Emirati animation production company Eating Stars Studios was only founded in September last year, but it is already making progress in an ambitious mission to spread knowledge of the UAE to the world in a fun and entertaining way.
Its debut production, Emara, which is in the pre-production stage, features a female superhero who makes it her mission to fight crime on the streets of the UAE.
The studio’s creative director, Fatma Al Muhairi, is keen to emphasise that the animated show will feature all of the emirates, not only famous landmarks – such as the Burj Khalifa, Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers – which are increasingly popular with international productions.
“We really want to make it not just about Dubai,” Al Muhairi says, while appearing at the 2016 Middle East Film and Comic Con. “When I travel and people ask where I’m from and I say, ‘I’m Emirati,’ they’re always like, ‘What?’ So you sigh and say, ‘Dubai’ – and they go, ‘Oh Dubai – with the big building?’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I didn’t build that actually – but it’s there.’
“I really want to introduce all the emirates, so we’ll start with Dubai, which everybody knows, then Abu Dhabi, and carry on from there.”
Al Muhairi says she is from “between Dubai and Abu Dhabi”, with a parent from each.
“The majority of our artists are actually from Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah,” she says. “I really want to put the other Emirates out there because they’re my fellow Emiratis but they don’t get any recognition.”
Al Muhairi, and many members of her nine-strong team of animators, is a graduate of Abu Dhabi’s Cartoon Network Academy, and has interned at Cartoon network’s studios in the capital.
The animation stage of Emara is due to begin in May or June this year, and that once the first episode is complete her team will pitch it to broadcasters.
“Cartoon Network would normally be our first port of call as they’re like family,” she says.
"But this is maybe a little too dark for them. It's more anime than Ben 10, so we'll see. We've already had some great interest from media companies while we've been here at Comic Con, so we're hopeful."
cnewbould@thenational.ae
