Jordanian family creates Arabic cartoon to spark interest in language

Record ID: 1399920

  • Title: Jordanian family creates Arabic cartoon to spark interest in language
  • Date: 14th March 2019
  • Summary: BETHESDA, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES (MARCH 11, 2019) (REUTERS) SICKLE CELL ANEMIA PATIENT LYNNDRICK HOLMES ENTERING AN EXAM ROOM AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH CLINICAL CENTER 100 DAYS AFTER HE RECEIVED CUTTING-EDGE GENE THERAPY TREATMENT THAT EFFECTIVELY "CURED" HIM OF HIS LIFE-LONG ILLNESS AND AS HE PREPARES TO RETURN HOME TO MOBILE, ALABAMA FOLLOWING THE END OF HIS
  • Embargoed: 28th March 2019 14:44
  • Keywords: Arabic language Arabic in Jordanian schools Teaching Arabic in Jordan Arabic education Arabic cartoons Arabic children's songs Arabic songs
  • Location: AMMAN, JORDAN / ANIMATION
  • City: AMMAN, JORDAN / ANIMATION
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: Education,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA008A5ZRB6D
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:What began as an attempt by a Jordanian couple to teach their son Arabic became a viral cartoon series that has garnered millions of views across several platforms.
    Ibrahim Taha and Luma Adnani were frustrated to see that their young son, Adam, was more inclined to speak and listen to English songs over Arabic ones. They quickly realised that this was in part due to a lack of engaging Arabic content for children.
    So the couple turned their frustration into action, and together with Luma's sister Lina and illustrator Lutfi Zayed, they decided to create a cartoon series. The characters are based on their son Adam and their cat, Mishmish.
    "I felt that there was a dire need for the Arabic language, and through music we were able to send messages that teach children and parents to sing and to learn about the Arabic language," said Taha.
    After a crowdfunding campaign in 2016, the group launched their first video on Youtube, a song teaching the Arabic alphabets.
    Through music and animation, the "Adam wa Mishmish" series hopes to provide children with an early introduction to shapes, food, animals, colours and other topics.
    The team behind the cartoon often decides on the themes of episodes based on events that they experience. One of their shows tackles the issue of welcoming new siblings, which was inspired by the arrival of Adam's younger sister, Mila.
    The creators also closely listen to feedback from other parents. But their most important critic is their son Adam, who gives them an indication of how other children will react.
    "We won't publish a song before playing it to Adam. If Adam enjoys listening to it and interacted with it, we know this is a hit song, if he listens and doesn't pay attention, we know that this is not working, so we change it," said Luma.
    Since launching almost three years ago, the series has published 37 songs and raked in around 3 million views and more than 100,000 followers across social media platforms. The cartoon has also been picked up by a television network.
    The creators of Adam Wa Mishmish, which is now funded by the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, said they are planning to continue to expand their project.
    Their next steps include launching a series of books and an application. They are also working on an interactive play in which children can participate, unleashing their creativity.
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