'Kung Fu Panda 2' is cultural invasion, say Chinese moviegoers

The release of Kung Fu Panda 2 has stirred a controversy among Chinese moviegoers on Saturday in China.

While fans are standing in long queues to watch the first show, others are advocating a boycott on the American movie with Chinese story elements, reports English.news.cn.

After Kung Fu Panda, a cartoon movie telling a story about a panda's Kung Fu master journey, hit China's silver screens in 2008, its sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2, was released in China just ahead of International Children's Day, adding more Chinese elements such as shadow play and lion dancing.

Some Chinese artists and scholars argue that the movie, produced by DreamWorks, has twisted Chinese culture and serves as a tool to "kidnap" the mind of the Chinese people.

"Children's Day should be pure. Don't turn it into a money-making day for Hollywood, and don't fool our next generation with American 'fast food'," said Zhao Bandi, an avant-garde artist hoping to boycott the "Americanised" movie, in an open letter to Chinese cinema managers.

Over the past two weeks, Zhao has used his own money to pay to publish circulars in newspapers in Beijing and Guangzhou, urging fans not to watch the movie.

In 2008, Zhao initiated similar campaigns to boycott Kung Fu Panda, which later set the country's cartoon box office record, selling tickets valued at 180 million yuan.

His move is backed by Kong Qingdong, a renowned professor of the Chinese language with the Peking University, who said Chinese elements have become advertising products to advocate American culture.

"It is a cultural invasion," said Kong.