South Korea to adapt Kuwaiti animation IP in deal with MBVISION Studios

Broadcast Pro

5 days ago

The partnership also includes plans to bring Korean characters to Arab audiences, fostering two-way collaboration in animation, gaming and immersive experiences.
MBVISION Studios, Kuwait's first independent animation studio, has signed a series of significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with top South Korean content companies, under the patronage of the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). The agreements, concluded during the K-Content Expo in Riyadh, represent Kuwait's first-ever international export of original animation intellectual property, with South Korean partners set to adapt homegrown Kuwaiti characters for both regional and global audiences.
A central element of the collaboration is an IP exchange deal with Seoul-based Character Inc., paving the way for co-production, licensing and the adaptation of Kuwaiti animation properties across South Korea and the broader international market. This strategic alliance marks a new chapter in cross-cultural content creation between the Gulf and East Asia.
Manal Al-Gharabally, Founder and CEO of MBVISION, said the deal is the result of more than a decade of creative development and relationship-building with Korean partners. She described the move as a shift from service-based projects to a deeper form of cultural exchange, where original Kuwaiti characters are set to find new life in Korean media and beyond.
The collaboration will also see the introduction of Korean characters to Arab audiences, strengthening two-way engagement in animation, gaming and immersive media. Backed by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KOCCA, the initiative underscores a growing global interest in Gulf-originated intellectual property and storytelling.