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New Russian Child-Protection Law Affects Animated Shows

A child-protection law affecting television broadcast content went into effect in Russia on Saturday. The law targets depictions of violence, sexual content, profanity, and characters using tobacco and alcohol.

The Television 2X2 channel plans to edit some of its animation lineup, including the Itchy & Scratchy segments within The Simpsons. It will also move its showings of South Park to after 11:00 p.m.

2X2 came under fire in 2008 when a group of leaders from Protestant churches in Russia called for the station's broadcasting license to be revoked because of content within Ikki Tousen, South Park, Sealab 2021, and up to ten other series. Ikki Tousen was noted specifically for "glorifying cruelty and containing elements of child pornography."

Russia's governmental censorship committee also investigated the local television showings of the GTO anime series for allegedly including gratuitous, frequent use of "close-ups of the lower half of female bodies, child pornography, sexual abnormalities, violence, cruel acts," and other issues.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news tip.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter