Q-version
Encyclopedia
Q-version is the English translation for the Chinese term Q版 (pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...

: Kiū bǎn), referring to the cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...

ification or infantilization in the artistic renderings of real life or serious human, animal figures or other characters or objects, especially in the styles of Anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

. "Q" is a Chinese approximation of the English word "cute".

Q-version characters, in the forms of cartoons, video animation, and plastic or stuffed toys have established a trend in many Asia-Pacific societies such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The term Q-version was most likely coined in Chinese by the Hong Kongers due to the success of such anime as SD Gundam, Dr. Slump
Dr. Slump
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It was serialized in Shueisha's anthology comic Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1980 to 1984 which were collected into 18 tankōbon volumes...

 and later on Dragonball during the mid 1980's.

Mainland China was hit by the Q-version craze of late, but with much controversy, such as the Q-version Kuso
Kuso
Kuso is the term used in East Asia for the internet culture that generally includes all types of camp and parody. In Japanese, means shit, and is often uttered as an interjection. It is considered milder than its English counterpart, more comparable to damn. It is also used to describe outrageous...

 edition of the government's official grade school Chinese language textbook, in which the term "Q-version", instead of meaning "populated by Anime characters", rather means kuso
Kuso
Kuso is the term used in East Asia for the internet culture that generally includes all types of camp and parody. In Japanese, means shit, and is often uttered as an interjection. It is considered milder than its English counterpart, more comparable to damn. It is also used to describe outrageous...

, or postmodern substitution of serious official ideas with humorous, and sometimes degenerate phenomena that plague contemporary Chinese society.

See also

  • Chibi (Japanese term)
  • Manga
    Manga
    Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

  • Anime
    Anime
    is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

  • Kuso
    Kuso
    Kuso is the term used in East Asia for the internet culture that generally includes all types of camp and parody. In Japanese, means shit, and is often uttered as an interjection. It is considered milder than its English counterpart, more comparable to damn. It is also used to describe outrageous...

  • Super deformed
    Super deformed
    Super deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads, to make them resemble small children...

  • Moe (slang)

External links

  • Q-version grade-school Chinese language textbook, online text from Sina.com http://book.sina.com.cn/nzt/1094527462_qyuwen/index.shtml
  • Q-version Ming Dynasty costumes, created by graphics artists on a Ming Dynasty costumes forum http://www.ming-yiguan.com/viewthread.php?tid=1896
  • Characters from Wulin Waizhuan, a popular Chinese Kungfu video game, all rendered in a typical Q-version anime style http://www1.jjtang.com/blog/blog-htm-do-showone-itemid-82241-type-blog.html
  • Mark Rowswell, also known as Dashan
    Dashan
    Dashan is the Chinese stage name adopted by Canadian Mark Henry Rowswell, CM who works as a freelance performer in People's Republic of China. Relatively unknown in the West, Dashan is the most famous Western personality in China's media industry. He occupies a unique position as a foreign...

    , in his Q-version form http://www.sc.xinhua.org/content/2004-11/05/content_3463590.htm
  • Beijing Opera characters, Q-version http://culture.qianlong.com/6931/2006/08/21/53@3377547.htm
  • Characters from the classical fantasy romance Journey to the West
    Journey to the West
    Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It was written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century. In English-speaking countries, the tale is also often known simply as Monkey. This was one title used for a popular, abridged translation by Arthur Waley...

    , rendered in abstract, stylistic Q-version style http://bbs.chahua.org/read.php?tid=45843
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