Speakers
Mrs Shewekar Mohamed Fouad Khalifa
Artist and Animation Director, On Pension
Biography
Ms. Shewekar holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts - Decor. She was trained by the brothers Mohib and the Director Fahmy Abdul Hamid. She obtained a scholarship to Germany. He held a number of positions, including: director of animation and documentaries; former head of family and child channel and drama channel; consultant for head of specialized cartons and graphic channels from 2003-2010; member and chairman of Egyptian, Arab and international jury committees of cartoon festivals; a member of child conferences in Egypt, Arab countries and international counties; and honorary president of ASIFA Organization, Egypt (International Animated Film Association). She directed animated films for television, the production sector, the specialized channels sector, UNICEF, Red Cross, the private sector, advertisements, and educational programs.
Ms. Shewekar participated in Ramadan’s riddles and series of ‘Alf Leila Waleila’ during the period 1977-1990, and directed introductions, endings, and tricks for television drama and entertainments. She won about 40 Egyptian, Arab and international awards as a technical animation producer. She has been honored in many festivals, including the Hiroshima Peace Festival. A book about her, as one of the TV creators, was published by the Ministry of Culture in 2002. In 1994, she was registered as the most important artist of animation in the Arab world in the first Arabic Encyclopedia of Arts, issued by the Lebanese Generation Foundation, that was commissioned to report the history of animation in Egypt. University of Florida possesses some of her animated works.
shewekar_khalifa@hotmail.com
Presentation Abstract
Animation - Its Impact, How to Be Used for Informal Education (Parallel Education), and Production Experiences in Specialized Channels
Film and television arts, animation arts, video, computer, and games have become a distinctive feature of our time, an irreplaceable and essential part in various fields, especially in the child's world—which is the closest and the most expressive of a world where fantasy mixes with reality, and various other laws prevail. Uses, objectives, and types of animation films have varied significantly due to their special abilities to communicate with various ages, and their super flexibility in the presentation and positioning of different ideas.
As the child is the coming tomorrow that will formulate a time duration in Egypt’s future, if we can provide him with knowledge and culture, our child will become the desired tomorrow's man, who is capable of facing the future with an informed mind. Due to the increase in satellite channels, and the emergence of the Internet, computer games, child’s media in general, and specifically animation and puppet movies—with messages and contents targeting children—have become a key stream of rearing and educating the child. They contribute to raising him socially, psychologically, and mentally, as well as to developing and refining his abilities, instilling the required values from the upbringing and education processes. Animation also gives the child an opportunity to expand his mind, form his consciousness, and will eventually become his scientific and cultural assets.
The text, content, characters, and sound (music, dialogue, and effects), as well as the expressive singing are the most important elements that need to be addressed in this type of animation production.
Every age group has its suitable production that targets education, provides information, and focuses on topics, such as: encouraging the child to exercise scientific and creative thinking; respect work and proficiency value; openness to other cultures; encouraging the child to recognize features of global knowledge and technological revolution, while deepening his self-esteem, identity, and his belonging to the Arabic heritage; supporting the national belonging and highlighting significant characters; promoting monuments, museums and different historical ages; shedding light on pioneers in various fields; promoting respect and preservation of the environment; encouraging volunteer work, health awareness, and human relationship with the environment. These concepts were applied in the production of specialized channels sector for animation since its inception—education goes in line with fun and entertainment.