China bans a cartoon TV show because the characters have 'dyed hair' and are a 'bad influence' on children
- Hunan officials banned an animated series for teaching kids 'improper values'
- It was pulled off from a local TV station after receiving a viewer's complaint
- The show was deemed 'misleading' because the characters' hair was not black
- Chinese web users reacted to the decision with shock, slamming it as 'ridiculous'
China has forbidden a cartoon series from broadcasting after deeming it a 'bad influence' on children due to the characters' hair colours.
Hunan Television, one of the biggest state media networks in the country, pulled off the animated show after viewers accused the programme of teaching youngsters 'improper values' because the characters had 'dyed hair'.
Shining Star is the Chinese version of a South Korean animated TV show that tells the stories of four girls who compete to join a performing group at a top-flight 'idol school'.
China has banned a cartoon series from broadcasting after claiming it had a 'bad influence' on children. Shining Star is the Chinese version of a South Korean animated TV show that tells the stories of girls who are competing to join a performing group at a top-flight 'idol school'
The second season of daily cartoon show premiered on Hunan Television's children's channel on May 11.
But the screening abruptly halted two weeks later because officials said it had 'improper values', according to a notice issued by the provincial radio and television bureau in southern China.
The authorities said that the decision came after a viewer had complained about the characters with colourful hair and extravagant outfits.
In a trailer for the cartoon show, the animated girls are seen with hair in a wide range of colours, such as bright pink, turquoise blue and coral orange.
An investigation regarding the animated programme was launched following the complaint, according to the official statement released on June 10.
Hunan Television, one of the biggest state media networks in the country, pulled off the animated show after viewers accused the programme of teaching youngsters 'improper values‘. The picture shows primary school children returning to the campus in Shaanxi
The officials explained that the TV series did not aim to encourage hair dyeing and only decided to use it to help the audience distinguish between different characters.
The notice continued: 'At the same time, because the series features musical stage performances, there are scenes of [characters] changing between daily clothing and stage clothing.
'It ignored the influence animated shows have on minors and failed to scrutinise the details of the plot,' it added.
The broadcaster had pulled off the cartoon programme immediately, the authorities said. But the animated series remains accessible online.
Hunan Television pulled off the animated show. The file picture taken September 4, 2009 shows a Chinese singer Jiang Ying Rong performing on stage at a studio of Hunan Television
Chinese web users have reacted to the TV station's decision with shock and slammed it as 'ridiculous'.
One commenter wrote: 'So what now? We're gonna watch TV in black and white?'
Another one replied: 'This is outrageous. Whoever complained about this has some issues himself.'
A third netizen commented: 'Is hair dyeing against the law or something? This is why Chinese education is killing children's imagination…'
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