US cultural icon Mickey Mouse and a cohort of other Disney characters landed in the symbolic heart of the Chinese state Tuesday, as an exhibition opened in Tiananmen Square just steps from Communist leader Mao Zedong's mausoleum.
In the National Museum of China, which fronts the vast plaza where protestors demanded democracy in 1989, visitors were greeted with scenes from Steamboat Willie, the 1928 film considered the debut of Disney's most enduring character.
The museum's long-term exhibits include large socialist realist paintings of key moments in Mao's life and the history of Communist China.
Some patrons felt the show's title "Drawn From Life: The Art of Disney Animation Studios" had little to do with their own experiences.
"These films reflect American values and the morals they espouse are very different from what cartoons in China teach us," said animation student Ling Kewen, 25.
Modern Chinese cartoons are animated copies of ancient tales with little or no changes to the story to appeal to younger audiences, she said, while US animation encouraged creativity, courage and love.
"But these values are also somewhat universal now, because of American cultural imperialism," said her friend, Ouyang Lihai, 24, in front of a series of drawings from the 1930s.
Despite strict censorship and quotas on showing foreign films in China, American cartoon blockbusters are typically allowed to be screened.
Disney's Big Hero 6 pulled in $83.5 million in the country earlier this year, more than any other market outside the US.
A Disney theme park is slated to open next year in Shanghai and will be the first in mainland China. The company opened its first store in Shanghai in May as it seeks to sell Mickey Mouse and friends to the Asian giant's middle classes.
The exhibit also highlighted the work of Tyrus Wong, a Chinese-born animator who was lead artist for the Disney classic Bambi.
The cartoon deer shared the museum with a permanent exhibit on Chinese history called "The Road of Rejuvenation".
According to a panel, that exhibit "demonstrates the glorious but long course of achieving national happiness and prosperity and fully reveals how the people chose Marxism, the Communist Party of China [and] socialism".
The museum has attracted controversy in the past. In 2011 a statue of Chinese thinker Confucius appeared and then quickly disappeared from the museum's grounds.
At the time the appearance of the 7.9-metre (26-foot) tall effigy was seen as a sign the ancient philosopher was back in favour after his teachings were suppressed for decades during Mao's campaigns to denounce backward ways.
But the statue was relocated a few months later and many speculated politics were at play.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Tue Jun 30 2015
![Mickey Mouse in Tiananmen Square as exhibition opens Mickey Mouse in Tiananmen Square as exhibition opens](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-06/41435679166_MickeyMouse.jpg)
Some patrons felt the show's title "Drawn From Life: The Art of Disney Animation Studios" had little to do with their own experiences. - AFPRelax Photo
![Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721102997_SimposiumDronKeban.jpg)
Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi
Penggunaan dron membolehkan pemantauan pencemaran alam sekitar dan hidupan liar serta pencerobohan hutan dilaksanakan dengan lebih berkesan.
![Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721109015_bekaspengawalperib.jpg)
Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan
Bekas anggota polis wanita yang kini bekerja sebagai pengawal peribadi cedera setelah motosikal ditunggangnya melanggar sebuah SUV di lebuh raya PLUS.
![Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719996195_MKulasegaran.jpg)
Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran
RUU Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentangkan di Parlimen pada akhir tahun ini selepas cadangan ketetapan bagi penggubalan Akta Kebebasan Maklumat dibawa ke Jemaah Menteri untuk kelulusan.
![Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108438_azizi.jpg)
Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu
Timbalan Ketua Polis Perak Datuk Azizi Mat Aris dilantik sebagai Ketua Polis Perak yang baharu hari ini.
![ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108165_ADUNRembiaPN.jpg)
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin
Menurut Takiyuddin, keahlian Muhamad Jailani yang juga wakil rakyat UMNO diterima pada 10 Jun tahun lalu, namun diumumkan secara rasmi hari ini.
Kita perlu belajar hidup dengan COVID-19 - Pakar
Itu kata Pakar Perubatan Kesihatan Awam, Bahagian Kawalan Penyakit, Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM), Dr Aznida Mohamad Zaki yang berkata pihaknya akan berusaha semampu mungkin dalam menggalakkan praktis kendiri dikalangan orang awam bagi mencegah penularan wabak seperti mana yang pernah dilakukan sebelum ini.
LHDN lulus 141,406 permohonan PKPS 2.0
Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) telah meluluskan sebanyak 141,406 permohonan program khas pengakuan sukarela (PKPS) 2.0 yang melibatkan 102,572 bilangan kes pembayar cukai individu, 27,707 bilangan kes syarikat dan selebihnya melibatkan lain kategori seperti pertubuhan.
![Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721017239_TBFADILLAH.jpg)
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, tingkatkan liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
![Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721103547_WargaThailandWitt.jpg)
Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel
Seorang warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen Alor Setar atas pertuduhan menyeleweng 322 liter minyak diesel.
Lilitan reben putih tak langgar peraturan - Timbalan Speaker
Ramli berkata, perkara itu juga adalah merupakan keputusannya dan bukan dibuat oleh Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
![Disney 'hilang' hak cipta Mickey Mouse Disney 'hilang' hak cipta Mickey Mouse](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61704241964_TBDisneyMickeyMou.jpg)
Disney 'hilang' hak cipta Mickey Mouse
Hak cipta bagi versi awal watak itu tamat selepas 95 tahun sepertimana mengikut undang-undang di AS.
![Watak Mickey Mouse memasuki domain awam Watak Mickey Mouse memasuki domain awam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71704170757_TBMickeyMousejp.jpg)
Watak Mickey Mouse memasuki domain awam
SEMALAM watak Mickey Mouse yang dipaparkan dalam animasi Steamboat Willie dari tahun 1928 secara rasminya memasuki domain awam.
![Pemilik suara Minnie Mouse meninggal dunia Pemilik suara Minnie Mouse meninggal dunia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-07/81564304168_RussiTaylor.jpg)
Pemilik suara Minnie Mouse meninggal dunia
Russi Taylor yang membawa suara Minnie Mouse selama lebih 30 tahun, meninggal dunia di Glendale California pada Jumaat.
![Mickey, Minnie Mouse serta Robocar Poli ceriakan hari pertama persekolahan Mickey, Minnie Mouse serta Robocar Poli ceriakan hari pertama persekolahan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-01/61546321149_MICKEY.jpg)
Mickey, Minnie Mouse serta Robocar Poli ceriakan hari pertama persekolahan
Ketiga-tiga watak kartun yang menjadi kegemaran kanak-kanak itu membuat kemunculan luar duga di dewan sekolah ketika murid-murid sedang berhimpun.
![Poster vintaj Mickey Mouse dilelong dengan bidaan bermula RM130,000 Poster vintaj Mickey Mouse dilelong dengan bidaan bermula RM130,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-11/61542428527_PosterMickey.jpg)
Poster vintaj Mickey Mouse dilelong dengan bidaan bermula RM130,000
Bagi peminat kartun popular Mickey Mouse, anda mungkin tidak mahu melepaskan peluang untuk memiliki poster vintaj yang dihasilkan sejak tahun 1930.
![Sorok dadah dalam patung Mickey Mouse Sorok dadah dalam patung Mickey Mouse](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-06/61498626634_MohdZamriMohdRowi.jpg)
Sorok dadah dalam patung Mickey Mouse
Patung berkenaan ditemui di bawah katil di dalam sebuah bilik di rumah berkenaan.