The pig as universal archetype of optimism
Peppa Pig, the adorable cartoon series that originated in Britain, has grabbed the attention of Americans and Chinese alike. The preschool television show features a piglet and her jolly family and friends. And aren't they cute and memorable!
Yet the reasons why the show is so popular across the Pacific may slightly differ according to local customs and, yes, mythology. For example, Americans love Peppa's churlish British accent. They don't like Peppa's bicycling without a helmet and her constant fat-shaming her father, Daddy Pig.
Chinese audiences don't mind Peppa's temper tantrums. That's because in China a pig gets away with far more complex character script thanks to the most famous pig of them all: Zhu Bajie from The Journey to the West.
