Mehdi Unfiltered Why This Muslim Animated Film Is Making History
Feb 5, 2026
Flordeliza Dayrit, co-writer and director of Time Hoppers: The Silk Road, champions Muslim history for children. Michael Milo, producer and CEO of Milo Production, built community-backed Muslim-focused media. They discuss the film’s focus on forgotten Muslim scientists, the significance of a nationwide theatrical release, the decade-long journey to fund and produce it, and plans for games and a TV series.
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Historic Nationwide Release
- Time Hoppers is the first Muslim animated feature to get a nationwide U.S. theatrical release, centering Muslim scientific contributions in a children's adventure.
- The film spotlights figures like Al-Khwarizmi and Ibn Al-Haytham to correct historical neglect and reshape cultural visibility.
Made For Kids To See Themselves
- Flordeliza Dayrit emphasizes the film is made for kids to see themselves as superheroes on the big screen.
- She links that representation to countering contemporary Islamophobia and children's perceptions.
Time Travel Links Past And Future
- Time travel lets the film connect modern children to historical Muslim scholars and the legacy of learning.
- The movie highlights neglected achievements like Fatima al-Fahri founding the first university.