SBS World News Radio: A Sydney-based company plans to launch a new Muslim alternative to mainstream cartoons next year similar to the ABC's 'Peppa Pig'.
The director says he is hoping it will not only better educate children, but the whole community, on how Muslims live their everyday lives.
It is a normal Sydney morning in the Alshaik family.
The fight is on between daughters Suhaila and Sumaya for the remote control, flicking between 'Peppa Pig' and the Muslim cartoon 'Zaky'.
"I like Peppa Pig, because they roll around in muddy puddles and it's fun, and it makes me laugh a lot" says Suhaila.
"I like Zaky, because he makes me teach other people how to learn Arabic and they have cool songs" says Sumaya.
The girls' father, Subhi Alshaik, director of One4Kids television, is working on a new Muslim alternative to today's cartoons, called 'Barakah Hills'.
It is being produced for his online subscriber-based audience around the world.
And despite some recent reports criticising the ABC's 'Peppa Pig' as bad for children, Mr Alshaik says he is loosely basing his show's theme around the popular series.
"You know, I just want to tell everyone we've got nothing against pigs, other than we do not eat them. Our Jewish brothers, a lot of the Christians, don't eat them, and vegetarians don't eat them. And, also, people who have done their research on pork or meat, the pig meat, don't eat them either. So, you know, we're not the only ones who don't eat them."
The show follows a family and teaches children how to behave to their parents, to animals and to friends at school.
One of the characters is an imam, but Mr Alshaik says there are also non-Muslim characters.
"We don't want you to convert to Islam. We want you to look at our religion and understand what it is. If you want to become a Muslim or not, that's between you and your Creator, you know? So, by seeing this series, they'll understand a little bit more about who we are. Naturally, with the social media, online, Youtube, the message can get out there much quicker. In a way, the series is for kids, to educate them to be better people, better citizens, but, hopefully, by the same token, hopefully, non-Muslims will look and go, 'Okay, so this is what Muslims are about.'"
Fifteen episodes have been written so far.
The company has launched a funding page to help produce the first two episodes and is close to reaching its target.
The Australian National Imams Council's Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman supports the new cartoon in an online video.
"We need to support the brothers who are behind this organisation, behind this initiative One4Kids TV, to make sure they continue producing a lot more cartoons, continue producing a lot more material for our children to watch, for our children to be a part of, and let our children know the Islamic value, let our children know the Islamic religion."
Work on 'Barakah Hills' is expected to start early next year.
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