Comments on: ‘Panda’ Charms China

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:02:58 +0000

It’s a very interesting phenomenon that I think speaks to the rising freedom in the still guarded Chinese blogosphere. Peijin’s site is a good example.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:29:05 +0000

Thanks for that Peijin. I didn’t imagine a huge anti-Panda protest, but I can also see how it might be a sensitive subject and I was genuinely curious to see how it would be received by Chinese movie-goers, particularly in light of recent frictions between the two countries.

By: peijin

peijin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:22:11 +0000

a few points that might add some context:
1. public protests more in Chengdu, Sichuan than in other areas–sensitivity having to do with the recent earthquake and the loss of life. made the use of the panda (whose home is in Sichuan) and the inherent profit-making motive of selling tickets rub some people the wrong way. protest in beijing as well, but not exactly a mass movement by any means, not compared to say boycotting Carrefour or French products.
2. artistic community? Nope–more like a couple of outspoken people, like the Zhao Bandi (not sure if that’s the right name)–who, if you look him up on the internet, has had a “history” of pulling off these stunts. On the Chinese blogosphere a lot of ppl criticized him, saying that of course movies are out there to earn cash (duh) and questioning why Zhao, despite not even having watched the movie (this was a few weeks ago, when the controversy began) was so against it. anyhow, my sense from reading the Chinese press is that it’s not a huge deal to most of the people in China.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:49:53 +0000

Exactly the point Jeff, which of course makes the Chinese artistic community’s protestations (which admirable) a futile outcry on this level. Even if the authories revised their political philosophy, the country’s artists would have a lot of catch-up.

By: Jeff McM

Jeff McM — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:34:30 +0000

Well of course, on a technical level, they couldn’t have. China simply doesn’t have the resources to compete, animation-wise, with Japan and the U.S.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:38:55 +0000

National symbol and oriental tapestries aside it is debatable whether Chinese animators (in view of the long-running artistic discouragement) could have succeeded with such a venture at this point in time. Of course that’s the entire point of the argument in the first place–the outcry as to “why” as a swipe against the government’s indifference.

By: jeffmcm

jeffmcm — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:38:39 +0000

The Chinese snozzt, they lost. Yeah, KFP was surprisingly good, especially given that it’s the same studio that gave us Madagascar and the Shreks.

By: joel

joel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:47:25 +0000

Wow, I’m a little surprised it’s doing that well. I bet Speed Racer does better in Japan than here. I haven’t seen it, but the look of it seems very Japanese.

By: Nick Plowman

Nick Plowman — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:42:17 +0000

I still cannot believe how awesome “Panda” was myself…and I am going to try give “Speed Racer” another go soon, I just don’t want to have deemed it “mediocre” without trying to see it from a different perspective.