On August 22, Chinese broadcaster CCTV released “Soul’s Window”, a much-trumpeted “original production” aimed at a child audience. But Web users haven’t fallen for it.

Same set, same features, same hairstyles – manga fans were not fooled. Several scenes from the 52-episode cartoon were copied directly from "Byousoku" (Five Centimetres per Second), a popular Japanese animated film by Makoto Shinkai released in 2007.

CCTV, China’ state-owned television network, says it was not aware that the production violated copyright. China’s propaganda department, which co-produced the cartoon, had billed it as an educational programme. “Soul’s Window” was supposed to teach children a lesson in ethics.

Replying to the accusations, the cartoon’s producer, Lanhai, recognised that roughly 1 percent of the 2,500 scenes mirrored parts of “Byousoku” and offered an apology. The company said it would launch an inquiry in order to “identify those responsible and draw lessons from this case".

wow seriously?! what were they thinking when copying exact same thing

A recent comment by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao decrying the lack of Chinese anime has incited a flurry of online support, with Chinese net users vigorously denouncing Japanese anime.

China’s top state run broadcaster is being accused of plagiarising elements of Pokémon and Naruto in its latest children’s anime, not long after it was discovered to have shamelessly copied 5cm Per Second wholesale; the broadcaster obstinately denies the charges, saying there is a difference between “plagiarism” and “imitation.”

I personally do no think that it’s a plagiarism as it is
looks more like adaptation for the Chinese viewers