The Russian government pressured Moscow-based adult animation channel 2X2 to yank the American-made animated series Happy Tree Friends and The Adventures of Big Jeff from its lineup, according to Daily Variety. Though they’re aimed at adult audiences and aired when kids were typically not watching TV, the cartoons from San Francisco-based Mondo Media were reportedly found to be too violent by government watchdog group Rossvyazokhrankulutra.
Roman Sarkisov, general director of 2X2, told Variety that the short-form programs were close to reaching the end of their licenses, and that viewers had already seen them numerous times. The network pulled the shows without putting up a fight, but made a point to note that most of the crime dramas airing in Russia are far worse than the cartoons.
As a subtle act of defiance, 2X2 will replace the shows with the most childish cartoons they can dig up. The station, owned by Vladimir Potanin’s ProfMedia, also plans to appeal the decision once it has an expert report on the content deemed objectionable.
