Sharjah:Financing, early partnerships, and audience engagement are now seen as crucial elements in the production of animation projects, according to industry experts at the Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference (SACC) 2026.
According to Wam, during the roundtable discussion titled "How Animation Deals Get Made," moderated by media consultant Nisrine Zawahra, experts highlighted the prolonged timelines required to finance and produce animation projects. Key industry figures, including Olfa Sakakibara, Abdullah Moatasem, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Sinai Studios, and Mahmoud Hemeda, CEO and Co-Founder of Samaka Studio, shared insights on improving these timelines by involving broadcasters, investors, and audiences at earlier stages.
Mahmoud Hemeda emphasized the ongoing challenge of financing original intellectual property for studios in the region. He noted that while the creative idea is central to any project, financial backing is essential for execution, and the process of securing deals begins long before formal agreements are made. He explained that studios often spend years developing ideas independently, only to face rejections that necessitate further reworking. Samaka Studio now involves broadcasters early in the process to solidify projects and build online fanbases to demonstrate market demand, which can enhance investment prospects.
Abdullah Moatasem pointed out the regional investors' preference for live-action projects due to their quicker returns, making the slower and costlier animation projects appear risky. He likened the challenge to moving a large, heavy object and expressed the need for a passionate investor to help initiate significant projects. Moatasem also mentioned Sinai Studios' efforts to use AI alongside artists to mitigate risks while ensuring that artists maintain creative control. Additionally, the studio is focusing on developing stories that reflect regional culture and perspectives, which are often underrepresented.
Olfa Sakakibara shared insights from her experience in the Japanese animation industry, stressing that the journey from a single idea to a successful animation project involves extensive development, production, and marketing processes. She noted that while the path to screen can take up to five years, animation has a commercial advantage over live-action due to merchandising, which constitutes a significant revenue stream.
The panelists collectively advocated for increased collaboration among regional studios and across different generations of animators to strengthen networks and facilitate the transition of more projects from development to production and into international markets.