Video Interview: Cartoon Network’s Alan Musa

Alan Musa, the VP and general manager for the Middle East, Africa and Pan-Region at Cartoon Network, talks in this video interview about the plans for content creation in region, supporting Cartoon Network’s other productions outside the U.S.

Turner Broadcasting recently announced a strategic partnership with Jordanian animation firm Rubicon Group Holding to create co-productions for the international market. Kicking off the partnership is an agreement to broadcast Rubicon’s new Ben & Izzy and Tareq wa Shireen animated series on Cartoon Network in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) starting in October, and they will also work together on new episodes that are set in Africa. The two will further explore co-production opportunities to create content for broadcast on regional and international Cartoon Network channels.

This agreement is but one of Cartoon Network’s initiatives in the Arabic animation sector. Cartoon Network already has a deal in place with twofour54 Abu Dhabi to open a dedicated animation training academy, to help boost the animation industry in the Middle East and North Africa. The first phase, which launches in September, will be the new Cartoon Network Animation Academy, which will offer young Arabs animation-focused training, with the aim of developing animation skills across the region. The new animation development studios, also launching in September, will be where the ideas and concepts for animation are generated and tested before taking the best Arabic creative concepts through to production. The launch of the production studios, in early 2011, is the final phase of the partnership. These studios will translate ideas from the development studios into a commercial product.

Leading this drive across MENA is Musa. He is keen on continuing to build up Cartoon Network’s strong reputation in the region, as well as working alongside Cartoon Network’s bouquet of other international services to bring new properties to the worldwide market.