Block 13

Block 13 is a Kuwaiti animated television series that serves as the Arabic adaptation of the popular American animated sitcom, South Park. It was created and directed by Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari and aired on Kuwaiti TV on November 27, 2000, running until December 5th, 2002. It was the first animated TV series to be produced in the Persian Gulf region. It has recently re-aired on Kuwait TV for 2020's Ramadan and continues to for many other Ramadans.
The series follows Hammoud, Azzouz, Saloom, Honey, Abboud, and his little sister Farooha, who all often go on wacky and unordinary misadventures. Similar to South Park in the United States, the series dealt with many issues that concerned the Middle East population but in a way that could be less offensive and more family-friendly. Unlike South Park, which is adult-oriented, Block 13 was meant for families and children of all ages.
Characters
Main characters
Abboud
Abdullah "Abboud" Bu Abboud Al-Abboud (voiced by Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari) – The first member of the group- a church boy who always likes to be the center of attention, he is bald, and wears a white taqiyah. Abboud is the show's version of Eric Cartman.
Hammoud
Ahmad "Hammoud" Kashkh Al-Zain (voiced by Mohammed Maseeb Najm) – The second member of the group- the "coolest" and the most well behaved boy out of his group. He is often known to be a teacher's pet by his classmates. He is the show's version of Stan Marsh.
Azzouz
Abdulaziz "Azzouz" Mutlaq Bu Taqqah (also voiced by Mohammed Maseeb Najm) – The third member of the group- a caring boy who will be there for his friends and agree with them when no one else does. In the first season, he wore a black and brown ushanka, but in Seasons 2 and 3, he wore a baseball cap with an A on it with the same colors. He has short, curly hair in the first season, and straight hair in the second season and beyond. He is the show's version of Kyle Broflovski.
Saloom
Saloom (also voiced by Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari) – The fourth member of the group- a nice, reserved, and innocent boy who enjoys making the class laugh with his jokes and antics. He is shown to be very emotionally sensitive, usually when anyone makes comments about his personal life. He gets into accidents constantly that tend to be fatal due to his poor sense of judgement and focus. He wears his father's red keffiyeh that covers his face & muffles his speech. He is known for his creativity with papers and garbage, and is the show's version of Kenny McCormick.
Honey
Honey Hatif Atlan (voiced by Hani Sulaiman) – The fifth and newest member of the group- an American kid who moved to Block 13 to live with his cousins, first appearing in the second season. It is unknown where Honey's parents are, but they were seen in a description of Honey in the show, the character has a serious personality but knows how to be like the others, one of his typical phrases is "whatever." He is considered by many to be the show's version of Craig Tucker.
In his cousins house they know him
Secondary characters
Faroouha
Faroouha, otherwise called Farooha (voiced by Brielle/ herself ) – Abboud's baby sister who often accompanies the Main 4 on their adventures. Her catchphrase is "Dig-iday!" (alternatively "Diged-dee"). She is considered by many to be the show's version of Ike Broflovski.
Halool
Halool, otherwise called Hallel (voiced by Bou Hilal) – The frenemy (now friend) of the main 4 in earlier seasons. He has a standard uniform, along with his triangle head with dot eyes.
Jamool
Jamool (voiced by Jamal Al-Shatti) – The former friend, and frenemy of the main 4 in season 1. He was also best friends with Halool. After the first season, he becomes a penguin.
Jameah
Jameah/Friday (voiced by Ali Al-Alawi) – The best friend of Halool and the replacement of Halool's former friend, Jamool. His name is mistaken with Friday, which commonly makes him mad. He has squiggly hair with an overbite.
Teachers
Miss Attiyat
Miss Attiyat (voiced by Nizar Al-Qandi) – The portly Egyptian Kuwaiti female principal/teacher of the Block 13 school. She has a tendency to mispronounce Kuwaiti words and wears a bright orange and yellow abaya. She is the show's version of Principal Victoria.
Mr. Saleh
Mr. Saleh, otherwise called Teacher Saleh (voiced by Saleh Al-Bawi) - A former teacher at the Block 13 school who has anger issues, and was the Main 4's teacher before getting sent to a mental hospital over his relationship with Miss Attiyat. He is the show's version of Herbert Garrison.
Mr. Atiya
Mr. Atiya, otherwise called Teacher Atiya (voiced by Daoud Hussein) - A teacher that first appeared in season 2 and the replacement of Mr. Saleh. He is a strong teacher, and the love interest of Miss Attiyat.
Credits
Directors & Creators
Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari (director, creator, writer)
Mohammed Maseeb Najm (writer, assistant director)
Designers
Animators
Sami Al-Khars
Khalid Al-Lahw
Graphic Design
Nayef Al-Feili (S1-3)
Atef Al-Azmi and Ali Bin Awadh (S2)
Meshari Al-Arouj
Fahad Hayat (S3)
Sound
Composers, Writers and Sound Effects
Ahmed Al-Shargawi (opening theme writer)
Sahir (ending theme writer)
Ammar Al-Binni & Komar (block 13 theme composer, and sound effects)
Sound Editing & Mixing
Salman Al-Zeidi (S2)
Khalid Al-Ajlan (S2-3)
Sound Recording
Abdullah Al-Ali and Fahad Zakour (S2)
Hani Al-Nasser (S3)
Other
Financial Supervisor
Ali Nasir
Computer Engineering
Dhari Shamali
Saleh Al-Harbi
Khalid Al-Eid (S1)
Moustafa Al-Ameer (S2)
Mohammed Al-Middhin (S3)
Editor
Ahmed Al-Khaldi (S1-2)
Handlettering
Abdul-Ameer Al-Bannai (S2)
Coordination
Hassan Al-Shatti (S1)
Mohammed Al-Bakshi (S2)
History
South Park ban
After South Park was banned in Kuwait due to its poking fun at Islam and Saddam Hussein, Block 13 was created to serve as a replacement for South Park in the region But Before making the Show The Creators Ask Paramount for permission to make the Show. The show aired during every year's Ramadan.
Spin-offs
Qatouta and Kaloob
Due to the show's success, after the show ended, a spin-off titled Qatouta and Kaloob (Arabic: قطوطة وكلوب, romanized: qatutat wakulub) was released during the Ramadan of 2004 and aired on Al-Rai TV, made by the same people who worked on Block 13, and directed by Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari.
The show stars Qatouta, a female purple cat along with Kaloob, Honey's pet dog. Qatouta is voiced by the same voice actor as Faroouha from Block 13. Some Block 13 characters made some appearances in this spin-off such as Abboud, Saloom, and Miss Attiyat.
13th Street
[[File:13thstreet.webp|thumb|right|13th Street'''s thumbnail in Awaan. Take into consideration the logo and the character on the television, they're derived from Block 13.]]
A reboot known as 13th Street was released in 2022, it currently airs on VO, Dubai TV and Awaan. There is limited information available on this particular reboot. The basis for identifying it as a reboot is primarily attributed to the involvement of a significant number of individuals who previously contributed to Block 13'', in addition to the shared nomenclature and milieu between the two productions.
References
External links
Block 13's official website (archived)
Television series about Islam
Islamic animated films
Kuwaiti television series
Arabic television series
Arabic-language television shows
2000 television series debuts
2000s animated television series
2003 television series endings
Television shows remade overseas
Television remakes
South Park
Film and television memes