al jazeera children’s channel solidifies strategic collaboration with mdec to co-produce the world’s first 3d animation ‘saladin tv series’
Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) and Al Jazeera Children’s Channel (JCC) today formalised their partnership for content development and distribution during the inauguration of JCC’s representative office in Malaysia.
The collaboration is a co-production venture and global marketing of the 26 episodes of Saladin TV Series worth RM30million. The exchange of contracts between MDeC’s CEO, Dato’ Badlisham Ghazali and Al Jazeera Children’s Channel Executive General Manager Mahmoud Bouneb was witnessed by MDeC Chairman Tan Sri Halim Ali.
The co-production is the outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between MDeC and JCC in Doha, Qatar, last March. The co-production of the 26-episodes Saladin 3D Animated Series will commence in December 2007 and the first 13 episodes, Season One, are scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2009. The second season is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010.
Explaining about the strategic collaboration, Bouneb said, “JCC’s partnership with MDeC will pave the way to further develop and produce quality content for the Muslim world enchanting its heritage and cultural diversity.”
“I hope our alliance will go beyond producing TV content to also cover digital content for new technologies platforms in the future,” he added.
Badlisham said the collaboration with JCC would provide an invaluable channel for MDeC to market its products and services globally.
“This partnership represents a quintessential platform for MSC Malaysia companies to explore not only the Middle East market but promote our local skills, services and facilities to other countries in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) as well,” he said.
Badlisham added that MDeC would work with JCC to create and promote awareness among the OIC member countries on policies and key issues affecting the development of the content industry, which was seen as crucial in today’s media-rich environment.
“The Creative Multimedia and Content has been identified as the next engine of growth for the nation. As the driver and custodian of Malaysia’s ICT development, MSC Malaysia will play a pivotal role to spearhead its development and global push,” he said.
Saladin the TV Series is set against a backdrop of the second and third Crusades of the 12th century. The series is designed to contain elements targeted to meet the interests of ten to twelve years old. Whilst based on a real-life historical character, the basis for the animated TV series is largely fictional and includes heroes, villains, vendettas, drama, comedy, exotic locales, climatic swordfights, battling armies and a dash of romance.
