[CAT] "Japanese robot cat Doraemon helps ease diplomatic tensions with China"

[rfmcdonald]

The Guardian's Justin McCurry reports on how the popularity in China of a film starring a Japanese robot cat, Doraeman, might lead to a softening of Chinese attitudes. Might.

Just a few months ago, Chinese media denounced him as a counter-revolutionary.

Now, though, Doraemon – Japan’s beloved robot cat – is easing diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, and breaking box-office records in the process.

The 3D animated film Stand By Me Doraemon brought in 30m yuan ($4.8m) in receipts on its opening day last Thursday, and repeated the feat the following day.

As parents and children packed out Chinese cinemas, receipts surged to 85m yuan and 88m yuan on Saturday and Sunday, surpassing the previous single-day record for animated movies, held by the US film Kung Fu Panda 2.

According to estimates, revenue from the Doraemon movie accounted for more than half of China’s total box-office revenues on Sunday, easily beating the US superhero blockbuster Avengers: Age of Ultron.