Amin Abbas Dubai

Emirati Manga artist Asma Al Remeithi, also known as Asami, began her journey specializing in writing and drawing manga art after being inspired by different animes such as Astro Boy, Unico and Grendizer.

She started enhancing her illustration and design skills in 2002 by practicing traditional and digital art. Drawing has been her hobby since she was young. Her goal is to encourage other artists to be better and step out of their comfort zone.

Al Remeithi said: “Back in the 80’s when I was a little girl, our Arabic channels used to air Japanese Anime with Arabic dubbing. My first memory of Japanese animation was Astro boy, Unico and many different Mecha anime like Grendizer and New Tetsujin-28 (Taiyo no Shisha Tetsujin Nijuhachi-go),”

She said the shows inspired her greatly, and she began to draw them when she was six years old.

The Emirati artist told Arab News Japan that visiting Tokyo for a short drawing course was “one of the best experiences” she has ever had.

“My favorite place in Tokyo was Meiji Jingu, the place looked like a part of a fairytale, breathtaking,” she said.

“The Japanese culture is very inspiring. During my time in Tokyo, when I was taking the Manga course, I loved how my teacher was very punctual. This taught me to value my time more and not to take it for granted. Time is very precious,” she added.

Al Remeithi started her journey creating manga when she was in college, where she worked on enhancing her talent.

“The concept I’m interested in is storytelling. Art is a way of self-expression and I believe that we can deliver a certain idea or a certain feeling to the reader and that allows us to connect and communicate with them on another level,” she said.

In 2005, she worked with a children’s magazine called “’Alarabyia’ to draw comics for children that had meaning in their daily lives.”

Al Remeithi said she had faced challenges in her projects, one of which being that she struggled to get the recognition and appreciation she strived for.

“However, social media have helped us artists reach everybody without any boundaries. Another challenge is to make art a fulltime job because the income from it is not sustainable,” she said.

In 2016, the Manga artist won Abu Dhabi Music and Art Foundation (ADMAF) Comic Arts Award for her short Manga “Turning Point.”

“It is one of the best things that happened to me and I am very grateful for that. Working on this project was very insightful and I gained experience from it. It enhanced my art skills for the better, especially since ADMAF granted me an opportunity to go to Japan to learn more about manga,” she added.

Al Remeithi said she was currently working on a new manga story, which she started this year.

“I am going to publish it online without the need to print it. Nowadays, it is easier to publish comics, using applications and social media. If the comic gains success online, the artist can print it afterwards,” she told Arab News Japan.

Al Remeithi chose to become an art educator in 2013 and has continued doing art workshops since then. She conducted these workshops in known places such as Louvre AD, HCT and the Cultural Office of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

She also participates annually at many art conventions such as Middle East Film & Comic Con, Games Con and Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. She has her own line of merchandise, which can be found online or in some stores in the UAE.