Doraemon, Pika-Pika, Kitty Cat, Snoopy, Garfield and Tom and Jerry.
These are just a fraction of the comic characters which have become part of our lives, from toddlers who can barely speak to adults who collect special commemorative cartoon lithographs. These characters have become more than pure entertainment, they have become our "friends."

When the Japanese comic character Doraemon hit the market in 1990, it became an instant hit for children and grown-ups alike. It created an immediate demand for other Japanese comic characters and cartoons.

Why have Japanese comic characters, in particular, become so popular?

One sociologist believed it was because the characters are received by their audience on a mature level and not speak down to them even if the target audience is children.
Another said that it was due to the well written dialogue and had interesting content.

However some cartoons have caused some controversy by having what many perceive to have "too much" adult content. For example, the popular TV cartoon Labi Xiaoxin (À¯±ÊСÐÂ) which was introduced in Tianjin a few months ago had excessive emphasis on sex. It caused a public debate on whether to continue broadcasting it as too many school children were preoccupied with the cartoon and abandoning their studies.

Disney cartoons are another great example of interesting cartoon and comic characters which have garnered fans the world over. They have produced cartoons from The Little Mermaid, Jungle Book, The Lion King and of course the Chinese hit, Mulan.

Which leads to the questions of why can't China, with its population and labour skills, produce a truly Chinese cartoon character?
Japan developed a comprehensive and very popular cartoon and comic industry in five short years.

Although China has begun foray into this area, its still in the early stages. Many companies are still reluctant to enter the market as there is a high rate of piracy of comic books.