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Good
news straight from the 2004 Guangzhou Fair, which opened
this past September 16th. A formal agreement was signed
between the Sanchen Cartoon Group, Sino-American Trade
Development Association (SATDA), and Westcoast International
Culture Spreading Company, Ltd. The agreement, supported
by the Broadcast Television Bureau (BTB), the Chinese
Culture Ministry, the National News Publishing House
and the Changsha City government, calls for action to
introduce "Blue Cat" to America so that a broader audience
can enjoy his antics as well as learn a little bit more
about Chinese culture.
Chen
Tong, head of Audiovisual Films marketing department
in the Ministry of Culture, ZhongChi, the Mayor of Chengsha
city, Wang Danyan, the Vice-Director of the BTB, Liu
Hongbing, the Assistant Chief of the Broadcast, Movie
& Television Bureau in Guangdong, Song Hanwei, Diplomacy
Consul of the American Consulate in Guangzhou, Mr. Lock
and officials from the American Chamber of Commerce,
representatives of the economic and trade bureaus of
five states, and Robert Goodman, the Chairman of SATDA
all participated in the signing ceremony.
As
the largest digital cartoon production and marketing
company in China, the Sanchen Cartoon Group has developed
an understanding of taking products global by conforming
to international standards. Since 1999, the Sanchen
Group has had a license for developing movie and cartoon
markets for Chinese products. So far, the group has
broadcast "Blue Cat" on more than 1000 TV stations from
the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong to Taiwan and to 10
countries throughout Asia and the Middle East.
For
extending the "Blue Cat" series to the American market,
the Sanchen group has done some changes to "Blue Cat"
to make more interesting storylines for a global audience,
as well as improve the effects used to meet today's
market expectations for cartoon shows. SATDA's Chaiman,
Mr. Robert Goodman, negotiated with the Sanchen Cartoon
Group and agreed to help introduce "Blue Cat" to America
- creating a new market for this Asian cartoon phenomenon.
Mr. Goodman, the former Far-East advisor to Former US
President Nixon said, "I am very honored to take this
gentle, loving and smart Blue Cat to America. American
kids should know more about China."
The
export of the "Blue Cat" cartoon product to America
is not just a great breakthrough for cultural exchange
between China and the United States; it is also an excellent
example of project with full cooperation between mainland
China and Taiwan. Mr. San Wenhua, the President of the
Sanchen Cartoon group proclaimed that "ˇcooperation
with SATDA to bring 'Blue Cat' to America will help
with cultural exchange and allow for different nationalities
to develop stronger bonds. We hope the children will
enjoy this healthy, knowledgeable cartoon character,
and look forward to its rapid acceptance into the American
marketplace once the translation from Chinese is finished."
Mr. Bob Goodman concurred with the sentiment of Mr.
San Wenhua by saying "our cooperation is not only out
of any particular commercial interest. I think this
is a great way to foster Sino-American cultural exchange."
The
Sanchen Cartoon Group began exploring new ideas and
business structures a few years ago, ideas from which
Blue Cat has benefited. It also has set a precedent
and transforming this industry by using the cartoon
as a cultural education tool. Xu Guang Chun, the Minister
of National Broadcast TV Bureau reviewed the Blue Cat
plan and affirmed the motivation and plans for distributing
Blue Cat to a global audience. To the delight of the
Sanchen Group, the show has already proven to be immensely
popular with the children in all the countries it is
currently aired, and retail sales of Blue Cat merchandise
are going through the roof. The Deloitte-Touche consultancy
estimates the felines market value to be in excess of
Y740 million
Wang
Danyan said at the signing ceremony, "The National BTB
has always supported every culture initiative in the
field of broadcast film and TV that would better develop
relations between the US and China and serve as examples
of international exchange and cooperation. We pay a
great deal of attention to the children of both countries
to understand their country's cats and the role they
play in culture so that shows will capture their interest."
Now,
Blue Cat and his 7 buddies will soon show up on American
TV as friendliness messengers from China. SATDA will
be a key and valued leader in the promotion of Blue
Cat in the USA. SATDA will also offer the California
Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger who is a film star himself,
the opportunity and privilege of using Blue Cat as a
tool to help bring California and China closer together.
A combination of the Governor's "iron man" image cooperating
with the gentle and cute Blue Cat will create a "shockwave
effect" that is hoped will attract children and begin
building bridges between the two nations through a deeper
understanding of each others culture born in their children's
common enjoyment of the Blue Cat cartoon series.
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