Freej

This article is about the animated series Freej. For the FreeJ Vision Mixer, see FreeJ.

Freej (2006)
The cast of Freej, clockwise from front to right Um Saeed, Um Saloom, Um Allawi, Um Khammas
Format	Animated situation comedy
Created by	Mohammed Saeed Harib
Country of origin	United Arab Emirates
No. of episodes	45
Production
Running time	approx. 0:30 (per episode)
Broadcast
Original channel	Sama Dubai
Original run	September 24, 2006 – present

Freej (Arabic: فريج‎; trademarked as FREEJ) is an Emirati three-dimensional, computer animated television series for children and adults alike.

The show was produced by Mohammed Saeed Harib, who also directed the fifteen standalone episodes of fifteen minutes each. It is the tale of four old Emirati women living in a secluded neighbourhood in modern day Dubai. The show's main characters - Um Saeed, Um Saloom, Um Allawi and Um Khammas - try to live a peaceful life in the midst of the ever-expanding city around them, but the city’s boom unveils new social issues every day that they would have to tackle solve in their own simple way. For those four old women, there is no issue too hard to crack with a good cup of coffee at Um Saeed’s house.

The show's title is a reference to "freej", a term which means "neighbourhood" in Emirati Arabic, based on accent of the people of Dubai's slums. So far, Freej is only available in Arabic, and is not likely to be dubbed into other languages due to the show's heavy use of the Emirati dialect, which is integral to the show's humour factor. However, the show can still be subtitled.

The show premiered on September 24, 2006 in during Ramadan in Sama Dubai, and ever since it returns with new episodes traditionally debuting every year during Ramadan.

History

FREEJ started off as a six page study book in 1998 but it never materialised until 2003 when it was adopted by Dubai Media City. A small demo was created to test the concept and shortly after it was given the official go ahead by the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders (SME) who took on the initial funding of the project. In September 2005, with around 3 million Dhs of fund provided by the SME [1], Lammtara Pictures was established to overlook the production and a team of almost 500 people were signed up to make this big dream a reality.

The series was premiered on 24 September 2006 – the first day of Ramadan [2], and was broadcast across the GCC countries on 'Sama Dubai' (Dubai's Sky), one of Dubai's many TV channels and which is majorly aimed for the broadcast of local programs and material. The series became an instant success and a major hit in the region [3] with immense viewership in the Gulf especially among UAE Nationals.

In 2007, Dubai One, an English Channel (which is also part of DMI) announces that Freej will still be Arabic in Dubai One but with English subtitles and put two episodes a week before TMZ.

In 2008, Season 2 DVD'S are released in September at Toys R Us etc.

In 2010, via a partnership deal with Turner Broadcasting System, Lammtara, the Dubai-based studio company behind Freej's production, had agreed to broadcast the show on the newly-launched Cartoon Network Arabic channel, making Freej one of the first home-produced shows for that channel, along with the Jordanian series Ben & Izzy. Additionally, the main characters from Freej are added for a localised version of Skatoony at April 12, 2011.

Rights

The show is now in official association with Dubai Media City, Awraq Publishing, Arab Radio Network, JBM and the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders (SME). The show also benefited from a pool of 100 volunteers from across all national universities who worked hard on the research and development part of it.

Characters

The show stars four main characters (all of whom wear traditional battoulahs on their faces):

Um Saeed

• Eldest member of the group and the wisest
• Loves reciting poetry and old traditional sayings
• Has a short posture
• Very sarcastic in nature
• Addicted to coffee
• The group gathers at her house everyday
• Shortest member of the group

Um Saloom

• The kindest member of the quartet.
• Suffers from temporary memory loss.
• Never leads and always tags along.

Um Allawi

• The tallest member of the group and the most educated.
• Addicted to all kinds of gizmos and gadgets.
• Has her own mobile and laptop.
• She is a close follower of the stock market.

Um Khammas

• The rebellious member of the group.
• A three time widow.
• Runs her own catering service and traditional music band.
• Has a very dictating strong personality.

Guest/Others

• Khalid Herya (Arabic : خالد حرية ) - National Figure known for being the best football supporter in the Middle East
• Um Jameel
• The Tribe Advisor
• Zubaidah
• Rahmah the Teacher
• Bu Daryah
• Um Al Duwais
• Bu Khammas
• Rafeeq
• Dalouat Dubai
• Um Um Khammas
• Agha
• Abood (Season 2)
• Fatoom Eloom (Season 3)
• Jameela (Season 3)
• Mary Lou

Seasons

Freej's seasons premier at the rate of one season every Ramadan, although they are sometimes re-aired sometime later in the year. Season one aired on 2006 and season 2 aired on 2007. On September 1(Ramadan 1), 2008 the third season aired and finaled on September 12, 2008, and is re-airing its episodes for the rest of Ramadan.

Fourth season is complete and the fifth season is coming soon.

Trivia

The second season first episode was watched by 680,000 viewers making it one of the most watched shows in Dubai.^{[citation needed]} Voted number one show of all Dubai. In the second season the writer Najla El Shihi wrote six episodes and Amna Al Mansoori wrote nine.

Controversy

In the episode called "Blagh El Kazeb" Um Khamas was going to die in ten days. Um Saeed councils Um Khamas and helps her straighten herself out. Um Khamas then becomes strongly religious and is miraculously cured. In this episode Um Khamas says derogatory things about Islam, which provoked criticism from some viewers. In defence Mohammed Saeed Hareb said that the episode reflects how Muslims can wander and become "bad" but that Um Saeed corrects Um Khamas and helps her straightens herself out. This episode was not broadcast in the rerun of the season.

In an episode that was Broadcast on 12 August 2011, Um Saeed had a Heart attack while visiting patients at a Hospital due to being insulted by a friend. She 'Dies' at the end of the episode as the nurses and doctors run in to attempt to re-start her Heart. After the Credits had finished. Um saeed's heart Miraculously began to beat again.

Freej 2009: The Book Of Riddles and The Special

On Ramadan 2009 Freej airs a quiz show that is about 2 to 3 minutes long. The prize is 500,000 AED. Freej will get a special hour long episode that will air on Eid. The episode will feature a surprise guest.

References

• Byrne, Michelle. "Profile of Mohammed Saeed Harib" - Granny-loving creator of the UAE’s first animated series. TimeOut Dubai. 19 January 2006.

External links

• Freej Official website - The official website for the animated series.
• Gulfnews.com - An article about supporting Freej from Zayed University.
• Oman3d.com - An early Omani article regarding the anticipation of the series.
• Freej (2006) at the Internet Movie Database.