Netflix signs deal with Saudi Arabia animator Myrkott, creator of Masameer cartoons

Saudi Arabian animation studio Myrkott has signed a five-year exclusive partnership with Netflix to produce Saudi-focused shows and films, according to a statement released Wednesday.

The deal will also give Netflix a five-year first look option on Myrkott’s upcoming projects.

Myrkott is known for its creation of the Masameer series, a popular Saudi animation series based in the Kingdom. The series also recently spun out into movies, with Masameer: The Movie launching earlier this year.

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The partnership with Netflix includes new and exclusive seasons of Masameer, new movies, a new licensed original adult animation series, and a licensed original feature film, in addition to access to all of the previous seasons of Masameer with special edits for Netflix, the statement said.

“Myrkott is at the forefront of creative storytelling and animation in the region. We are continually investing in authentic stories from Saudi Arabia to share their stories across the Arab world and globally. We want to give our members access to great stories that can travel far and wide,” Nuha El Tayeb, director of content acquisitions for Middle East, North Africa and Turkey at Netflix said in the statement.

Myrkott meanwhile views the deal as a positive step for the studio, and is hopeful that it could inspire other artists in the region.

“We at Myrkott think about this partnership beyond the production aspects, by working with Netflix we inspire Saudi and Arab talents to dream big and support an ecosystem that recognizes equal opportunity, talent and creativity, these are the values that fueled Myrkott in its pursuit of excellence throughout the years,” Myrkott CEO and Co-Founder Abdulaziz al-Muzaini said.

Earlier this year Netflix also announced that it had licensed popular Saudi series Takki. The streaming giant also launched the first Saudi Arabia thriller series, Whispers, in June this year.

Netflix has recently reported rising membership numbers as the coronavirus pandemic keeps consumers at home and hungry for content. In July, the firm said that its paid memberships grew by 10.1 million in the second quarter of 2020, although its profit has remained relatively flat much to investors concern.

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