For many years animation has received minimal recognition as a significant form of cinematic and artistic expression. However, by the enduring presence of animation festivals worldwide, the rise of animation studies, and the exponential rise in animation production in all sectors of media, culture, and the arts, animation is now at the heart of global cinema and visual culture.
On the other hand, animation is a rapidly growing market within the audio-visual industry that has some unique characteristics, which make it relevant from a regional economic development perspective. The combination of the use of advanced technologies, the need for highly skilled workers, and the research and development activities all give animation an industrial character and provide opportunities to set up local animation studios with global visibility and significant growth and highly qualified job creation potential. It thereby becomes a structuring sector for the local audio-visual industry.
In Palestine, animation is still in its early stages, with very few animators and limited animation productions. Animation is still largely associated with animated cartoons. Yet the universal language of animation, and its power of storytelling and world-making, and at the same time, the resilience of this industry and its liberation from physical and geographical restraints, make it a valuable medium for Palestinians to benefit from.
masna‘ al-rusoom al-mutaharrikah
Established in 2015, in Ramallah, Palestine; maṣna‘ al-rusoom al-mutaḥarrikah (almasna) is a collaborative animation studio that aims to promote Animation as an ever evolving art form, and to help develop the animation industry in Palestine. Since its establishment, almasna has worked with a wide group of talented artists, technicians and craftsmen, on producing many animated videos, ranging from infographics and motion design videos covering local and global issues, to fully animated short films, telling stories from all around Palestine.
Throughout the years Almasna has also conducted various workshops across Palestine, introducing children and young adults to basics of animation, and providing marginalized groups with simple tools and skills to help express themselves and tell their stories. This led almansa to establish “The Animated Workshop”; a space for learning, experimenting, and producing knowledge through collective animation production. The Animated Workshop aims to encourage collective production practices and to motivate young people to acquire animation skills as a powerful tool of learning, storytelling and self expression by providing space, equipment and guidance through workshops and training courses.