Famous feline dominates Arabic cartoons

When it comes to the cute and cuddly, the number three seems to be a pervasive theme amongst animated pop culture icons. There are the infamous Powerpuff Girls (power being the operative word) made up of three young and fashionable superheroes in their quest for justice and haute couture. And then there are solo acts like Hello, Kitty, which has reached iconic status around the world for reasons even the creators don't seem to understand. But even as the world continues to perpetuate these bizarre and culturally fascinating fictional characters, a new phenomenon has been sweeping Arabia, and you've probably never even heard of it.

Welcome to the world of Marie Kitty, otherwise known as The Luly Caty Show in the Middle East. The Disney cartoon series is about three spunky and adorable kittens named Lulu, Susu and Mimi - all feminised monikers for traditional Arabic names. The show, in fact, has been dubbed into Arabic for young Middle Eastern audiences the same way Turkish soap operas have been dominating the regional airwaves for adults in the past few years. And fans are flocking to the Arabised version of the characters in droves.

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Interest in the French aristocrat's popularity has grown exponentially in recent years, that is until Disney decided to make the characters a bit more culturally relevant to the region. But the trio's mischievous adventures have also witnessed a spike in the number of adult fans following the series, as was evident when a life-size Lulu Caty appeared at the Dubai Mall this week for a phot-op with her many adoring supporters.

Unlike its cartoon counterparts, Lulu Caty and her gang decided to one-up the competition by revealing a new Guinness World Record for the world's largest backpack, measuring three metres high and two metres wide. The bag, in fact, could have easily carried the horde of fans swarming around the giant fur ball herself. But what was most evident by the presence of the femme feline was the innocent fascination in the children's eyes as she made her debut on the Arab stage.

The name Lulu, a child-like colloquial derivative of the name Laila, means nighttime in Arabic. It seems, for now at least, that the sun won't be setting anytime soon for this rising star of children's entertainment.

kadry@khaleejtimes.com