{{Short description|Saudi Arabian animated web series}} {{Infobox television | image = شعار مسامير.svg | genre = Adult animation<br>Comedy | creator = Malik Nejer | showrunner = Abdulaziz Almuzaini<br>Malik Nejer<br>Faisal Alamer | writer = Faisal Alamer | director = Malik Nejer | voices = Malik Nejer<br>Mazroa Almazroa<br>Yousef Aldakheel<br>Abdulaziz Alshehri | end_theme = {{theme song|"Credits Music"|Alaa Wardi}} | country = Saudi Arabia | language = Arabic | num_episodes = 107 | executive_producer = Abdulaziz Almuzaini | editor = Abdullah Saeed | runtime = 3-42 minutes | company = AD Production<br>(2011-2012)<br>Lumink<br>(2012-2014)<br>Myrkott Animation Studio<br>(2014-2019) | network = YouTube | first_aired = {{Start date|2011|02|19|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=مسامير - جعلوني كورجياً - صحيفة سبق الإلكترونية |url=http://www.sabq.org/sabq/user/cartoon.do?id=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222122922/http://www.sabq.org/sabq/user/cartoon.do?id=2 |archive-date=2011-02-22 |access-date=2025-11-12 |website=www.sabq.org}}</ref> | last_aired = {{End date|2019|03|22|df=y}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} '''''Masameer''''' ({{langx|ar|مسامير}}) is a Saudi Arabian adult animated web series developed by the studio Myrkott, a studio co-established in 2014 by Faisal Alamer, Abdulaziz Almuzaini, and Malik Nejer,<ref name=Alkhaisi>{{cite web|last=Alkhaisi|first=Zahraa|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/12/14/media/saudi-animation-studio-masameer/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217054143/http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/14/media/saudi-animation-studio-masameer/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 17, 2017|title=The studio behind the satirical Saudi cartoon millions are watching |publisher=CNN|date=2017-12-14|access-date=2020-11-22}}</ref> with its head office in Riyadh. The name of the show is from the fictional location of Masameer County, which is located west of the capital city of Riyadh.<ref name=Alkhaisi/> The series satirizes societal issues in Saudi Arabia. In 2017, Zahraa Alkhaisi of CNN wrote that the series was "satirical" and that the topics "would have been taboo until very recently".<ref name=Alkhaisi/><ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-10-26 |title=Embracing Arab Animation (Published 2011) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/world/middleeast/embracing-arab-animation.html |access-date=2025-08-16 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2020 the studio signed, with Netflix, a deal for exclusive distribution for a five-year period.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bedirian|first=Razmig|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/saudi-animation-studio-behind-masameer-signs-five-year-deal-with-netflix-1.1078527|title=Saudi animation studio behind 'Masameer' signs five-year deal with Netflix |newspaper=The National|place=Abu Dhabi|date=2020-09-16|access-date=2020-11-22}}</ref> ''Masameer: The Movie'' was released for Netflix<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/591048|title=Masameer the Movie is coming to Netflix following its success in theaters |newspaper=Saudi Gazette|date=2020-03-19|access-date=2020-11-22}}</ref> and earned about 7.5 million riyal. The first season of ''Masameer County'' premiered on July 1, 2021 while the second season premiered on March 2, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lind |first=Emily Alyn |title=Masameer County Season 2 Will Debut on Netflix |url=https://nexttvseries.com/masameer-county-season-2-premiere-date-on-netflix-renewed-and-cancelled/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Next TV Series |date=21 February 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Masameer Junior'' was released on June 12, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-26 |title=Netflix Fans, You're Going to Be Shocked By What's Coming to the Streamer in June |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a64852973/new-movies-and-tv-shows-coming-to-netflix-june-2025/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Good Housekeeping |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2021, the 'Masameer Experience' a Simworx dynamic media attraction based on the series, was opened at the BLVD Ruh City development in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Whittaker|first=Adam|date=2021-11-04|title=Simworx experience opens at BLVD RUH City|work=Blooloop|url=https://blooloop.com/retailtainment/news/simworx-masameer-blvd-ruh-city/|access-date=2021-11-05}}</ref>
On June 26, 2024, ''Masameer'' creator Abdulaziz Almuzaini announced that a Saudi court was prosecuting him with charges that he and his company had "sponsored and supported terrorism and homosexuality" in ''Masameer''. The case had been set in motion in 2021, coinciding with the series' release on Netflix. Muzaini was sentenced to 13 years in prison and a 13-year travel ban, increased to a 30-year travel ban following Muzaini's attempt to appeal the verdict. As of August 2024, the case was pending an appeal to the Saudi Arabia Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite news |author=Washington Post Editorial Board |date=23 August 2024 |title= In Saudi Arabia, a popular animator faces jail time — for being irreverent |url=https://wapo.st/3XgnQvd |work=Washington Post |access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref>
== Characters == === Main Characters === * Saltooh (Voiced by Malik Nejer): A man who has a long nose. He drives a pickup truck that he, Saad and Trad use to travel. He faces pressure from his mother, who wants him to get a job and start a family of his own.{{cn|date=February 2026}} * Saad (Voiced by Malik Nejer): A man who acts foolish. A former child prodigy and alumnus of MIT, a series of accidents on his way home caused him to be the way he is. He struggles with speaking due to dysarthia and has yellow eyes due to viral hepatitis.{{cn|date=February 2026}} * Trad (Voiced by Malik Nejer): is an anthropomorphic dog whose ancestors are wolves. He is sometimes seen leading the two men. In one episode, he was revealed to be a long-lost member of an aristocratic British family.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
=== Recurring Characters === * Dr. Adel: (Voiced by Malik Nejer) An overweight doctor. * Dr. Nafea * Dr. Barbain * Hizam: (Voiced by Malik Nejer) is a wise man but has a history of reckless driving. * Sisteen * Bandar (Voiced by Abdulaziz Alshehri): A wealthy man who is depicted as an entrepreneur, a sheikh, the head of Bandar Contracting as seen in Outer Space Toilet and opened a restaurant named Pink Love Restaurants For Traditional Saudi Food in one episode. As a child, he had abusive parents who punished him for going outside by putting him in his room. * Mane * Aqeel * Sweiket * The Pixel * Mani' * Nafi' * Shalash * Abdul Jalil * Rashed * Sultan * Awad * Waseem * Khalaf * Muneer * Mazen * Abdullah * Abu Fahd
=== Minor Characters === * Lion: An emaciated lion * Reem: Rashed's sister * Hessa: A chef who knows how to cook kabsa, she died after falling into a kabsa pot she was stirring. The series features many fictional secondary characters, including friends, townspeople, coworkers, and others. Some episodes feature cameos from characters and public figures such as Mohammed Abdu, Abbadi Al-Johar, Fidel Castro, Ziad Rahbani, Hosni Mubarak, Mickey Mouse, and Popeye. Famous basketball player Dwyane Wade appeared in one episode, where he portrayed himself.{{cn|date=February 2026}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.myrkott.com/ Myrkott Animation Studio] {{in lang|en|ar}} ** [https://www.youtube.com/user/nejercom Myrkott official YouTube] * ''[https://www.netflix.com/title/81325437 Masameer Classics]'' - Netflix * ''[https://www.netflix.com/title/81212780 Masameer: The Movie]'' - Netflix * {{IMDb title|6298258}} * {{IMDb title|11561866|Masameer the Movie}}
{{Netflix original continuation series}}
Category:Animated television series by Netflix Category:Saudi Arabian animated series Category:Arabic-language television shows Category:2010s animated television series Category:2020s animated television series Category:2011 web series debuts Category:2019 web series endings Category:2010s YouTube series Category:Saudi web series