No, I am not going to review these vile-looking "Italian Pizza" snack sticks. I happened to see these in the impulse-buying section at the East side Wal-Mart, right next to the flashlight batteries and Durex Condoms, and it reminded me how I am amazed at the popularity of Tom & Jerry in China. The outrageously-violent Hanna-Barbera cat vs. mouse cartoon series plays constantly on Chinese television, on-screen aboard Air China passenger jets, and you can purchase a wide variety of items for children and adults adorned with their image.
So, why Tom & Jerry? Why not Bugs Bunny? Mickey Mouse? Space Ghost? I am told it is because Tom & Jerry needs no translation into Mandarin. There's no dialogue, just action. It was a cheap and easy way to fill airtime when such shows became available to Chinese television several years ago. I hear that now there is an effort to pull T & J off of Chinese TV in favor of locally-produced animated fare. Maybe the violent content is considered too unhealthy. But I'm willing to bet the nutritional content of the pizza sticks is probably worse.
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