Talking Entertainment: Censors Deny Ban on Kids Cartoon

Nick Richards | Aug 9, 2013 1:00 pm | Add a comment | 4822 reads

Chinese film authorities have denied banning Despicable Me 2 and are, frankly, insulted at the reasons postulated for having the film blocked. These include: the cartoon characters having a strong resemblance to former President Jiang Zemin and protectionism of the domestic animation industry.

Regulators are claiming the film never applied for censorship approval, and a source to the The Hollywood Reporter is saying a local agency, Edko, responsible for distributing Universal’s films in China, decided the film would not do well. They pulled it to save room for a film with more revenue potential.

Currently, China allows a quota of 34 imported films per year to be screened in the country on a revenue-sharing basis. Naturally, the agencies bringing these films in are under pressure to pick the ripest fruit.

In other news, NBC CEO, Steve Burke was quoted as saying that Despicable Me 2 will be the most profitable film in Universal’s 100-year history…Oops.

Film Biz Asia reports that the General Manager of Edko was summoned to the Chinese Film Bureau to explain how reports of the film’s ban entered the English press. That must have gone well, because now he will be leaving the agency next month. But apparently they are still working hard to bring the film to theaters, even after LeTV has jumped in to say it will be putting the movie up on its VoD platforms this month.

Universal has already confirmed the film will not be released in China. I would just save your inner-child for Monster’s University coming out later this month.

The most profitable film of the summer thus far is Pacific Rim which has totaled the box office and is setting new records. Here are five reasons to go see the movie. And some domestic releases are expected to make for fierce competition with international blockbusters, including the speedy release of Tiny Times 2.0

Here are some arts and entertainment events this week:

Photos: popscreen.com, realhdwallpaper.com