Ben & Izzy
A Jordanian animated series bridging Western and Arab cultures.
Ben & Izzy (Arabic: بِنْ وعصام) is a Jordanian animated children's television series produced by Rubicon, a Jordanian educational and CGI animation company. The series follows two preadolescent boys—Ben, an American sports fan, and Izzy (Issam), a Jordanian boy who loves technology—along with a desert genie named Yasmine, who takes the form of a young girl. Together they form a dream team that preserves history and saves the world.
- Episodes created
- 26 (two seasons of 13 episodes each)
- Original language
- Arabic (original release, 2008), English dub (produced later)
Lore & Background
The series was created primarily to entertain but also as an educative experience about Arab history and its influence on Western culture. The bond between Western Ben and Eastern/Arab Izzy represents a comprehensible and possible union of cultures despite prevailing prejudices. The three protagonists—Ben, Izzy, and Yasmine—use their combined talents to explore Middle Eastern countries, recover lost artifacts, and thwart the greedy millionaire Clutchford Wells, who seeks to sell artifacts without regard for historical consequences.
Reader's Guide
Ben & Izzy is significant as a Jordanian-produced animated series that deliberately addresses cross-cultural understanding at a time of tension between Western and Arab societies. By centering the friendship of an American boy and a Jordanian boy, the show models cooperation and mutual respect. Its educational aim—teaching Arab history and its impact on Western culture—is woven into adventure plots involving time travel and artifact recovery. The series was primarily released in English for international audiences before its Arabic dub in 2008. Although 26 episodes were originally planned, only 13 were created. The voice cast includes notable actors: Lucy Liu as Yasmine and Clancy Brown as Wells in the English version. The show remains a notable example of Jordanian CGI animation and cultural diplomacy through children's media.
Did You Know?
- The series was produced by Jordan's Rubicon, a rising educational and CGI animation company.
- The genie Yasmine takes the form of a young girl closely resembling the age of the boys.
- The main antagonist, Clutchford Wells, is a greedy millionaire with a mute assistant named Roxanne.
- The series originally aired in Arabic on Jordanian television in 2008, with an English dub produced later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ben & Izzy about?
It's a Jordanian CGI-animated kids' series in which two preteen boys—an American sports enthusiast named Ben and a tech-obsessed Jordanian boy named Izzy (Issam)—team up with a desert genie called Yasmine to protect history and save the world.
Who are the three main characters?
Ben is an American boy who loves athletics, Izzy (Issam) is his Jordanian friend passionate about technology, and Yasmine is a desert genie who takes the shape of a young girl. Together they form the show's central trio.
How many episodes of Ben & Izzy exist?
The series ran for two seasons of 13 episodes each, giving a total of 26 episodes.
What language is Ben & Izzy originally in, and is there an English version?
The show debuted in Arabic in 2008, and an English-language dub was produced afterward for international audiences.
Why is Ben & Izzy considered notable in animation?
It was produced by Rubicon, a Jordanian educational and CGI animation studio, and is recognized for deliberately weaving Western and Arab cultural perspectives together in a children's format.
More in Computer-animated television series 1-24
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