Arab News Japan

DUBAI: TV channel Cartoonito released a new animated series called ‘Silly Sundays’ with messages of empathy, respect and fairness aimed at kids. The new cartoon has also been translated into Arabic.

The show champions inclusivity, individuality and originality and Cartoonito, offers a safe space dedicated to fun, and engages in culturally relevant storytelling.

Silly Sundays features an outstanding character named Vicky, who is hard of hearing and uses sign language. Vicky’s character emphasizes the importance of reflecting real and diverse storylines on Kids television.

In the Arabic version of the series, Vicky is dubbed by Rein Soleh, a voice actress who uses a hearing aid. 14-year-old Rein, performed at Image studios in Lebanon, and uses sign language just like her character Vicky, allowing for a true representation and portrayal.

Silly Sundays is set in the colorful coastal village known as Sunday Town. The cartoon aims to take the audience back to family days together, when school and work are out for the week and there is nothing scheduled except spending time with family and friends.

Vicky is joined by central characters, Sonia – the wildly curious five-year old, Sonia’s younger sister Mel – the smallest but undoubtedly mightiest, their sensible big cousin Hugo, their Mom – the artist of the family, their Dad – forever the big kid at heart, and the family’s music enthusiast, Granny.

As Hugo’s best friend, Vicky is an indispensable member of the team, and an extra talented child. Her use of hearing aids is something that is championed in Silly Sundays and her ability to sign language is celebrated as a ‘superpower’.