We had this problem with the ”西样样“ (Xi YangYang) cartoon series, as well. It seems that material for kids coming out of the Mainland is still behind some of the values we are trying to promote here in America or Europe.
Xi YangYang is a very popular cartoon series, one that you can find in the U.S. on YouTube or easily from online and Chinese video/dvd stores, or even in the public libraries. But the characters behave more like Spongebob Square Pants and the Road Runner and Wiley Coyote, than the likes of Caillou or Curious George, or any material that one finds on PBS Kids.
I suppose it is a matter of parenting values - not just the divide between China and America. After all, if you watch the material on the popular Cartoon Network here in America, you will find all the snark (disrespectful sarcasm) and violence that exists in Xi YangYang.
For my own taste and values, this is not appropriate material for my young child. And as she gets older, I hope that she gravitates toward more sophisticated forms of storytelling. Snark and violence are cheap tools. I only tolerate snark in the form of political satire, and that's not interesting to young kids, anyway.
“快乐汉语” has some episodes wherein the father ends up getting drunk - not because he wants to, but because he finds it impolite to refuse the well-meaning offers of the family's "foreign" guest Susan, who is an American student. While she is practicing her “祝福” statements at dinner one evening, she gets carried away and keeps pouring a bit of alcohol for the dad, while trying out her new-found language skills. The dad, meanwhile, doesn't want to hurt her feelings or disrespect the moment, and culturally, must finish the glass each time it is poured as he is being praised.
The intention is to illustrate the cultural divide - which is great. It is great for high school or college kids. Not necessarily okay for your elementary aged child. ;)
The thing is, too, that since Americans don't get to experience the full range of language and culture here in the United States, this bit of consumption can cause problems. It can create a false impression about what is actually real or not real when it comes to Chinese culture. The humor makes the moment memorable, but it makes me wonder if that goes on to create an imbalanced view of what it is to be American and what it is to be Chinese.
I had a similar experience with a children's storybook, “生日飞球“ by 范锡林. One wants to support Chinese writers and illustrators. There is a lot of potential to consume modern children's stories, not just versions of the Classical Canon or stories translated from Western writers. But when suddenly towards the end there is a gun being pulled within a tale that seemed to have a lot of color and imagination - and even innocence - well, I fully understand that Chinese writers have a hard time discerning what is going on in America when things like Star Wars are so revered. But I would hope more and more of them could look to some of the alternative non-blockbuster productions that Disney is doing these days, in addition to PBS Kids.
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