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Detective Conan's Kobun Shizuno Helms 2nd Work by Saudi Arabia's Manga Productions, Toei Animation

Saudi Arabian media company Manga Productions announced on Monday that Kobun Shizuno (Detective Conan films) is directing its second animation production collaboration with Toei Animation, and Atsuhiro Tomioka (Pokémon films) is writing the script. Manga Productions and Toei Animation is currently assembling a team for the project, and the story is being fleshed out.

Manga Productions previously streamed a teaser trailer last November for "The Woodcutter's Treasure," its first collaboration with Toei Animation. The project is a 25-minute animation based on Saudi Arabian folklore and aimed at children and families, and it will serve as a pilot for a planned television series.

Manga Productions also revealed last November that it has two upcoming projects with Toei Animation, a 13-episode television series and a 90-minute film. The company reported meeting with anime studio Gainax to discuss animation projects last October.

Manga Productions is a subsidiary of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, also known as MiSK, and named for reformist Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. The company aims to create animation, comic, and video game projects " to "promote Saudi ideas and messages internationally." MiSK signed a memorandum with Japan's Digital Hollywood University in October to train Saudi designers and programmers in creating animation and games.

Saudi Arabian media content company ARiNAT posted a three-minute trailer for an animated collaboration with GAINAX last year. The trailer is similarly available in both Japanese and Arabic, but ARiNAT's website is no longer active.

Source: Sankei News