Artist kicks out at 'Kung Fu Panda'

By Yang Lifei and Li Xinran  |   2008-7-17  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

CONCEPTUAL artist Zhao Bandi has filed a lawsuit against Dreamworks Animation and Paramount Pictures, which produced and released the animated film "Kung Fu Panda," Xinhuanet.com reported today.

The Beijing Chaoyang District People's Court accepted the suit yesterday in which Zhao demands a public apology but no financial compensation, the report said.

The artist, who is famous for carrying around toy pandas and featuring them in his work, protested at the screening of the movie and said the film exploited a national symbol.

Zhao has demanded that the minutes of a producers' meeting for the animated film be made public.

"I think they painted the panda's eyes green with an ulterior motive. Green eyes are somewhat evil. I have studied drawing and painters will never use green eyes to portray a kind person," Zhao told Information Times, a Guangzhou-based newspaper. "That's why I have asked them to make public the minutes of the script production. I demand an explanation."

The report did not say if Zhao knew that green eyes were not uncommon among Caucasian people.

Zhao also questioned why the panda's father was a duck.

"The panda is not only a symbol for China but also for the people. Making the panda's father a duck is nothing but an insult to Chinese people," he claimed. "I am afraid that Chinese youth in years to come will think Donald Duck was their ancestor."

Zhao told the newspaper he demanded an apology for himself and not the entire nation because "many Internet users believe my protest is only personal and does not represent all Chinese people."

Zhao wrote essays on his blog advocating a boycott of the movie on June 15.

Four days later, the movie was banned in southwest China's Sichuan Province — the home of giant pandas.

Zhao explained on his blog on June 22 why he wanted to boycott the movie.

A week later Zhao said on his blog that he planned to sue the producers of the movie.

The film's director, Mark Osborne, responded on July 6 saying he had no comment about Sichuan's ban on the movie and said he respected China and its traditional culture.

A US citizen teaching at Peking University began a protest over the film outside at a Beijing cinema on July 10 calling on people to boycott the movie.

In its first three weeks in Chinese cinemas, "Kung Fu Panda" earned more than 135 million yuan (US$19.6 million).

http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2008-07/17/content_8559808.htm