According to Shanghai Daily, as well as dozens of other sites, conceptual artist Zhao Bandi has filed a lawsuit against Dreamworks and Paramount Pictures for the offensive grotesqueries depicted in Kung Fu Panda, asking not for monetary compenstation but merely an apology from the film’s producers. Even more shockingly, the Beijing Chaoyang District People’s Court is allowing the case to proceed.
So what are Zhao’s complaints towards the film? Let’s begin with the misdemeanors:
I think they painted the panda’s eyes green with ulterior motives. Green eyes are somewhat evil. I have studied drawing and painters will never use green eyes when depicting a kind person.
While the green does really bring out Po’s skin, I’m not so sure the animators intended them to be used for evil purposes. You’d also have to ignore the fact that Po is the protagonist and hero of the film. Nonetheless, what else does Zhao have a beef with?
The panda is not only a symbol for China but also for the people. Making a panda’s father a duck is nothing but an insult to Chinese people. I am afraid Chinese youth in several years will regard Donald Duck as their ancestors.
Putting aside the fact that the “Po’s father is a duck” gag is one of the most subtle and clever jokes in the movie (since *SPOILER* it’s implied towards the end that Po’s biological father is, in fact, not a duck), Zhao seems to have an extraordinary lack of faith in the ability of Chinese people to discern between American-generated Chinese cultural materials, and their own. Also, since when is Donald Duck a Dreamworks creation?
One more thing: Zhao is an artist who apparently creates panda-themed artwork, clothing, and (in the words of Variety) “clothes designs for panda prostitutes and panda concubines.” After checking out some of his work, I can confidently say that Zhao Bandi’s panda-related creations do far more to haunt my dreams and force me to wake up screaming than anything that has come out of Dreamworks (with the possible exception of Madagascar).
As a person of Chinese origin, let me just say that this person does not represent the thoughts of Chinese people as a whole. In fact, he doesn’t represent the opinion of the overwhelmingly vast majority of Chinese people, many of whom adore the film. I saw Indy 4 with my parents (both of whom are Chinese) and when the Kung Fu Panda trailer came on, they thought that panda was adorable. While I was initially hestitant about how the film appropriated Chinese cultural icons, I eventually came around and ended up liking the film as well. Moral of the story: There are much more offensive things happening this summer than the likes of Kung Fu Panda. Auxilliary moral: Next time you want to throw out outrageous accusations and make international news, demand something more than an apology.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
HAHA seriously? wtf, people these days so serious
July 18th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
roflmao
July 18th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
David,
Well said.
They went with green eyes because it fit Po’s character design. It’s called color aesthetic. Drop the “green eyes is evil” shit and start living in the 20th century already.
His comment about chinese youth and the duck resembles the same comments made by idiots here about Creationism.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Why so serious?
July 18th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Haha classic with the why so serious comment, but seriously guess nows the time to find someone and sue them…
July 18th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Ok seriously WTF??
July 18th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
That’s just… yeah. -_-
July 18th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
This coming from an artist who made this picture…
http://www.shanghartgallery.com/galleryimage/image/2154/slider
/me hands the guy a cup of STFU
July 18th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Crazy.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I know how these artists are, they just want the attention.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Thanks David, well said!
“He doesn’t represent the opinion of the overwhelmingly vast majority of Chinese people, many of whom adore the film. “–DEFINITELY!
As a Chinese, I feel shamed of Zhao Bandi! Zhao is just using this kind of way to attract more public attraction in himself.
Otherwise I come from Panda’s Hometown–Sichuan, I must say I like Po very much and I’m dying to see Kung Fu Panda 2.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Thanks for bringing this ridiculousness to my attention.
With that said…
>________________________________________________________>
July 18th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I’m surprised at this news….I didn’t think the Chinese government liked people with opinions of their own.
July 18th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I’m on board with this. In fact, I’m finally motivated to bring my lawsuit upon Madagascar for creating a white zebra with black stripes for Chris Rock. Ain’t that just like the man!
July 18th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
He needs a new hobby or a new a life.
I’m also Chinese and there is nothing offensive about green eyes and having a duck as your father. lol
July 18th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
I have green eyes… does that make me evil? I don’t even know what to call that… opticist? somebody help me out here.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:54 am
This shithead deserves a little STFU.
I mean, If you want cheesy, corny, and satrical, go watch Mummy 3. That shit was horibble.
July 19th, 2008 at 3:05 am
come on, this is all just a publicity stunt… he got a lot of people talking about him, and that’s all he wanted…
July 19th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Sounds to me like his time would be better spent demanding an apology from the Chinese government for nearly bringing the Panda to extinction in the first place.
Also in traditional Western culture green eyes usually symbolize immortality or youthfulness. This moron needs to go back to art school or maybe taken an academic degree and learn about a term called ‘deconstruction’ (which in layman’s terms means that the viewer makes their own interpretations of stories based on their own personal cultural history). It pisses me off to see a tool who doesn’t even understand the meaning of his own work.
He should go back to making costumes for furries.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:56 am
He’s mad because he wanted to do it.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:11 am
He’s mad because he couldn’t do it.
He’s mad because he didn’t think of it first.
It’s been documented that even Chinese film historians who have seen the movie ask, “Why couldn’t the Chinese come up with a good film like Kung Fu Panda?” Why could Westerners? Answer: because writers, designers, directors, voice talents are all respected in “Hollywood”, and that’s not the case when it comes to Chinese movies, and that includes Hong Kong movies.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Damn… what can I say that hasn’t already been said??
How stupid someone can be? Even if he’s from another culture, suing because of the color used for the eyes of Po… *sight*… Green is evil… darn, imagine the precedent this guy could have over Hulk, of the blood of a Vulcan, or any typical alien skin…
I’m listing all films that have green in them. If this lawsuit gets through, I’m suing every god damn film that has green in them!!!
NO MORE GREEN IN MOVIES!
In a couple years from now, I’m reading a newspaper stating that some state banned a movie for having too much green in it…
Hey, how about changing the G for General Audience, to G for Gree-free movie… I mean, you have to protect your kids, you know…
….
Geee……
July 20th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Sorry about the couple typos…
* or the blood of a Vulcan
* G for Green-free
July 21st, 2008 at 5:09 am
tbh, this guy is either really smart, or just plain stupid (which i personally don’t think its likely lol) coz obviously. As stated in the article itself, hes just trying to get on international headlines and expose himself and his own work, which obviously accomplished from this article :) or yea, maybe hes just plain stupid
July 21st, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Yep, this guy forgot that, contrarily to the Chinese people who all have black eyes and straight black hair (I know, I live in Hong Kong), in the “West” (and many more places actually), eye color ranges from black to bright blue or green and the hair color goes from the blackest to the blondest with red in between. That’s just insane stupidity and a insane willingness to attract attention to one’s work. Pure envy.
July 27th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Great, attention-starved Zhao Bandi gets the free publicity he wants, while other people end up thinking of the chinese as a bunch of backwards loonies…