China expands ban

China continues to expand its bans on television, radio, and movies. This time the focus is on imported animation. Starting May 1, no foreign animation will be allowed on TV from 5-9 pm. This builds on the ban imposed in August 2006. This includes Japan's Pokemon, and America's Mickey Mouse and SpongeBob.

They're also looking hard at stories that "involve alien-looking characters and fictional story telling, both specifically plotted for the sole purpose of terror." Harry Potter, Shrek, and E.T. are among the titles that will be receiving heavy cuts, and Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest was kept out of theaters outright. This comes almost two years after live-action and animation mixed films (like Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) were banned along with "terrifying publications" (notably Japanese comic Death Note for its "various scary ways of dying").

Also this year, they've started a campaign against "vulgar" content in video and audio products, ordering producers to stop production and sale, and are recalling already on the market products off shelves.