China begins crackdown on kids’ shows with ban on popular Japanese series ‘Ultraman Tiga’

September 28, 2021

The Chinese government’s crackdown on entertainment continues with its most recent announcement of an upcoming ban on certain cartoons and other made-for-children programs.

End to animation?: On Friday, China’s National Radio and Television Administration released a statement on its website announcing the prohibition of children’s shows that contain “any mention of violence, blood, vulgarity or pornography,” reported CNN.

TV producers are told to “resolutely resist bad plots” and create only “excellent cartoons with healthy content and promote truth, goodness and beauty.”
The agency highlighted that since young audiences are the main targets of such cartoons, broadcasters should develop TV channels that promote a good environment for “the healthy growth of young people.”
According to the announcement, the new regulation applies to animation content either shown on TV or streamed on the internet.
Back in April, authorities in Jiangsu province also warned against 21 cartoons and TV shows that they said negatively affect children’s development, including “Peppa Pig,” “My Little Pony” and “Detective Conan,” among others.

First casualty: Japanese TV show “Ultraman Tiga,” which gained a huge following in China after its debut in 1996, was removed from online streaming platforms on Friday, sparking immediate objections from fans on social media.

The show, about a superhero who fights alien monsters, was reportedly removed due to its alleged “violent plot,” according to state-run media Global Times.
Chinese fans have taken to social media to defend the long-running show, with many who grew up watching the program pointing out that the series promotes humanity and justice.
Weibo users even drew a comparison to the Four Classic Novels written during the Ming and Qing dynasties: “Journey to the West,” “Outlaws of the Marsh,” “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” and “Dream of the Red Chamber,” which some say also use themes that the authorities now find problematic.

The regulation on children’s shows is the latest in the Chinese government’s continued entertainment industry censorship that has included prohibiting “effeminate” male stars, “vulgar” influencers and fan clubs, NextShark previously reported.

Featured Image via ウルトラマン公式 ULTRAMAN OFFICIAL by TSUBURAYA PROD.

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