Renowned children’s literature writer Nada Al-Fardan has recently announced the completion of the cartoon series “Knight’s Shields,” based on her popular story “A Knight and His Ten Shields.” The series, produced in cooperation with Saudi-Bahraini collaboration by the “Cartology Company,” is set to debut at the end of this month in Bahrain.
The storyline of “Knight’s Shields” follows the character Faris, guided by his knowledgeable sister, as he embarks on a quest to create imaginary armor that grants him the abilities of knights. With guidance from his family, Faris learns important lessons on strength, virtue, and overcoming challenges.
In a bid to create a culturally significant work that preserves Arab identity and values, Al-Fardan teamed up with Saudi producer and writer Fahd Al-Qahtani. The choice to adapt the award-winning book “A Knight and His Ten Shields,” recognized by the Sharjah Arab Creativity Award in 2015, reflects its popularity among young audiences.
Al-Fardan acknowledged the difficulties faced in producing children’s animation, including sourcing qualified Arab companies for graphic production, ensuring child-friendly animation, and selecting suitable voice actors. Maintaining visual consistency with the original book illustrations was also a key consideration to maintain audience familiarity.
The pilot episodes of “Knight’s Shields” will serve as a litmus test for audience reception, with three completed episodes scheduled for the initial broadcast. The success of these episodes will determine the future of the series, with plans for a full season comprising 30 episodes on the horizon. By creating an original Arab cartoon production, Al-Fardan aims to offer a valuable alternative to foreign imports and showcase the richness of Arab storytelling.
