'Gangster' Peppa back in China's good graces in Year of the PigBEIJING, China — Roasted as a subversive symbol and chopped from a video streaming website in China, it seemed Peppa Pig, the loveable but imperious British cartoon character, faced a bleak future in the Communist-led country. A new film titled "Peppa Pig Celebrates Chinese New Year" is being released on the first day of the holiday. Papers affiliated to the Communist Party wrote harsh columns about Peppa Pig being hijacked by gangsters and subversives to create videos that reject mainstream values. "No matter how gangster Peppa Pig becomes, it cannot be allowed to destroy children's youth [or] break rules," The People's Daily said in an editorial last April. There are even themed attractions -- Peppa Pig World of Play opened in Shanghai in 2018 with another set to open in Beijing this year.

Source: Philippine Star February 03, 2019 03:45 UTC