It’s expected that with the addition of Panda, the new series will even be a bigger hit than its predecessor. (Photo : Getty Images)
China and the Czech Republic have more tricks up their sleeves to strengthen relations. This year, two mascots that symbolize the two nations will come together for a new animated series, according to an article by China Daily.
The show will feature Little Mole, which represents the Czech Republic, and Panda, which represents China.
The animated series, which will have a total of 52 episodes, is in its final stages of production. It has started showing starting Monday, March 28, on China Central Television's children's channel at seven in the evening.
Chinese audiences are not unfamiliar with Little Mole, a character that was created 60 years ago. Made by Zdenek Miler, the original cartoon series took Eastern Europe and France by storm. By the 1980s, the fever hit China as the series was aired by CCTV.
Reruns were televised by the network in 2011.
For experts, Little Mole was a testament to the artistry of Czech animation.
"It was like a combination of paper-cutting and collage, and the subject dealt with the impact of humans on animal life, which in today's view relates to environmental protection," Chen Chao, a 33-year-old porcelain artist based in Beijing, recalled in an interview with China Daily.
It's expected that with the addition of Panda, the new series will even be a bigger hit than its predecessor.
"We decided to include dialogue to make it more attractive for children today," said Zeng Weijing, CCTV's director of animation. "The 26 episodes are now finished. Everything, including pre- and post-production work, was done in China. It is now in Prague to have the voice-overs done."
Since Miler's death in 2011, his granddaughter Karolina has been managing the business Little Mole has created.
"I'm very glad to be a part of Little Mole and Panda because I know Chinese people are very familiar with Little Mole and have deep feelings for it," Karolina said. "I also need such cooperation to carry forward my grandfather's work."
The show's premiere is just in time for the start of President Xi Jinping's state visit to the Czech Republic, which will take place in a course of three days. It's the first state visit made by a Chinese diplomat to the European country since diplomatic relations were forged approximately 50 years ago.
