Saudi anime ‘Future’s Folktales’ trailer highlights cultural fusion

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Manga Productions has announced the release of the official trailer for the second season of the popular Saudi anime series Future’s Folktales. (Supplied)
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Manga Productions has announced the release of the official trailer for the second season of the popular Saudi anime series Future’s Folktales. (Supplied)
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Manga Productions has announced the release of the official trailer for the second season of the popular Saudi anime series Future’s Folktales. (Supplied)
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Manga Productions has announced the release of the official trailer for the second season of the popular Saudi anime series Future’s Folktales. (Supplied)
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Updated 07 October 2024
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Saudi anime ‘Future’s Folktales’ trailer highlights cultural fusion

  • Produced in collaboration with Japan’s Toei Animation studio, Asateer 2: Future’s Folktales will stream on Shahid and air simultaneously on MBC1
  • Trailer introduces Maha and her brothers, Rayan and Sultan, as they navigate daily challenges, finding solutions in the folk stories told by their grandmother Asma

RIYADH: Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Misk Foundation, has announced the release of the official trailer for the second season of the popular Saudi anime series “Future’s Folktales.”

Produced in collaboration with Japan’s Toei Animation studio, “Asateer 2: Future’s Folktales” will stream on Shahid and air simultaneously on MBC1 in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as TV Tokyo in Japan, starting Nov. 1.

It will also be available in North America, Europe and Latin America, with platforms to be announced later this year, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The trailer introduces Maha and her brothers, Rayan and Sultan, as they navigate daily challenges, finding solutions in the folk stories told by their grandmother Asma, which blend traditional tales with futuristic visions.

Fifteen Saudi artists and producers from Manga Productions contributed to character design and creative direction, showcasing a diverse array of traditional environments and costumes that reflect the rich cultures of the Arabian Peninsula.

Manga Productions CEO Essam Bukhary said: “The growing global interest in the distribution of Asateer2 Future’s Folktales across various international platforms is clear evidence of the success of our young talents in creating content that meets international standards and can compete on the global stage.”

He added: “At Manga Productions, we remain committed to producing innovative works that inspire the new generation and enhance Saudi Arabia’s position as a beacon of creativity, while ensuring we maintain the highest standards of quality and excellence in everything we do.”

Creative Director at Manga Productions Sara Oulddaddah said that during the production of Asateer 2, “We focused on enhancing our internal production capabilities and providing opportunities for Saudi talents who worked diligently with our partners across all stages of production.”

She added that “through Asateer2, we aim to continue sharing our inspiring Saudi culture, history and fantasy with the world, while contributing to the growth of Saudi Arabia’s creative content industry.”

The new season, which combines Saudi creativity with Japanese expertise, continues the remarkable success of the first season, which exceeded 100 million views worldwide, SPA reported.


Stars of Haifaa Al-Mansour’s ‘Unidentified’ hit the red carpet in Saudi Arabia

Updated 08 December 2025
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Stars of Haifaa Al-Mansour’s ‘Unidentified’ hit the red carpet in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH: Cast members from Saudi director Haifaa Al-Mansour’s latest film, “Unidentified,” took to the red carpet at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah on Sunday.

Aziz Gharbawi, Somaya Al-Shareef, Intisar Al-Shareef, Othoub Sharar, and Abduallah Al-Qahtani attended the premiere alongside co-producer and co-scriptwriter Brad Niemann.

Lead star Mila Al-Zahrani and director Al-Mansour did not attend the event.

Aziz Gharbawi at the premiere. (Getty Images)

The screening in Saudi Arabia comes after the crime thriller premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

“Nawal Al-Saffan, a 29-year-old divorcee, returns to her small hometown for a fresh start. A fan of true crime podcasts, she gets a mundane clerical job at the local police station, digitizing old files,” the film’s official logline states.

“Her life changes when a teenage girl’s body is found in her school uniform, with no ID. Haunted by the girl’s senseless death, Nawal decides to investigate.

“She uses her insight into the hidden world of women to identify the victim, befriending a group of women and other characters that all seem connected to the crime.

“To solve the mystery, she must challenge her preconceived notions about women and their threats.”

Intisar Al-Shareef. (Getty Images)

The film was co-written by Al-Mansour, who also directed “The Perfect Candidate.”

This summer, the pioneering Saudi filmmaker was appointed to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ board of governors.

In 2012, Al-Mansour made history with the release of her first feature film, “Wadjda.” It was the first feature film shot entirely in the Kingdom, and made by a female Saudi director.

Al-Mansour has become one of the most in-demand television directors in Hollywood, helming episodes of hit series including “Archive 81,” “City of Fire,” “Tales of the Walking Dead,” and “Bosch: Legacy.”

In 2019, Al-Mansour’s feature film “The Perfect Candidate” was submitted as Saudi Arabia’s entry for the International Feature Film Award at the 92nd Academy Awards, but was not nominated.