Creators from Africa to France discussed how artificial intelligence could rebalance the storytelling ecosystem – if used ethically, thoughtfully, and locally
Sharjah, May 2, 2025
Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform the future of children’s content and empower storytellers from underrepresented regions, said leading global creators who gathered at the 3rd annual Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC 2025) for a panel discussion ‘The Future of Kids’ Content and AI’, on Thursday.
Moderated by Mounia Aram, founder of the Mounia Aram Company, the session featured Raymond Malinga (CEO, Creatures Animation Studio, Uganda), Irmak Atabek (Co-founder, KidsAI and MakoKids), and Olivier Lelardoux (CEO, Blue Spirit Studio, France).
AI as a tool for global equity
“Right now, Western countries dominate the animation landscape,” said Lelardoux. “AI could rebalance this by giving creators in Africa, the Arab world, and Asia the tools to tell their stories to a global audience without relying on traditional studio infrastructure.”
Raymond Malinga, whose Ugandan studio created the widely viewed ‘A Kalabanda Ate My Homework’, highlighted both the potential and the challenges of building AI tools locally. “Training our own AI models is expensive and time-consuming, especially in landlocked countries like mine,” he said. “But if we want authentic stories that don’t look like generic Western outputs, we must build our own systems.”
Create responsibly, build ethically
Irmak Atabek, whose latest venture KidsAI is developing child-friendly AI literacy tools, called for a shift in how the industry treats intellectual property. “We need to build and train our own models using licensed art and do this responsibly, especially when developing tools for children”, she said.
Her upcoming show Zoe and Oli, launching soon on YouTube, teaches children how AI works by following the story of a girl who builds a solar-powered AI unicorn. “Children are digital natives. They need to understand the systems they’re growing up with,” she added.
A future of pocket-sized studios
The panellists agreed that AI could usher in a new generation of creators. “We’re entering the age of the ‘pocket studio’,” said Lelardoux. “With the right tools, a single creator can produce entire shows from their bedroom. That’s a powerful shift.”
However, he cautioned that while AI might accelerate production and lower costs, it could also devalue traditional animation workflows. “We need to focus on high-quality, premium content—on what’s difficult to replicate. That’s where lasting value lies.”
While concerns around job displacement and creative dilution were acknowledged, the tone of the discussion remained optimistic. “AI is not the end of creativity; it’s an evolution,” said Atabek. “The real threat is not technology, but failing to adapt responsibly.”
Malinga concluded with a rallying call for inclusion. “Africa is full of young people hungry for content that reflects their lives. If AI can help us meet that demand, let’s make it accessible and affordable.”
The session ended with a clear message: the future of kids’ content will be shaped not just by algorithms, but by the values, ethics and imagination of the people behind them.
-ENDS-