Queen of Jordan promotes peace via cartoon

NEW YORK - Benjamin Martin and Isam Aziz may never match the fame of Bart Simpson, but the creators of a cartoon called "Ben & Izzy" featuring the two characters have a greater aspiration - to promote world peace.

The cartoon, which is still in production and yet to find distribution, was presented to US media industry leaders at a gala dinner in New York yesterday by Queen Rania of Jordan.

"Whether we are Muslims, Christians or Jews ... whether we live in the Middle East or the Upper West Side (of New York) ... we all want our children to be able to make the most of their potential in a secure, peaceful and just world," Queen Rania said in a speech at the event.

Created by a Jordanian company with David Pritchard, a onetime producer of the hit US show "The Simpsons," the animated series "Ben & Izzy" is about two 11-year-old boys, one from America, one from Jordan, who go on time-traveling adventures with the help of a genie named Yasmine.

Neither boy is specifically identified with a religion.

The Queen said she hoped the cartoon would help promote understanding, making an oblique reference to the recent controversy over cartoons first published in Denmark that presented the Prophet Mohammad as a suicide bomber, sparking furious protests from Muslims around the world.

"In a year when we have seen cartoons used to fuel misunderstanding and division, I am delighted to see this new cartoon explicitly designed to bring people together," Queen Rania told an audience that included media executives, actors, models and journalists.

According to a plot summary for the cartoon, Benjamin Martin, or Ben, is a symbol for his country. "The boy is smart, goal-oriented, and an individual. On the negative side, he is a bit xenophobic, self-centered, needs-to-win overly competitive, brash, and a consumer," the summary said.

Isam Aziz, Izzy for short, has different qualities.

"The boy is worldlier in his outlook and enjoys traveling - he even knows several languages," the plot summary says. "On the downside, Izzy can be a little too serious, self-righteous, superior, and even devious."

Ben loves sports, while Izzy "is a whiz on the computer and loves to solve puzzles," although he plays soccer.

The New York Times said the budget for the project was $6 million and producers hope to have it ready to start broadcasting in early 2007.

"There is no magic pearl we can rub to make all the people in the world get along," Queen Rania said. "But projects like 'Ben and Izzy' go a long way to ensuring that the next generation grows up with a mind-set geared toward trust and tolerance."

- REUTERS