A dialogue session held on the main stage of the Jeddah Book Fair 2025, organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, discussed the rapid transformations taking place in the manga and comics sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the title "The Saudi Manga and Comics Wave: From Hobby to Professionalism."
The session began by outlining the features of the creative renaissance in these art forms, explaining how they evolved in just a few years from individual initiatives and youthful hobbies to a mature artistic movement and a cultural vision embraced by institutions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The session highlighted the development of manga and comics in Saudi Arabia and the challenges and opportunities artists face as they transition from hobby to professional practice. It reviewed the local scene, which has seen a broad presence, bolstered by media platforms that support Saudi productions and help spread this art form among the public.
The session explained that manga and comics in Saudi Arabia have developed a clear artistic identity that reflects Saudi cultural values such as generosity, courage, and humanity. It emphasized that professionalism depends on an integrated system encompassing concept, story writing, illustration, and design.
The session concluded by highlighting the most prominent professional challenges in this field, while stressing that human creativity remains the key factor of manga and comics production and the true engine of this art form's development.
