Like many other eight-year-olds, Liu Yimin's favorite heroes aren't great scientists, or the national soccer team, or popular Chinese icons like Lei Feng.

His heroes are two Japanese animated characters who defy their parents and teachers. Local educators are worried and say that some of characters may be a bad influence on youngsters.

The characters, Chibi Maruko Chan, a timid 9-year-old girl, who easily forgets unhappy events and is known for being muddle headed, may seem harmless, but it is the character of Xin San which has the authorities worried.

Xin San, an arrogant kindergarten student, bullies the weak, battles the strong, and constantly lusts after women - lots of women.

"I think the content of these shows is too mature for children," said Zhang Jinlian, director of the Shanghai Children and Juvenile Psychological Guidance Center.

She said many students like to imitate the actions of these cartoon kids, causing trouble in the classroom and at home.

Zhang would like to see steps taken to prevent children from reading books and watching videos and VCDs about Xin San, but the cartoon kid is just too popular to be avoided.

"I like both of them, because they are not what school teachers order me to be like," said Liu. "They think, talk and live in a free style."

Many of his classmates feel the same. "They do funny things that I don't dare try, but I feel very sympathetic toward them when they are scolded by teachers and parents," said Xiong Wenjia, Liu's classmate at the No. 2 Key Primary School of Luwan District.

"Children are easily influenced, but I can only ask them not to read the comics in school," said Fu Yiwei, a teacher at the school.

Fu, like other teachers, worries that the Japanese figures are too far from the traditionally bright children that star in made-in-China cartoons.

"Most Chinese models are intelligent and courageous, but the standard of cartoon characters has never changed since my childhood," said Xu Guangxin, a psychologist in his 50s, adding Chinese cartoons are instructive to young children.

But today's kids don't want to be instructed, they want innovative cartoons with characters who are a little rebellious, Xu pointed out.

Sales of books and VCDs of the two cartoon series, plus viewer ship levels of the "Chibi Maruko Chan" on Shanghai TV prove that a little rebellion is very popular with local youngsters.

Unfortunately, children are picking up those rebellious attitudes.

Zhang said that many children now bully their parents into buying them a new toy - a trick that they picked up from Chibi Maruko Chan. Even worse, she said, some young boys lustfully gaze at their girl classmates.

(eastday.com November 29, 2001)