Saudi Arabia’s Vision Entertainment And Image Nation Abu Dhabi Announce Partnership To Develop Animated Television Series

Academy Award-winning media and entertainment company Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia-based Vision Entertainment, a company specializing in creating locally-inspired content, have announced a new creative partnership to produce an animated television series.

The Arabic language television series about dates – the traditional Arab fruit – will showcase the rich cultural and historic treasures of Saudi Arabia and the wider Arab region.

“We set out to create iconic characters that are rooted in our traditions and culture,” said Princess Sarah bint Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud, executive producer and co-founder of Vision Entertainment.  “The palm is such a big part of our history and heritage and the date is a ubiquitous staple in our homes, so we decided to bring the world of dates to life in a fun animated series for the whole family. We are creating this series to embody our rich heritage and culture and hope audiences of all ages across the region will relate to its authentic, homegrown story.”

The project, tentatively titled “Tamr”, is currently in pilot production with series production slated to begin in 2020.

The partnership with Vision Entertainment is part of Image Nation Abu Dhabi’s foray into the Saudi Arabian media industry, following the landmark production partnership with MBC and Majid Al Futtaim announced at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

Ben Ross, Chief Content Officer at Image Nation Abu Dhabi, said: “We are excited to partner with Vision Entertainment on this great project. The region is home to a huge consumer audience with a major appetite for locally-made content that represents and resonates with them.  Through this partnership, we’re attracting top talent and creating dynamic content.”

Robert Knežević, a Sesame Street veteran who was responsible for the recent reboot of the beloved Iftah Ya Simsim, and co-founder and executive producer of Vision Entertainment, said: “We’re taking a holistic brand-building approach to the project.  The television series is just the start.  We’re creating a 360-degree brand experience with live shows, digital content, mobile games, products and merchandizing, even a feature film is in the works. The region is ripe for a truly locally-inspired consumer brand.”

Image Nation Abu Dhabi recently released the landmark documentary television series History of the Emirates on local and international channels around the UAE’s 48^th National Day. The series is currently airing in 50 countries around the world on National Geographic.