Draw with love and challenge yourself, urges acclaimed Japanese animator Junichi Hayama at SAC 2024

At the second edition of Sharjah Animation Conference, the designer and chief animator of numerous iconic anime series illustrated three popular heroes for his fans

Sharjah, May 05, 2024

“Young artists should start their career in manga and anime art the traditional way with hand-drawn sketches, and not digitally, because the latter provides tools that help you edit and manipulate while the former helps you develop the senses to get the proportions right,” advised master animator Junichi Hayama at the “Drawing Masterpieces” workshop during the Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC) at Expo Centre Sharjah.

There’s a smash room for kids too — only at SCRF 2024

The 12-day Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival features a mosaic of workshops, talks, and events that foster diverse mental stimulation for children

Sharjah, May 05, 2024

The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), beautifully aligns with the contemporary era, presenting a mosaic of workshops, talks, and events. Its central ethos fosters diverse mental stimulation for children, offering novel experiences and opportunities to refine their skills. Among these is the increasingly popular Smash Room, a concept that is gaining traction globally due to its unique approach to stress relief and active play.

Young minds embrace yoga and meditation through a unique storytelling approach at SCRF 2024

During an interactive storytelling session ‘Reading Happy Yogis’ at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival

Sharjah, May 05, 2024,

Young visitors to the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) on Saturday explored the world of yoga through storytelling. They learned breathing exercises that provide emotional empowerment and positive affirmations to keep them energised and motivated during an interactive session titled ‘Reading Happy Yogis,’ led by Mexican author Sandy Zanella, who is also a medical doctor and seasoned yoga instructor.

New-age African animators shine light on the continent’s vast untapped potential in the field with SAC 2024 attendees

Panel discussion during 2nd Sharjah Animation Conference stresses the need for championing diverse content by creating creative opportunities for talents across Africa

Sharjah, May 05, 2024

Three luminaries of African animation, Raymond Malinga, CEO of Creatures Animation; Hamid Ibrahim, CEO and Co-founder of Kugali Media; and Vanessa Sinden, Senior Producer at Triggerfish Animation, have offered unique insights into the burgeoning yet often untapped opportunities and unrecognised talents in animation across the continent of Africa.