Essam Bukhary: "I believe in the power of content to shape the future of young generations"

Manga Productions is a Middle Eastern entertainment company that produces anime, manga, and games, as well as promotes IP management. "Our greatest mission is to inspire the heroes of tomorrow," said Essam Bukhary, CEO of the company, in an exclusive chat with Señal News. "We believe that by using the power of content, we can create a better future for young generations and bring the Arab world to the global stage," he added.

The company has co-produced some anime with Japan, including “Goldorak”, “The Journey”, and “Future's Folktales”. Regarding “Goldorak”, Bukhary commented that it was the first time a Middle Eastern company handled the global distribution of a Japanese anime. On the other hand, “The Journey” movie is available on more than 50 platforms in different languages. "It was the first Arab IP to be premiered on Chinese platforms, and the first Arab IP to be screened in Chinese theaters in Hollywood," he noted. The executive asserted that anime and animated content can enable cultural exchange with different countries. "We can build more partnerships and friendships by using the power of content," he emphasized.

EMBRACING AI

Bukhary stated that Manga Productions will aim to use AI in the best way possible, to achieve better performance and reduce production costs. "AI alone will not be able to create emotions; however, there will be smart people who will use AI effectively to evoke those emotions. I think companies need to invest in the capabilities of their teams, to invest in their own potential as organizations, and try to lead that change by maximizing value," he explained.

On another note, Manga Productions is working with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture in Saudi Arabia to provide free online courses that teach manga to 3.5 million Saudi students. "We need to invest in the brainpower of our young generations. Manga encourages thinking outside the box, transforming ideas into characters and stories, so our approach is to use manga and anime as tools to prepare the next generations for the era of art," he said.