Noor, who is a lanbot (half-lantern, half-robot).

Creator and executive producer Nathalie Habib says her team’s ambitious plans include developing and expanding the show to appeal to international ­audiences.

"After we delivered the first season of Sesame Street, and while we wait to find out if there will be a second, we decided it was time to come out with something new of our own – so this is solely our project," says Habib. "We came up with the original concept and developed it from script to screen.

"It's currently non-dialogue shorts but we intend to develop something that leads into creating a much bigger world for Karim and Noor and has global appeal. So there is cultural nuance from the region – for example, the lantern/robot idea – but we wanted to make something that could appeal to a global audience and hopefully achieve global distribution."

Aimed at kids from the ages of three to eight years old, Karim and Noor explores a different subject in each episode – such as forgiveness or empathy. Habib hopes the lessons learnt will appeal to kids of all faiths and nationalities. "We wanted to avoid regional stereotypes, and aimed for storytelling that has a universal message," she says. "We focus on values that are shared by everyone in the world and the characters, too, are designed to have global appeal.

“Regardless of the fact that Karim has coarse hair, thick eyebrows and dark brown eyes, any kid would just see him and think he’s just another kid. Noor brings us the magic we need. He’s the key to the surprise we need in all kids’ stories.

“For the time being there’s no dialogue – the story is driven by music and sound effects. This was partly from the cost angle, but also so there’s kind of a blank canvas for global appeal with it being non-dialogue for now.”

The early feedback for the show has been encouraging. “We’ve already taken it to the Annecy Animation Festival and had really positive responses,” says Habib. “If we don’t receive global interest there’s really no sense in pursuing it any further.”

Although there is no shortage of animation talent in the region, Habib laments the fact that an original property from the region has yet to really grab attention and become an international hit – or, importantly, deliver much of a return on investment.

“Animation in this region just hasn’t really gained any traction yet,” says Habib. “Historically very little, if any, kids’ [intellectual property] from the Middle East has gone out into the international market.

“For 10 years we’ve been going to Mipcom [French TV and film trade show], and Annecy [the film festival] for four or five – you look at the delegates and we’re the only company that’s there from the Middle Eastern world. The big broadcasters are there but they’re doing their buying.

“When it comes to producers and studios, even small countries, such as Latvia, are represented. Everyone is creating their own characters and trying to sell them into the international market – but no one from the Arab world.”

Karim and Noor has already had an early taste of international success – it has been picked up by a virtual-reality company in Los Angeles, alongside properties from China and the United States, to be among the kids' programming on its upcoming VR platform. Habib hopes this will be only the first step.

“If and when we get that global deal, we’ll look at going long form and inserting dialogue,” she says. “Obviously we’ll have Arabic and English, but there’s also the opportunity to create versions in the language of the distributors’ choice.”

For now, fans can look forward to a second batch of 15 short episodes to be released “around back-to-school time”, again on Spacetoon and YouTube. “We’ll be looking to improve on what we have,” says Habib.

“We’ll be looking at the character portrayal, pushing the comedy a little more and potentially adding some characters.

“It’ll be airing pan-Arabia on Spacetoon as a filler once more. With the first set, we basically just told them they can air them as much as they want, wherever they want, whenever they want, as long as they keep airing them. We’ll also be launching the new episodes on YouTube again, and the first set are already there and doing well.”

• Karim and Noor screens throughout the day on Spacetoon. Episodes can also be watched at www.youtube.com/karimandnoor