Eight illegal animation websites shut down, 29 businesses penalized

Twenty-nine online animation business entities have been subjected to administrative penalty, and eight illegal animation websites have been shut down, according to an investigation report released by the Ministry of Culture on Monday.

Online video platforms and streaming video services providers like LeTV, Funshion, iQiyi, Sohu, Baidu will be subjected to warning, fine and other administrative punishments for providing illegal online animation productions.

"Animation Island" and other seven websites have been banned and shut down by Liaoning, Shanghai, Jiangsu and other local culture market comprehensive law enforcement agencies for conducting online culture management activities or providing Internet audio-visual program service without permission.

Besides, a list of banned online animations has been released: Zankyou no Terror, Blood－C and a series of other online animations are listed into online animation "blacklist" for plot violations.

According to Liu Qiang, deputy director of the culture market department of Ministry of Culture, the list is legal and aims to clarify the "bottom line" and "red line", guide the animation website' content self-censorship and animation production introduction, accumulate working experience for culture market credit supervision, and clarify the rumors before.

He also said that protect youngsters' heath is the primary focus. The Ministry of Culture will enhance market supervision, keep a close eye on animation productions, and improve animation business entity and animation production "black list" system. Enforce penalty degree, shut down animation services until revoke the license when animation entities violate the regulation repeatedly, and release the "blacklist" without delay.