Gifted young Emirati anime artists are presenting their unique artworks for sale to anime lovers of all ages as FUNN, a Sharjah-based organisation that promotes media arts learning among children and youth, kicked off its anime-themed SHASHAH 2022 yesterday (Friday) at Aljada, Sharjah.

Kiosks dotting the Artists’ Alley on the grounds of the venue of the three-day event, display a colourful array of trinkets printed with anime fan art and original anime-inspired artwork by the creatives, who are part of a growing community of Emirati youth drawn together by their shared passion for the genre.

A lifelong love for anime

For many of the Emirati artists displaying their merchandise at SHASHAH, anime has been a lifelong passion.

“My father introduced me to anime,” said 24-year-old Madiya Zayed, with a hint of nostalgia. “He would buy anime series dubbed in Arabic on cassettes and CDs, and we would watch them together.” Her kiosk, artfully decorated with twirling vines, is stacked with mugs, T-shirts, keychains, and other collectibles that are imprinted with her drawings of characters she loved as a child.

Bassam Al Naqbi, who began his artistic journey during primary school, is showcasing his creative sketches at SHASHAH 2022. “I picked up the anime style by copying the art in the series I was watching,” saidthe 36-year-old who, in 2017, compiled his collection of anime sketches and comic strips into a self-published book.

An enterprising spirit

Sisters Shayma and Noora Alshemeri, both in their mid-20s, share a penchant for anime that they have channelled into a small business focusing on anime-inspired artwork on tote bags and miniature prints.

The duo creates not only fan art but original characters using a style influenced by anime. A handful of prints of Shayma’s paintings, displayed at the sisters’ booth, show figures with enlarged, finely detailed eyes, a nod to the exaggerated style of anime. “I believe my art stands out because I think outside the box,” she said.

Nouf Albloushi, 23, also runs a small business on Instagram offering keychains, badges and stickers designed with small, adorable caricatures called ‘chibis’ in soft pastel pinks and blues. “I’ve tried to recreate my favourite characters from ‘Demon Slayer’ and ‘My Hero Academia’ to make them look cuter,” she said.

The artists are displaying and selling their wares at SHASHAH 2022 until Sunday, March 13.