Chinese Gangster Icon Peppa Pig Event and Amusement Park Coming
Since CCTV first aired the UK children's cartoon Peppa Pig in 2015, it has taken the country by storm, surpassing 1 billion views on Youku alone. However, earlier this month, the popular cartoon was removed from widely used short-video platform Douyin amid concerns that the seemingly innocuous pig had become hijacked by China's gangster subculture.
Despite literally meaning "a person of society," shehuiren has come to represent individuals who consider themselves a rebel and in opposition to the norm. Whereas it’s trendy for youngsters to use Peppa Pig stationary, wear Peppa Pig merchandise, and even get Peppa Pig temporary tattoos, others have gone one step further, getting the hairdryer-headed pig permanently inked on their skin, which, depending on the context, can be considered a transgressive act in the eyes of government censors.
The ban, however, has only stretched to one site. This is good news for fans of the show given that they can still watch Peppa Pig on various streaming platforms, use Peppa Pig emojis on WeChat, and watch spoof video clips with dubbing via social media.
It also means that companies can repackage Peppa for their own branding needs, which is exactly what one shopping center will do between Jun 1-Oct 7. The long-running promotion, at Suprise Outlets just south of Beijing International Airport, will have 12 different Peppa Pig-themed areas with games and activities, and six themed backdrops so that you can take Peppa Pig selfies to your heart's content.
There will also be an eight-meter-tall Peppa Pig statue, gigantic mud pits to splash around in, a miniature train to ride, and more. Attendees pay RMB 120 at the door for a prepaid card to spend on rides and events within the fair.
Merlin Entertainment Group, who operates Legoland and Madame Tussauds, also wants to cash in on the popularity of the show by opening permanent Peppa Pig theme parks in both Beijing and Shanghai by 2019. They will also create a Peppa Pig stage show that will tour around the country for three years.
So, even though some portions of society have a problem with the way our porcine friend Peppa is being re-appropriated, others are free to use her image as long as it brings in the big bucks. In that regard, it seems like Peppa's here to stay. Perhaps George isn't as silly as he seems (youtube.com/watch?v=3nloJuu2rCk).
The Peppa Pig fair at Surprise Outlets runs from Jun 1-Oct 7, 10am-9pm. There are shuttle buses that run to the shopping center from around town. Find more info here (in Chinese).
1 Forest Park East, Jinzhan, Chaoyang District
朝阳区金盏乡森林公园东1号斯普瑞斯奥特莱斯内（机场二通道西侧）
(010) 8434 0006
Images: urban-family.com, WeChat
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