Arab Uprisings In Cartoons: Jordan Offers Animated Parodies Of Gaddafi, Mubarak (VIDEO)

Uprisings are raging across the Middle East, and some viewers are taking the chance to laugh at once feared political figures.

A Jordan-based entertainment company called Kharabeesh has produced a series of Web-based political cartoons which depict embattled Arab leaders as well as the reform-seeking protesters. Several of the new videos have been among the most-viewed Internet clips across the Middle East.

"We are developing cartoons...that reflect the stories and the imagination of young Arabs all over the place," Kharabeesh co-founder Wael Attili tells ABC from Amman. "We want to be the next Pixar or the next Walt Disney for the Internet [in] the Arab world."

Among the many highlights: a clip depicting Hosni Mubarak singing along to the Britney Spears hit "Baby One More Time" and a reality show parody called "Arab's Got Talent," featuring Muammar Gaddafi competing in stand-up comedy.

"Humor has a power...to reform, and has a power to give us a new perspective on things, to send strong messages to the people," Attili says.

Watch ABC's interview with Attili, along with scenes from Kharabeesh clips, here:

Comments

[witsendster]

05:45 PM on 04/02/2011

He drew a parallel between his animation to an Arab based Pixar or Disney. I would say his animation, humor, and subject matter is more like Jib Jab (which I have gotten a real kick out of, myself) but the style and type humor is not comparable to Pixar (wit) or Disney (rich animation) but does seem reminiscent and comparable to Jib Jab. I think this is appropriate, as political humor is short lived, because political news stories change daily and, like traditional political cartoons, todays target may be old news tomorrow, so the type animation Pixar or Disney produces (real art!) would take to long to produce - but the type computer images used this way capture the satire and, I guess, can be more quickly produced and put out there.

[Galilee]

09:10 AM on 04/02/2011

Jordanians make fun of other dictators. But what about a parody of the Jordanian dictator?
Can't do that, eh?

[witsendster]

05:49 PM on 04/02/2011

I don't believe you can compare the past king or his son, the current king, of Jordon with Mubarak, Gaddafi, or others of that ilk. Jordan is not perfect, but they are not a rich country, and they have taken in so many Palestinian refuges and tried to be fair minded with Israel, and a voice for peace.

[Galilee]

06:11 PM on 04/02/2011

They can't say anything about the "King", not even a joke. That makes him exactly the same as "Mubarak, Gaddafi, or others of that ilk".
The "past king" of Jordan killed according to Arafat: 20,000 Palestinians in 1970. That's more than all the Palestinians killed in their 60yr war against Israel.