That's all folks! The BBC is told to 'up its game' on cartoons

That’s all folks! The BBC is told to ‘up its game’ on cartoons as it emerges most of the animations it offers for older children are from abroad

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The BBC has been told to ‘up its game’ after it emerged most of the cartoons it offers for older children are foreign animations.

Despite the corporation’s charter tasking it with providing ‘distinctive output’, it has been buying up huge amounts of shows for youngsters that were made in countries including Japan and the US.

Research shows about 60 per cent of the animated shows for older children on the corporation’s iPlayer service are foreign.

For this age group there are 285 hours’ worth of foreign cartoons, compared with 84 hours of British-made content for older children. 

Analysis of the CBBC section of the corporation’s streaming service reveals that this includes 125 hours of the popular Japanese anime series Pokemon.

The CBBC section of the corporation’s streaming service includes 125 hours of the popular Japanese anime series Pokemon

The ‘100% Cartoons’ section of iPlayer, for CBBC viewers, which is for older children, shows the scale of foreign imports it is using to appeal to these youngsters

The ‘100% Cartoons’ section of iPlayer, for CBBC viewers, which is for older children, shows the scale of foreign imports it is using to appeal to these youngsters.

This includes more than 300 episodes of Pokemon, as well other Japanese shows including 50 episodes of Dragon Quest. US shows include Dragons – Riders Of Berk, Arthur, and We Bare Bears.

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There are also shows from countries including Canada, Australia and France.

British-made cartoons on the service include Danger Mouse, Dennis & Gnasher and Shaun The Sheep.

Tory MP Giles Watling, who sits on the culture, media and sport committee, was critical of an overreliance by the corporation on foreign cartoons.

He said: ‘We just need to promote our own culture and the BBC is the absolute ideal tool to do that – [it] needs to up its game and encourage and promote local talent.’

Corporation sources have pointed to the fact that the BBC has tripled its investment in UK animation for the seven to 12 age group, but this takes a while to deliver.

The BBC’s TV budget is set to drop by £100million this year as part of savings. It is set to slash the amount of original TV programmes it shows by 1,000 hours a year.

A BBC spokesman said it was ‘biggest commissioner of UK animation for children of all ages’ and acquired series are ‘simply in addition’ to British-made content.

Research shows about 60 per cent of the animated shows for older children on the corporation’s iPlayer service are foreign

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