A group of animation studio founders and content creators from the Middle East and Africa engaged in a discussion about the institutional and production challenges facing the animation sector in the region. They emphasized the need for sustainable infrastructure that supports local production continuity and enhances the presence of creative voices in global markets. This took place during a panel titled “Animation in the Middle East and Africa: Opportunities and Challenges,” part of the third edition of the “Sharjah Animation Conference 2025.”
The panel featured Zmrot Pakoui, Programming and Scheduling Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Warner Bros. Discovery; Abdulaziz Othman, CEO of Ziz Animation Studio in Saudi Arabia; Tarek Ali, founder of Zand Studio in Egypt; Raymond Malinga, CEO of Creatures Studio in Uganda; and Damilola Solesi, Executive and Creative Director of Smids Studio in Nigeria. The session was moderated by Munia Aram, an expert in cultural and media collaboration.
In another discussion, African female entrepreneurs who have received global awards in animation highlighted that women can drive significant changes in this creative industry. They noted the importance of creating content that reflects their identities and societal issues, fueled by genuine passion and determination to innovate. Based on their experiences, they shared that challenges related to age or societal expectations did not hinder their ambitions; instead, these challenges motivated them to excel in a competitive landscape, both locally and internationally. They asserted that animation represents a vibrant platform for women to express their voices and tell their stories through impactful visual narratives.
This was addressed in a panel titled “Women in Animation: Leading Change and Shaping the Future,” which brought together three leaders from Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya: Damilola Solesi, the award-winning Nigerian director; Comfort Arthur, animator and founder of Comfy Studio; and Sarah Maliya, co-founder and creative director at Bongolo Pa Productions. The session, moderated by Munia Aram, founder of Maoupia, highlighted their professional journeys in establishing independent studios and producing films that tackle social and cultural issues through visually compelling narratives that embody authentic African motifs with global reach aspirations.
The Impact of Gaming
Experts indicated that gaming is beginning to reshape the animation industry through interactive storytelling and new methods of audience engagement. Animation is no longer confined to films and series but is being revolutionized by storytelling platforms and games, changing how audiences interact with this type of content.
This was discussed in a panel titled “A New Era of Animation: Merging Storytelling with Gaming,” featuring French director Olivier Lillardo, CEO of Blue Spirit Studio, alongside Nicolas Monteiro, creative producer at Blue Spirit and Brain Comet Studios. The session was moderated by journalist Valentina Martelli on the second day of the Sharjah Animation Conference 2025, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority, running until Sunday at the Sharjah Expo Center, alongside the 16th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival.
Broadcast Leaders
Top executives from global broadcast organizations in Japan, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the animation sector amidst rapid digital transformations. This occurred during a panel titled “Broadcasting Animation: A Global Vision for Content Collaboration” as part of the Sharjah Animation Conference 2025.
The panel included Hiroki Tanaka, Animation Director at Japan’s YTV; Mohamed Salama, Revenue Operations Director at Spacetoon Go; Zmrot Pakoui, Programming Director at Warner Bros. Discovery for the Middle East and North Africa; Arne Luhmann, Executive Producer at Germany’s ZDF network; and Ali Said, Head of Purchasing at MBC Group. The session was moderated by Valentina Martelli, founder of ITTV.