November 27, 2000 (2000-11-27) – December 5, 2002 (2002-12-05)
Block 13 (Arabic: قطعة 13, romanized: qiteat ṯālatha 'ash) 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 re-aired on Kuwait TV for 2020's Ramadan, and continues to be re-run in the following 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.[1] 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 ringleader of the group who always likes to be the center of attention, and is constantly ridiculed for his obesity. He is bald and wears a white taqiyah – also known as "gahfiya" in Kuwaiti Arabic. Abboud is the show's version of Eric Cartman.
Hammoud
Ahmad "Hammoud" Kashkh Al-Zain (voiced by Mohammed Maseeb Najm) – The "coolest" and the most well-mannered boy out of his group. Coming from an upper-class family, he is often shown to be a teacher's pet by his classmates, and constantly relays advice from his father. 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 Syrian-Kuwaiti boy who has a "yes man" personality, constantly in agreement with anything the boys say or do. 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
(also voiced by Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari) – The fourth member of the group. A timid, reserved, and innocent boy who is shown to be very emotionally sensitive, usually when anyone makes comments about his personal life as a poverty-stricken child. He wears his father's red keffiyeh that covers his face & muffles his speech. A running gag is his constant fatal and comically-absurd accidents. He is the show's version of Kenny McCormick.
Honey
Honey Hatif Atlan (voiced by Hani Sulaiman) – The fifth and newest member of the group. A Kuwaiti-American kid who moved to Block 13 to live with his grandmother, first appearing in the second season. He is aloof and constantly code-switches between English and Arabic, his main catchphrase being "Whatever." He is considered by many to be the show's version of Craig Tucker and Butters Stotch.
Secondary characters
Farooha
(voiced by herself ) – Abboud's baby sister who often accompanies the main four 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
(voiced by Bu Hilal) – The frenemy (now friend) of the main four in earlier seasons. He is the Bedouin bully classmate, shown to be condescending, arrogant, and constantly butting heads with the main group.
Jamool
(voiced by Jamal Al-Shatti) – Halool's former sidekick in the first season. Another obese boy shown to be wisecracking at the main four's expense alongside Halool. After the first season, he is transformed into a penguin.
Jameah
(voiced by Ali Al-Alawi) – Halool's newest sidekick 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. He is Omani, and constantly questions Halool's Bedouin Arabic slang.
Teachers
Miss Attiyat
(voiced by Nizar Al-Qandi) – The portly Egyptian Kuwaiti female principal-turned-teacher of the Block 13 public school. She has a tendency to mispronounce Kuwaiti words and wears a bright orange and yellow abaya. A running gag are cow jokes made at her expense due to her abaya. She is the show's version of Principal Victoria.
Mr. Saleh
(voiced by Saleh Al-Bawi) - A former teacher at the Block 13 school with severe anger issues, and was the main four's teacher before getting sent to a mental hospital over his relationship with Miss Attiyat at the end of the first season. He occasionally returns throughout the series as an antagonist. He is the show's version of Herbert Garrison.
Mr. Atiya
(voiced by Daoud Hussein) - A teacher who first appears in season 2 and replaces Mr. Saleh. He is shown to have a strong personality, and not as angry as Mr. Saleh, yet constantly roasts Abboud with fat jokes. He was also the love interest of Miss Attiyat.
Credits
Directors & Creators
Nawaf Salem Al-Shammari (director, creator, writer)
After South Park was banned in Kuwait due to its poking fun at Islam and Saddam Hussein,[2] Block 13 was created to serve as a replacement for South Park in the region. Before making the show, the creators asked 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
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.[3] 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.
