Originating from Japan, the global animation market is set to reach nearly $50 billion by 2030. The art, popular in games, has also left its mark in the Middle East, where Saudi Arabia alone is home to more than 21 million gamers. Manga Productions launched in Saudi Arabia as a subsidiary of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s Misk foundation that uses animation to inspire future generations.

After releasing the first-ever Saudi-Japanese animated film last year, Manga Productions is set to move its headquarters to the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Non-Profit City. The new city, which will open in 2024, will host Manga Productions as part of its new media sector. It will allow creative talent in the kingdom to live, learn, and grow through global collaborations and international creatives.

The company is also designing new workshops for the Non-Profit City to provide curated educational programs for training and empowering young Saudi animators. “Our new headquarters in Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Non-Profit City will allow us to cultivate a culture of youth and creativity, create opportunity and inspire minds of the creative industry,” says Manga Production’s CEO Dr Essam Bukhary.

Last year, the firm released a Saudi Japanese animated movie called The Journey in collaboration with TOEI, one of Japan’s oldest animation studios. It was pivotal for showcasing the Arab peninsula’s culture and stories.

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