Entertainment
Glam Halal | January-February . 2022
Aspiring for global viewership Malaysian animations carry various Islamic values and messages to Muslim kids around the world
THE DIGITAL world is vast and full of information . With just a few Google searches away , people can access any content they like . Whilst the Internet makes life easier for most people , it has become a concern for parents as they need to make sure their kids consume the right content .
Omar & Hana , a local animation by Digital Durian , is one of the most preferred series by Muslim parents , especially in Malaysia . It is an excellent example of kids ’ entertainment that carries Islamic values and lessons .
Omar & Hana is a cartoon series about two Muslim siblings who learn about Islamic values throughout their lives . Their parents play a huge role in teaching and explaining these values and messages to them . The show includes many catchy songs and relatable storylines that appeal to Muslim lives ’ reality .
According to TRT World , CEO and Co-Founder of Digital Durian Sinan Ismail said , the series was launched in 2017 for the Malaysian market . Still , the show creators always aimed for the series to go global .
He said it took the team six months of research to think about the names . As for Omar , the boy character has a recognisable
Our mission is simple ; we want to create value and make millions of children and families around the world happy with our content , products and experiences .”
— Sinan Ismail
Muslim name . However , the creators decided to use Hana for the little girl character to bring a universal appeal .
Previously , Digital Durian was known for the popular kids ’ animation series Didi & Friends . But , on Nov 18 , 2021 , Sinan informed through his Facebook account that his co-Founder ’ s new company would now handle Didi & Friends .
He shared at first , some parents suggested to the team to use Didi & Friends as a platform to teach kids about Islam .
“ But the reality is that we can ’ t show chickens performing ( daily ) prayers . We needed real characters for that ,” Sinan said .
In 2017 , after Fadilah Rahman joined Digital Durian as a producer , the team finally entered the market of Islam-themed animation . Fadilah , who had experience promoting brands , said there was a huge demand for Islamic animations , but there wasn ’ t much available at that time .
She was then quoted by TRT World , saying : “ If the kids are not interested in watching your characters , then it doesn ’ t matter what instruction you put in the show . A content that can catch a kid ’ s attention was something that was lacking .”
Omar & Hana has three billion views on Youtube and more than six million subscribers . The show is made available in multiple languages , including English , Arabic , Urdu and Malay and aired in 25 countries worldwide - the UK , Middle East and North Africa ( MENA ) region , Malaysia and Indonesia .
“ Our mission is simple ; we want to create value and make millions of children and families around the world happy with our content , products and experiences ,” Sinan stated .