Social Concern, Government Regulation, and Industry Self-Regulation: A Comparison of Media Violence in Boonie Bears TV and Cinematic Creations

Abstract

This article compares the TV and cinematic versions of the Chinese 3D animation Boonie Bears in terms of their representations of media violence within the context of social concern, government regulation, and industry self-regulation. These works are particularly significant among domestically produced animation with respect to their effects on children of exposure to violent programming. The first part of this article examines physical violence and verbal abuse in Boonie Bears and Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf, the two most influential and widely watched animated TV series in China. The second part reviews the corresponding public criticism the above two works have received and the reasons behind it. The third part of this article analyzes how and to what extent the production company has reduced the degree of children’s exposure to media violence in cinematic Boonie Bears productions (especially the first two films), which have been deemed acceptable by the majority of potential audience members.