In a strange move, China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television has banned all TV shows and films that feature live-action actors interacting with animated characters.
"These human live-action, so-called animation pieces will not receive distribution or distribution licenses," read the order, issued Feb. 15, 2006. The state-run Xinhua News Agency states that CG and 2D characters interacting with humans jeopardize "the broadcast order of homemade animation and mislead their development.
This move comes on the heels of the Chinese governments big push to increase the market share of Mandarin-language animation produced in the country. Stations in the country currently are even having trouble meeting demand with foreign programming.
However, the ban is not retroactive and programming already approved will remain on the air.
This isnt the first time Chinese censors have banned programming that blends whimsical fantasy with reality. BABE was a previous victim on the censors butcher block.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
