SHASHAH 2022, the anime-themed extravaganza hosted by FUNN, a Sharjah-based organisation that promotes media arts learning among children and youth, will kick off tomorrow (Friday)at Aljada, Sharjah, with an exciting range of activities including interactive workshops, film screenings, insightful talks, music performances, competitions, and more.

The anime community across Sharjah and the UAE can dive into an immersive world of the international pop culture phenomenon with a blend of educational and entertaining events at Aljada, Sharjah, from 4pm -10pm until Sunday, March 13.

SHASHAH, a biannual creative and educational event, aligns with FUNN’s mission of stimulating children’s creativity and imagination through new art forms.

Discover the joys of anime with 5 fun workshops daily

Several professional-led anime and manga workshops of 50 minutes duration each, conducted in both English and Arabic and open for all ages starting 10 year-old, will delight audiences aspiring to become adept in drawing authentic anime and manga characters.

Five workshop sessions have been scheduled for Friday, which includes ‘Create an Origami-Craft & Stop Motion’ at 5pm; ‘2D Anime Sketching’, which delves into the art of sketching anime portraits, at 6pm; and at 7pm, ‘Creating Visual Novels’ will teach participants on ways to add visual appeal and interactivity to novels.

‘Colouring Manga & Anime’ at 8pm will offer participants valuable tips and techniques on the aesthetics of colouring manga characters while at 9pm, they will learn the art of drawing adorable, small caricatures in ‘Introduction to the Chibi Style’.

On Saturday, young artists will benefit from two beginner’s workshops titled, ‘Introduction to Manga’ at 5pm, and ‘Introduction to the Chibi Style’ at 6pm. Kashkool Games will lead participants to explore the ‘Mindset of an Indie Developer’ at 7pm, while ‘Create an Origami-Craft & Stop Motion’ and ‘Japanese Folktales Animation’ at 8pm and 9pm respectively aims to further expand the creative potential of young anime fans.

The final set of five workshops on Sunday,includes ‘Backgrounds for Anime’ at 5pm; ‘Basics of Manga Sketching’ at 6pm; ‘Fundamentals of Comics’ at 7pm; ‘Introduction to Manga’ at 8pm; and ‘Create Your Own Hero’ at 9pm.

Enthralling anime flicks for movie lovers

Visitors can revel in the compelling narratives and lively illustrations of two popular anime films at SHASHAH this year.

On Friday, at 8pm, audiences can watch ‘The Journey’, directed by KôbunShizuno and produced by Manga Productions in Saudi Arabia, which tells the story of a simple potter named Aus who takes up arms against a ruthless invader threatening to enslave the people of Mecca.

Set in an alternate timeline in post-World War II Japan, ‘The Place Promised in Our Early Days’, is the 2004 directorial debut of critically acclaimed anime director, Makoto Shinkai, and will be presented in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan in Dubai on Sunday, at 8:30pm.

Immerse yourself in upbeat melodies

Heightening the drama of the rich and exciting world of anime storytelling at SHASHAH this year are high-octane live music performances that commences with Japanese singer-songwriter Fae Miranda’s delivery of J-pop and Anime OSTs on Friday, March 11 at 7pm.

Two solo performances are scheduled for Saturday, with pianist Mahmoud Ihab taking to the stage at 7pm followed by anime music guitarist ATS at 7:30pm. On Sunday, M7MDX, singer for the leading Arab anime TV channel, Spacetoon, will perform at 7pm.

Listen to anime artists and experts and celebrate the art of cosplay

The founders of UAE Anime Store, a one-stop destination for anime merchandise in Umm Al Quwain, will discuss the journey that led them to set up the anime haven on Friday, at 5:30pm, followed by an interview with a panel of self-described ‘otakus’, the Japanese term for devoted aficionados of anime, at 6pm.

On Saturday and Sunday, at 5pm, visitors can engage in an open-forum discussion on all things anime. On March 12, the team of young entrepreneurs and creatives who launched Mendhero Academy, the masterminds behind the Arabic board game and playing card company H2 Games, and the artist who goes by the alias ‘salahcartoonz’ will participate in a talk scheduled for 5.30pm to relate their cosplay experiences.

In a panel discussion on Saturday, at 8pm, Omar Al Shreif, Mohammed Al Shaibani and Rashid Al Khayaal will share their expertise on the topic ‘How to benefit from animation content through social media’ while at 9pm, a competition will test enthusiasts of the art form on their knowledge of the anime universe.

Visitors donning costumes that recreate their favorite anime characters in the most authentic way will be at the center stage of SHASHAH’s cosplay competition on Sunday, at 5:30pm.

Gala entertainment
Visitors can enrich their knowledge of Japanese culture and traditions with demonstrations of sumo wrestling held daily in a dedicated area in the Aljada complex between 4pm and 10pm.

A gaming booth at the VR Zone will enable gaming enthusiasts to enter the immersive 360-degree world of Tokyo Chronos, a VR Mystery Visual Novel game. VR gear and disposable face masks will be provided for players.

Members of the anime community of all ages and backgrounds – whether enthusiasts, established and amateur artists, collectors or professionals – are invited to gather at the Artists Alley over the course of the event to network, exchange ideas, display and share their artworks.

FUNN’s sponsors for SHASHAH include official partner UAE Anime Store, strategic partner Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), venue partner Aljada, educational partners SAE Institute and Sandstorm comics studio (twofour54), and support partners Kashkool Games, Gamers Trove, Yugioh, Mend Hero Academy and Speedy Comics bookstore.

SHASHAH is open to all children and youth, anime enthusiasts, and anyone who wishes to learn a new creative skill. To know more and attend the event, visitors can visit https://funn.ae/