Egyptian stop-motion animated series Captain Shedeed, created by filmmaker Ramy El Gabry and produced by Divine Touch Productions, has been selected for the Animation Series Gap Financing Market at MIA 2026, taking place in Rome from 19 to 23 October.
The selection marks an important opportunity for the Egyptian-Qatari production to connect with international industry partners, attract further investment and expand its reach beyond the Middle East. MIA brings together animation producers, broadcasters, streaming platforms, distributors and investors to support financing and international partnerships.
Designed for family audiences, Captain Shedeed is a stop-motion and mixed-media superhero drama comprising 30 episodes of 15 minutes each.
The story follows a struggling Egyptian father who makes a desperate deal in the hope of securing a better future for his daughter. His decision draws him into a hidden conspiracy threatening children across Egypt, forcing him to become an unlikely protector. As he confronts the consequences of his choices, he faces former soldier Samy El Ella, whose pursuit of vengeance fuels the crisis. Blending action, science fiction and family drama, the series explores fatherhood, sacrifice and the fine line between survival and responsibility.
A Superhero Rooted in Arab Identity
Created by Ramy El Gabry in response to the lack of Arab role models in children's animation, Captain Shedeed aims to offer young audiences characters that reflect their culture, identity and everyday experiences.
El Gabry developed the series around the idea that a superhero's greatest strength can come from his responsibilities as a father. Rather than following familiar Western superhero origin stories, the production draws on Arab cultural identity and family relationships to create a locally rooted character with universal appeal.
El Gabry has highlighted his responsibility as a father and storyteller, explaining that the content children watch plays a significant role in shaping their thoughts, values and sense of identity. He has also pointed to the limited availability of original Arabic family and children's series, despite the Arab world's population of approximately half a billion people, around 35% of whom are children and young people. According to El Gabry, 90% of youth-focused content is imported.
Through Captain Shedeed, he hopes to demonstrate the creative potential of the region and leave a lasting legacy for future generations through a superhero story centred on the battle between good and evil.
Handmade Animation and Local Talent
The production stands out for its use of stop-motion animation, a demanding technique that enables the team to build detailed, tangible environments inspired by Egyptian streets and everyday life. The first season involved the creation of nearly 5,000 handmade pieces.
Production takes place at Divine Touch Productions in Egypt, with a team that includes emerging artists and graduates. Approximately 90% of the crew are women, many of whom are students or recent graduates from Minya University, which has a dedicated stop-motion department. The production also provides accommodation near the studio for team members who relocated to Cairo.
The project has received support from the Doha Film Institute through a grant awarded under its Spring 2025 production cycle. It is also available on Shahid and Apple TV, providing an existing distribution base as the series pursues further international opportunities.
Building a Global Animation Franchise
Beyond the first season, El Gabry aims to develop Captain Shedeed into a broader intellectual property franchise, with plans for additional seasons, spin-offs and further extensions of its fictional universe. His immediate priority remains building visibility for the first season before expanding the property.
With its selection for the MIA 2026 Animation Series Gap Financing Market, Captain Shedeed has another opportunity to attract international partners, strengthen its position in the global animation market and introduce an Egyptian superhero and an Arab family-centred story to audiences worldwide.
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