Babak and Friends
Encyclopedia
Babak and Friends - A First Norooz is a direct-to-DVD animated film by Norooz Productions, later renamed Big Bad Boo Studios. The 33-minute cartoon was released in 2005. The film was made to teach children about the Persian New Year Norooz, celebrating the coming of spring and is about a little boy named Babak who is stuck between being Iranian and being American. Through a dream and magical visit by Amoo norooz
, Babak learns to be proud of his heritage and celebrates the New Year with his family.
The movie was produced by Aly Jetha, Shabnam Rezaei, Matt Hullum, Dustin Ellis, and Mastaneh Moghadam, and written and directed by Dustin Ellis. It included the voices of oscar-nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo
, Parviz Sayyad, Ali Pourtash
and Catherine Bell
. It was the first time the character of Amoo Norooz was animated in Iranian history. The movie was produced in both English and Persian as a language-learning tool for Iranian-American
children.
Babak and Friends - A First Norooz first screened in the Soho Apple Store Theatre and subsequently in other Apple stores and various museums such as Asia Society
and The British Museum. The producers used this and other channels such as film festivals and Amazon to gain traction for distribution.
The film was nominated for a Persian Golden Lioness Award.
Amoo norooz
Amoo Norooz or Amoo Norouz is the "Uncle" of Norooz, the Persian New Year. Along with his side-kick Haji firouz, Amoo Norooz ushers in the spring time every year according to Persian tradition. On the eve of spring equinox, when the Persian New Year is celebrated, Amoo Norooz brings children...
, Babak learns to be proud of his heritage and celebrates the New Year with his family.
The movie was produced by Aly Jetha, Shabnam Rezaei, Matt Hullum, Dustin Ellis, and Mastaneh Moghadam, and written and directed by Dustin Ellis. It included the voices of oscar-nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Shohreh Aghdashloo is an Iranian American actress.After establishing a theatre and film career in Iran, Aghdashloo moved to England during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, and subsequently became a citizen of the United States...
, Parviz Sayyad, Ali Pourtash
Ali Pourtash
Ali Pourtash is an actor and comedian of Iranian cinema. Having worked in numerous plays, films, TV shows and stage productions in Tehran and in Los Angeles Pourtash was most recently seen in the 2008 film The Stoning of Soraya M. directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh...
and Catherine Bell
Catherine Bell
Catherine Lisa Bell is an American actress known for her role of Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie of the television show JAG from 1997 to 2005...
. It was the first time the character of Amoo Norooz was animated in Iranian history. The movie was produced in both English and Persian as a language-learning tool for Iranian-American
Iranian-American
Iranian-Americans are Americans of Iranian ancestry or people possessing Iranian and American dual citizenship.Iranian-Americans are amongst the most highly educated groups in the United States...
children.
Babak and Friends - A First Norooz first screened in the Soho Apple Store Theatre and subsequently in other Apple stores and various museums such as Asia Society
Asia Society
The Asia Society is a non-profit organization that focuses on educating the world about Asia. It has several centers in the United States and around the world Hong Kong, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, and Melbourne...
and The British Museum. The producers used this and other channels such as film festivals and Amazon to gain traction for distribution.
The film was nominated for a Persian Golden Lioness Award.