By Daoud Kuttab

A five-minute animation film has been  published by a Jordanian animation company that helps Middle East families deal with tension and stress caused by the war on Iran. 

Cynthia Madanat-Shariha, creative director and co-owner of Digitales explains that the creative team was looking for ways to help families during the war. “We wanted to find a practical way that people in general and children in particular deal with tensions that are emanating from the war.”  

The film opens with the now familiar sound of the siren blasting an apartment neighborhood in Amman while the streets are deserted. The production is part of a long running YouTube series Our Family Life that that has captured the imagination of families around the region.

The entire middle east region has been overwhelmed with flying missiles and 24-hour war news that have since the engulfed everyone. Madanat-Sharaiha said that the creative team worked nonstop to produce the current production. “Our team worked around the clock to find practical solutions that can help families deal with trauma not only during war but at any other time.”

In the video and after hearing the siren the Abu Sanad’s family meets and reflects on their concerns. The mother presents breathing exercises and encourages her family to follow it. Company staff say that they were careful to present evidence-based treatments in a visually attractive manner along with further exercise screened at the end that are downloadable.

Digitales the producers of the award-winning long feature “Saleem” has been a leading media organization producing quality creations that help address emotional issues. Saleem tells the story of a curious and adventurous nine-year-old who moves to a new town with his family after losing his father. Digitales also produces a creative digital mental health and psychosocial support tool called “Amal For Children” that combines animation and storytelling with evidence-based therapy modalities that help reduce the intensity and frequency of PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms in children navigating trauma.