Controversial Fudan University promotional video taken offline

A controversial video promoting Shanghai-based Fudan University was taken offline after it was accused of plagiarizing a publicity video from the University of Tokyo on Thursday, Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

The video, titled To My Light, was produced by Fudan University, one of the most prestigious universities in China, to mark its 110th anniversary.

It was released on Wednesday on the university's official website, Sina Weibo account and WeChat publicity account, two popular social network platforms, and shared on the Internet at large, but was later criticized by netizens for plagiarizing a publicity video produced by the University of Tokyo in 2014, titled Explorer.

The video was replaced with another one on Thursday afternoon, though its producer denied the plagiarism charges.

To My Light features a female shake-down flight engineer, also a Fudan alumna, wearing a flight suit to visit her old school, while Explorer depicts a female astronaut in a space suit exploring the University of Tokyo.

Both videos have scenes of library shelves, ancient documents, fish bowls, and dancing at a party, and both end with the heroine taking off her helmet.

The pair of videos, which were widely watched and retweeted, have triggered a heated debate online, as many netizens believe they are highly similar, with some convinced that Fudan's plagiarized the other video.

Screenshots from the videos produced by Fudan University and the University of Tokyo (in the upper right cornor) shows a similarity. [Photo/Sina Weibo]