Block 13
Kuwaiti animated adaptation of South Park for general audiences.
Block 13 (Arabic: قطعة ١٣, romanized: qiteat ṯālatha 'ash, stylised as 13 ق ط ع ة) is a Kuwaiti animated television series and unlicensed Arabic adaptation of the American animated sitcom South Park. Created and directed by Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari, it aired on Kuwait Television from December 12, 2000, to December 5, 2002, and was the first animated TV series produced in the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. The series follows a group of children—Hammoud, Azzouz, Saloom, Honey, Abboud, and his little sister Farooha—on wacky misadventures, addressing Middle Eastern issues in a family-friendly manner.
- Creator
- Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari
- Country
- Kuwait
- First aired
- December 12, 2000
- Last aired
- December 5, 2002
- Language
- Arabic (Kuwaiti dialect)
- Genre
- Animated sitcom, family-friendly adaptation
- Based on
- South Park (unlicensed)
Lore & Background
Block 13 was created after South Park was banned in Kuwait due to offensive jokes targeting Islam, serving as a regional replacement. It aired during Ramadan each year, with its initial run spanning the second half of Ramadan 2000 through December 2002. The show re-aired during Ramadan 2020 and continues to be re-run each Ramadan. Its main characters parallel those of South Park: Abboud (Eric Cartman), Hammoud (Stan Marsh), Azzouz (Kyle Broflovski), Saloom (Kenny McCormick), and Honey (Craig Tucker or Butters Stotch). Secondary characters include Farooha (Ike Broflovski), Halool (a Bedouin bully), Jamool (Butters Stotch), and teachers Miss Attiyat (Mr. Mackey), Mr. Saleh (Herbert Garrison), and Mr. Atiya.
Reader's Guide
Block 13 holds significance as the first animated TV series produced in the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, marking a milestone in regional animation. Its unlicensed adaptation of South Park allowed it to tackle Middle Eastern concerns in a less offensive, family-friendly format, contrasting with the adult-oriented original. The show's legacy includes a spin-off, Qatouta and Kaloob (2003), and a 2022 reboot titled 13th Street, though information on the latter is limited. The season 3 finale is mostly lost, with only a 2009 YouTube video from the director describing it as unfocused. The series remains culturally notable for its role in localizing a controversial Western show for a general Arab audience.
Did You Know?
- The season 3 finale is mostly lost; a 2009 YouTube video by the director describes it as including many different events.
- A spin-off titled Qatouta and Kaloob aired during Ramadan 2003, starring a female purple cat and Honey's pet dog.
- The character Saloom wears his father's red keffiyeh that covers his face and muffles his speech, and a running gag involves his fatal accidents.
More in Characters & Voices
Elsewhere in South Park
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