Saudi animation studio behind 'Masameer' signs five-year deal with Netflix

The partnership between Myrkott and the streaming platform will bring a range of Saudi-focused shows and films to Netflix

The partnership between Myrkott and the streaming platform will bring a range of Saudi-focused shows and films to Netflix. Courtesy Netflix

Myrkott, the Saudi Arabian studio behind Masameer, the animated series for adults, has signed a five-year exclusive partnership with Netflix.

The deal means new seasons of Masameer, as well as a range of Masameer films, will be produced for the streaming platform. Previous seasonswill undergo special edits before being added to Netflix's expanding catalogue of regional content.

An entirely new animated series is also reportedly part of the deal. However, it could be a while before we find out more about that project.

“Myrkott is at the forefront of creative storytelling and animation in the region,” Nuha El Tayeb, Netflix's director of content acquisitions for the Menat region, said in a statement.

“We are continually investing in authentic stories from Saudi Arabia to share their stories across the Arab world and globally. We want to give our members access to great stories that can travel far and wide.”

Abdulaziz Almuzaini, chief executive and co-founder of Myrkott, said the group is thinking about the partnership beyond its production aspects. "By working with Netflix we inspire Saudi and Arab talents to dream big and support an ecosystem that recognises equal opportunity, talent and creativity. These are the values that fuelled Myrkott in its pursuit of excellence throughout the years."

Earlier this year, the animation studio released Masameer: The Movie on Netflix. The film follows the adventures of Saad, Saltooh and Kalb as they try to join a superhero group after hitting rock bottom.