Xiao Xiao - Wikipedia

Flash cartoon series

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Xiao Xiao
Genre	ActionDark humorSurreal humor
Created by	Zhu Zhiqiang
Developed by	Zhu Zhiqiang
Voices of	Charlie Lehardy (#1)Zhu Zhiqiang (#9)
Composer	Zhu Zhiqiang
Country of origin	China
Original languages	ChineseEnglish
No. of episodes	10
Production
Executive producer	Zhu Zhiqiang
Running time	1-2 minutes
Production company	XiaoXiao Movie.com
Original release
Network	Newgrounds
Release	April 19, 2001 (2001-04-19) –February 23, 2002 (2002-02-23)

Xiao Xiao (Chinese: 小小作品; pinyin: Xiǎo Xiǎo Zuò Pǐn, lit. "Little Work") is a Chinese Internet Flash cartoon series by Beijing-based Chinese animator Zhu Zhiqiang (simplified Chinese: 朱志强; traditional Chinese: 朱志強; pinyin: Zhū Zhìqiáng).

The cartoon features stick figures performing choreographed fight scenes. Some of the cartoons are interactive and game-like.[1] All cartoons are in the Adobe Flash format, with the exception of Xiao Xiao #1, which was originally in AVI format and converted to Flash format. Others have seized on Xiao Xiao's popularity to make animations exploiting the easy-to-draw style of stick figures and minimalist backgrounds, creating cartoons that are sequels or parodies of the official cartoons.

Etymology

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In Mandarin Chinese; "Xiao Xiao" is the Chinese character for "small" repeated twice. Here this reduplication connotes an affectionate diminutive, an equivalent might be the English expression "itty bitty" or "lil' old".[2] Each Xiao Xiao cartoon is given a Chinese title with the adjective "Xiao Xiao" preceding a descriptive noun phrase. Xiao Xiao #1 was originally titled "Xiao Xiao Zuo Pin", which translates to "A Little Bit of Creative Work".

Over time, the term gradually shifted meaning from the series itself to the main character, an anonymous black stick figure.

Legal dispute

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In June 2004, Zhu filed a lawsuit against Nike for plagiarizing his cartoon stickmen in their commercials. Nike's representatives denied the accusations, claiming that the stickman figure lacks originality, and is public domain. Zhu eventually won the lawsuit, claiming his copyright on his style and not the stickman,[3] and Nike was ordered to pay $36,000 to the cartoonist.[4][5] Nike stated it would appeal the suit in the Beijing High People's Court.[6][4] Nike won the appeal in 2006, with the judge saying in the paper that the Nike stickman design was different than Zhu's stickman design.[7] After winning the suit, Nike stated "This was never a commercial issue for us. It was a matter of principle."[8]

References

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1. ^ "Games time forgot: Xiao Xiao". Destructoid. 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
2. ^ "Xiao Xiao". Archived from the original on 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
3. ^ "Xiao Xiao Lawsuit??". Newgrounds.com. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
4. ^ a b Nike loses "Stickman" case but decides to appeal... Archived October 25, 2005, at the Wayback Machine, Lawdit Solicitors
5. ^ Can a "Stickman" be original? A Chinese court thinks so... - News article, Wednesday, February 9, 2005, ipFrontline
6. ^ XinHua http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-07/16/content_1604987.htm Archived 2006-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ Guo, Yimeei (2017). Modern China's Copyright Law and Practice. pp. 2–5. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-5352-8. ISBN 978-981-10-5351-1.
8. ^ "Beijing court rules in favor of Nike in animation lawsuit - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2006-06-17. Retrieved 2022-02-21.

External links

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• Xiao Xiao series on Newgrounds
• Xiao Xiao series on Stickpage

v t e Newgrounds
Games that debuted on Newgrounds	Pico's School (1999) Alien Hominid (2002) Kaboom: The Suicide Bombing Game (2002) Super Smash Flash (2006) Fancy Pants (2006; 2008) Flash Element TD (2007) V-Tech Rampage (2007) Meat Boy (2008) Raid Gaza! (2009) Aether (2009) Faith Fighter (2009) Spewer (2009) Loved (2010) The Room Tribute (2010) Super Mario Bros. Crossover (2010) The Scale of the Universe (2010; 2012) No Time To Explain (2011) The Binding of Isaac (2011) Abobo's Big Adventure (2012) Dys4ia (2012) Friday Night Funkin' (TBA)
Films/series that debutedon Newgrounds	"All your base are belong to us" (2001) Xiao Xiao (2001–2002) Broken Saints (2001–2003) Neurotically Yours (2002–present) "Badgers" (2003) Eddsworld (2003–present) "Numa Numa" (2004) Salad Fingers (2004–present) "The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny" (2005) Charlie the Unicorn (2005) Animator vs. Animation (2006–present) Minushi (2007) Saturday Morning Watchmen (2009) Ollie & Scoops (2019–present)
Associated people	Alan Becker Brad Borne Kira Buckland Neil Cicierega John Cooney Michael Cusack David Firth Tom Fulp Max Gilardi Tyler Glaiel Edd Gould Zach Hadel Arin Hanson Jazza Edmund McMillen Chris Niosi Ross O'Donovan Chris O'Neill Dan Paladin Adam Phillips Jonti Picking TomSka Jason Steele
Related articles	The Behemoth Nightmare Cops Adobe Flash Browser games

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