here was a time when animation was barely considered a significant form of artistic expression on this side of the world; hence, we have a few animated productions to flaunt. However, things are changing. There have been a number of animated films, such as Pakistan’s first-ever 3D computer-animated film, 3 Bahadur franchise, created by Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor, and the list goes on. But there are limited options when it comes to animated content for television.

It was back in 2013 that Burka Avenger hit Pakistani TV screens, which showed a superhero disguised in a flowing black burka fighting bad guys. The series, created by singer and music composer Haroon Rashid, was aimed at educating and entertaining children. The good news is that an animated TV series for children, called Team Muhafiz, has recently gone on-air on Geo TV in which some of our favourite actors have lent their voices to the animated characters. Team Muhafiz is a joint venture between ISPR and Geo Productions that features the voices of Sajal Aly, Ahsan Khan, Nayyar Ejaz, Wahaj Ali, Dananeer Mobeen and Syed Shafaat Ali, among others.

This animated teenage thriller, in association with AZ Corp, is based on powerful stories about brave, inspiring heroes. The project aims at highlighting different communal issues and flagging various social evils prevalent in our society. Moreover, the focus is to educate the younger generation about extortion, drugs, timber mafia, child labour, human trafficking and street crime. This is not all! The animated production is all about embodying the essence of our national ethos while inculcating values of peace, progress and harmony among Pakistani kids and youth.

Instep caught up with the lead actors of the animated series to know more about how they feel about the project and what message they are conveying through their characters.

Ahsan Khan

The actor, who can currently be seen in drama series Dilnasheen, has done the voice-over for Havaldar Farman. Ahsan Khan started off by saying that this initiative by ISPR and Geo TV is just the first step in the right direction. “In Pakistan, there is hardly any content created for kids, and I’ve always been quite vocal about creating programs specifically for kids. I feel an animated series like Team Muhafiz is essential for our children so that they can learn about tackling social issues of the country while seeking inspiration from heroes that are relatable and inspiring as well.” He continues, “What is great about the project is that it inculcates the spirit of patriotism, and there is something new to learn with every episode. To be honest, I think this project should have 300 episodes instead of 10.” Ahsan Khan further says that creating and celebrating our own heroes is very important for our future generations, as well as highlighting our achievements.

Sajal Aly

Sajal Aly, who is the voice behind the character Parinaaz, claims that doing a voice-over needs vocal versatility and attention to detail. “It was like performing in front of the mic, but there is no doubt that Team Muhafiz has been a memorable experience for me,” she tells Instep. With two episodes already out, the Alif actress praises the entire team who came up with this idea to create meaningful and educational content for children. According to her, she had no idea that Team Muhafiz would become so popular as soon as it hit the small screens. “I believe that animated series is a great initiative focused on enlightening our young generation about our social values. I hope that more of such wonderful projects are made in the future as well.”

Wahaj Ali

Actor Wahaj Ali is the voice-over artist behind the character Reza. He shares that when the creators of Team Muhafiz approached him for this project, he couldn’t resist saying yes. “The fact that the animated production is targeted towards children made the project more interesting for me,” reveals Wahaj. Highlighting the lack of children’s content in the entertainment industry, the actor reminisces that there was a time when interesting yet educational programs for kids used to air on PTV, but now there is hardly any children-related content. “Due to lack of local programs, our children are more inclined towards foreign content. However, Team Muhafiz is a great effort that accurately reflects our values and educates children about serious issues using intriguing storytelling techniques,” stresses Wahaj.

One thing is sure that Team Muhafiz is indeed a unique project aiming to offer inspirational yet relatable superheroes to our kids. There are characters from every region and ethnicity of Pakistan. With high-end 3D animation and some top-class cast in voice-overs, this animated series is getting rave reviews from the audiences. Stay tuned for more exciting adventures!