Malaysian animation company criticises picking Doraemon to promote Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR — Les’ Copaque Production, the company behind local animation series Upin & Ipin, mocked the National Art Gallery for its Japanese-themed cartoon exhibition featuring Doraemon on Tuesday (April 23).

On its Facebook page, the company that is one of the biggest animation firms in Malaysia ridiculed the exhibition that is held supposedly in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2020.

“When you can use foreign animation to promote Malaysia, why bother using local animation?” it sarcastically said, attaching a news report on the plan.

In the report, National Art Gallery chairman Rashidi Hasbullah was quoted as saying the Japanese-themed exhibition could indirectly promote Malaysia in the eyes of the world.

This comes as Mr Rashidi launched the country’s first Doraemon store at KLIA2.

Meanwhile, the fan page of renowned cartoonist Mohammad Nor Khalid, or Lat, also lashed out at the decision, saying it was disappointed with the move.

“There are plenty of popular local cartoon characters that could be used for the exhibition, but they have instead decided on a foreign cartoon character,” it said in a posting.

Created by the late Fujio F. Fujiko, Doraemon achieved immense popularity in Malaysia in the 1990s after the Malay-dubbed version of its anime series and the Malay translation of its manga were released here. MALAY MAIL