Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, delivered a keynote on “Saudinimation”, highlighting Japan-Saudi collaboration in animation.
Saudi Arabia’s Manga Productions has made history by becoming the first Middle Eastern sponsor of AnimeJapan 2025, one of the major anime conventions. The event, held at the Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Centre, attracted over 150,000 visitors and showcased more than 100 international exhibitors.
A subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), Manga Productions’ participation highlighted Saudi Arabia’s expanding footprint in the global anime industry. The company’s presence at the event provided attendees with an immersive cultural experience, featuring interactive exhibitions such as traditional Saudi attire demonstrations and Saudi coffee tastings, blending heritage with innovation.
Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, delivered a keynote address titled “A New Era of Animation! The Future of ‘Saudinimation’ Driven by Japan and Saudi Arabia.” His speech emphasised the growing collaboration between the two nations and the potential for joint ventures in animation production.
“The enthusiastic reception we received underscores our commitment to showcasing Saudi creativity on the global stage,” Bukhary stated. “AnimeJapan 2025 marked a significant step in fostering co-productions and international partnerships, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of becoming a hub for entertainment innovation.”
The Manga Productions pavilion also hosted prominent Japanese officials, including Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Akamatsu Ken and Vice Minister of the Environment Kobayashi Fumiaki, reflecting a deepening cultural and diplomatic exchange between Saudi Arabia and Japan.
Abdulaziz Al-Mowani, Director of Marketing and Communications at Manga Productions, highlighted the strategic importance of the event, and stated: “This platform allowed us to share Saudi Arabia’s creative identity while establishing key media and industry relationships. Effective storytelling bridges cultures, and this event demonstrated the power of our narrative.”
Manga Productions’ participation at AnimeJapan 2025 not only reinforced its role as a global player in animation but also strengthened Saudi-Japanese collaboration in the evolving entertainment landscape.
