Annecy: Manga Productions, a branch of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation 'Misk,' is making waves at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026, a premier global event celebrating animation and creative content. The festival is being held from June 23 to 26 in Annecy, France.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Manga Productions is using this prestigious platform to display a selection of its creative projects and productions that highlight Saudi identity and culture. The company aims to bolster its international presence and cultivate strategic relationships with global partners in the entertainment and content industry.
During the festival, Manga Productions announced a new animated short film project, 'Henna,' developed in collaboration with the Chinese platform Bilibili. The film follows the journey of a young deaf girl discovering her voice through the art of henna, representing the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. This project underscores Manga Productions' dedication to producing culturally significant, inspiring human stories for a global audience.
'Henna' is the first co-produced animation project between Bilibili and an Arab company, marking an initial achievement of the strategic partnership formed in August 2025 between Manga Productions and Bilibili. This collaboration aims to enhance content creation, production, and distribution, expanding Saudi content and Arab creativity in international markets, particularly in China. With Bilibili's vast reach of over 107 million daily active users, this partnership provides new opportunities for Saudi content to access a broad global audience.
CEO of Manga Productions, Dr. Essam Bukhary, emphasized that their participation in the Annecy Festival reflects a commitment to globalizing Saudi creative content and fostering strategic partnerships that support the growth of the animation industry and cultural sector in the Kingdom. He expressed pride in the 'Henna' project, stating it aligns with their strategy to create impactful human stories inspired by local culture and presented globally, showcasing the talent of Saudi youth.
Riyadh Al-Dossary, the director of 'Henna,' highlighted the film's focus on the power of inner voice and self-expression, aiming to provide a visually engaging and emotionally authentic experience that resonates globally.
Manga Productions also celebrated the global success of the Saudi-Japanese anime series Asateer2: Future's Folktales, co-produced with Toei Animation. The series, involving over 50 Saudi artists, achieved significant viewership and media coverage globally. In line with this success, Manga Productions announced the series' global expansion across multiple languages and platforms, including Arabic on Shahid, Japanese on Lemino, and French on Anime Digital Network, alongside English and Spanish versions.
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival serves as a key global platform, gathering leading animation studios, content creators, distributors, and investors worldwide, facilitating knowledge exchange, partnership development, and exploration of industry trends.
Manga Productions' participation aligns with its strategy to enhance global impact and reinforce Saudi Arabia's position as a burgeoning hub for creative industries, supporting Saudi Vision 2030's objectives to advance the creative economy and strengthen the Kingdom's cultural presence on the world stage.
