A young Saudi man turns his passion for anime into an interactive community in Qassim and Hail

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The young Saudi man, Sulaiman Al-Harbi (30 years old), transformed his passion for drawing anime and Japanese manga from just a personal hobby into a community project. He succeeded in bringing together hundreds of people interested in this art in the Qassim and Hail regions, through a platform that brings together lovers of this culture to exchange opinions and discuss stories and characters.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Arabiya.net, Al-Harbi recounted his beginnings, which began like most of his generation from behind the screens, noting that the turning point came when he noticed the differences in his friends’ readings and analyzes of the same episode, which made him realize that these works go beyond the limits of passing entertainment.

Regarding the transformation of the hobby into organized activities, Al-Harbi explained that the idea began with spontaneous and simple meetings in cafes, before the circle expanded to include organizing periodic sessions in Buraidah and Al-Rass, all the way to Hail. These efforts culminated in organizing an exhibition specializing in anime, which received wide interaction and the participation of more than 500 interested people.

In the context of clarifying the differences between the two arts, Al-Harbi explained that “manga” is comic stories that are read from right to left, similar to the Arabic language, while “anime” is animation, and his stories are often inspired by manga to transfer them to the screen.

Regarding the intellectual influence of anime characters, Al-Harbi pointed out that he was influenced by the character “Whitebeard” from the famous series “One Piece,” stressing that it established in him a deep concept that “the family is not limited to blood ties only, but rather is the position and mutual support between individuals.”

Al-Harbi also denied the stereotype that limits anime to the world of children, stressing that it is an art similar to world cinema, and includes various age classifications suitable for adults and children. He called on parents to share the viewing with their children, and to open channels for discussion with them about the contents presented.

Al-Harbi concluded his speech with advice for beginners, in which he called on them to start by following short and completed works that suit their interests, and to watch them with the participation of others. He also sent a message to those wishing to establish communities that bring together people with the same passion, saying: “Start small, even with only five people, as the secret lies in continuity.”