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Saturday June 28, 2008

Panda-monium on the Net over American cartoon

SHANGHAI BUND
BY CHOW HOW BAN


Love it or hate it, a cartoon starring China's national treasure as the hero has broken box-office records in the mainland despite strident calls for a boycott.

THE funny and entertaining Steven Spielberg animation flick Kung Fu Panda has ambled into a hot debate in China.

Some netizens have lashed out at the Dreamworks Animation production team for being insensitive in portraying China’s national treasure as a blue-eyed clumsy animal.

Others have described the movie – released in China on June 20 – as sheer cultural invasion, saying that the US moviemaker had exploited the panda and Chinese martial arts to make the film.

Yet, many viewers have said they laughed throughout the movie and found nothing wrong with it.

Bear-faced protest: Artist Zhao Bandi, who uses the panda as a tool to present his ideas and thoughts, has called for a boycott of ‘Kung Fu Panda’ in China. — CHOW HOW BAN / The Star

Nevertheless, the wave of protest, led by Chinese artist Zhao Bandi and his supporters, forced several cinema operators to postpone the film’s showing by a day in parts of Chengdu in the quake-hit Sichuan Province.

Ironically, Zhao Bandi himself has also been at the centre of a controversy for using the panda, which is native to Sichuan, as the inspiration for his social commentary artwork.

In one of his famous series, the artist, often touted as the Pandaman, carrying a toy panda is pictured in different cities.

Zhao Bandi has also held a series of fashion shows themed around the panda in various cities in China and even has a range of panda merchandise.

“Not only did Hollywood gloat over China’s misfortune (the quake disaster), but it has also taken advantage (of the panda) to dig for gold in this country,” he said in his sina.com blog.

“The release of Kung Fu Panda in China is like stealing necklaces and watches from the corpses of disaster victims.”

He said Dreamworks Animation owner Spielberg was raking in money from Chinese moviegoers even though he had snubbed China with his withdrawal as artistic adviser for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Summer Games.

Zhao said the movie had stolen China’s national treasure and its martial arts to make an old-fashioned encouragement piece to be sold to the Chinese.

“We don’t need Hollywood and such pirates to make us laugh!” said the artist, who even met officials from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television in Beijing to express his disapproval of the film.

The film is about a panda, which has a goose as his father, being chosen as the Legendary Warrior to defend his hometown and fight off the devilish Tai Lung, which has returned from exile to steal the ultimate kung fu secret.

Zhao Bandi’s protest has received mixed views from other bloggers, with some expressing support for the cause and others condemning his narrow-mindedness.

“Kung Fu Panda is a good movie. It shows good Chinese culture and values along with a very resolute and encouraging storyline,” a netizen responded in Zhao Bandi’s blog.

Another netizen said: “We Chinese should have the grace of a great nation. We cannot simply complain and call for a boycott without good reason. This will only make foreigners think that Chinese don’t have quality attributes.”

Another blogger commented: “I have seen this movie, which I think is entertaining. Furthermore, it’s good for others to promote Chinese culture through such a movie.”

Another netizen questioned the artist's motive and asked whether he was trying to promote himself.

“I don’t understand why you are so angry. Go and watch the movie before you comment. It’s a good movie, and I didn’t find anything offensive.”

After watching the cartoon myself, I couldn’t agree more with those who disagree with Zhao.

In an editorial carried by Xinhua news agency, entertainment critic Tian Jinshuang said the movie had caused many Chinese martial arts movie directors to feel ashamed.

He disagreed with the call for a boycott saying the Chinese movie industry's lack of confidence could have given rise to the call.

“I tell those who suggest boycotting it to watch the movie first before voicing an opinion. If they object to the movie producers making money in China, I suggest investors donate the box-office proceeds to the quake victims,” he added.

Some netizens feel that Chinese people should look at themselves and learn from Western moviemakers instead of harping on the panda issue.

“The movie combines kung fu and the panda, both of which are what the world would like to watch. Coupled with a big cast of dubbing actors (Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Jack Black), this movie is a hit,” a netizen said.

“This movie is purely about Chinese culture, and it could have been done by our Chinese movie directors; yet, none of our people came up with such a film.

“What makes me upset is why are there some people slamming others for exploiting our Chinese culture when Hollywood has produced such an amusing and entertaining film.”

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