The animation power couple, Kazuko Tadano & Hiromi Matsushita reflects on 30 Years of creative battles, timeless designs & the ‘magic in the madness’

Sharjah, May 4, 2025

Within a packed auditorium at the 3rd edition of the Sharjah Animation Conference, legendary character designers and animation directors, Kazuko Tadano and Hiromi Matsushita took the stage. The duo, married for over three decades and collaborators on iconic franchises, shared heartfelt stories, creative struggles, and behind-the-scenes secrets in a talk titled “Sailor Moon & Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Emotional Journey of Creating Two Anime Icons.”

Session at Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival led by the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children takes young students through a heartwarming story that teaches values of self-worth, diversity, and embracing differences

Sharjah, May 3, 2025

A simple pencil took centre stage at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) 2025, as children gathered to listen to a powerful tale of self-discovery, difference, and acceptance.

Young creatives learn the fundamentals of the beloved Japanese illustration style, shaping characters that reflect their moods and personalities at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival 

Sharjah, May 3, 2025 

In the Comic Corner of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025), imagination took centre stage as children turned blank pages into expressive Manga characters, exploring one of most iconic art forms. 

Hosted by SkillDeer, on Wednesday the Manga Drawing workshop welcomed children aged eight and above to dive into the dynamic world of Manga — learning the fundamentals of this beloved illustration style that originated in Japan but now boasts a global fanbase. Over the course of 30 minutes, participants received step-by-step guidance and all the tools needed to let their creativity soar. 

The wish tree at the Kiwi Stories stall at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival is the perfect place for visiting school children to express their future goals

Sharjah, May 3, 2025

“I dream of writing a book for children,” read an anonymous note on a wish tree displayed in the Kiwi Stories Publishing House stall at the 16^th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025) in Expo Centre Sharjah.

The dreams, scribbled on paper tags and hung on the apple tree replica by visiting schoolchildren, are galore. Some are in Arabic and some in English, some are spelt wrong while some have emojis – but the underlying emotion is one of grand dreams for the future. One wants to be a “doctor like her mom” while another wants to be a Power Girl from the American comics. There are more ambitions – to be a businesswoman, a pilot, “a teacher to help kids read”, an animation artist, build robots, open a hospital to help people, and so on.