Block 13
A Kuwaiti animated adaptation of South Park.
Block 13 (written as 13 ق ط ع ة) is a Kuwaiti animated series and an unofficial Arabic version of the American show South Park. Directed by Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari, it ran on Kuwait Television during the latter half of Ramadan from December 12, 2000, to December 5, 2002. It was the first animated TV series made in the Arab Gulf states.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Comedy
- Educational entertainment
- Slapstick, Musical
- Children's
- Creator
- Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari
- Writer
- Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari; Mohammed Maseeb Najm
- Voices
- (See characters)
- Composer
- Ammar Al-Binni
- Country
- Kuwait
- Language
- Kuwaiti Arabic
- Seasons
- 3
Facts from the source article.
Characters
Abdullah "Abboud" Bu Abboud Al-Abboud, voiced by Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari, is the ringleader of the group, often ridiculed for his obesity, and wears a white taqiyah. He corresponds to Eric Cartman. Ahmad "Hammoud" Kashkh Al-Zain, voiced by Mohammed Maseeb Najm, is the well-mannered, cool boy from an upper-class family who often relays his father's advice; he is the version of Stan Marsh. Abdulaziz "Azzouz" Mutlaq Bu Taqqah, also voiced by Mohammed Maseeb Najm, is a Syrian-Kuwaiti boy with a "yes man" personality, wearing a ushanka in the first season and a baseball cap later; he represents Kyle Broflovski. Saloom, voiced by Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari, is a timid, poverty-stricken boy whose face is covered by his father's red keffiyeh, and he suffers fatal accidents; he is the version of Kenny McCormick. Honey Hatif Atlan, voiced by Hani Sulaiman, is an American-Kuwaiti kid who joins in the second season, code-switches between English and Arabic, and says "Whatever"; he is considered the version of Craig Tucker or Butters Stotch. Farooha, voiced by Farah Nawaf Al-Shammari, is Abboud's baby sister with the catchphrase "Dig-iday!" and is seen as the version of Ike Broflovski. Halool, voiced by Bu Hilal, is a Bedouin bully who becomes a friend of the main group.
History
After South Park was banned in Kuwait due to offensive jokes about Islam, Block 13 was created as a replacement and aired each Ramadan. Every episode is documented on YouTube except the season 3 finale, which is mostly lost; according to a 2009 video by the director, that episode included many different events rather than a single focus.
Spin-offs
A spin-off titled Qatouta and Kaloob aired during Ramadan 2003 on Kuwait TV, directed by Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari and featuring a female purple cat and Honey's pet dog, with some Block 13 characters appearing. A second season planned for Alrai TV was cancelled for financial reasons. A reboot called 13th Street was released in 2022, airing on VO, Dubai TV and Awaan, with limited information available; its identification as a reboot is based on the involvement of many former Block 13 contributors and shared naming and setting.
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