A Chinese TV station is set to produce “Meteor Shower”, a drama series suspiciously plagiarising on Japanese manga “Hana yori Dango” (花より男子).
The producers claimed that the drama is not based on the original manga; it’s true that they are changing the drama title, the names of the main leads, the name of the school, the time frame and probably some of the plots… but the whole setting (with the trademark four boys and a girl cast etc.) looks seriously dubious.
Besides, the TV station has been promoting the drama as the new “Meteor Garden” (title of the Taiwanese adaptation) for months… it’s a self confession that the drama is based on the manga in some sense. If the new drama is not related to the manga at all, the TV station is still at fault for exploiting the manga for promotion purpose.
There are a few (genuine) versions of drama adaptation of Yoko Kamio’s popular manga. Taiwanese first made Meteor Garden in 2001, followed by Japan’s “Hana yori Dango” in 2005, and Korea’s “Boys Before Flower” which is currently on air.
Both the Taiwanese (Mandarin) and Japanese dramas were critical success, while the Korean drama is red hot at the moment. The Chinese would have welcome their own edition of Hana yori Dango, but sadly they are getting some bizarre mixture which borders on plagiarism instead.
It’s not the first time Chinese TV stations are using similar tactics to ‘remake’ foreign drama series, but there are some positive signs from the public as some Chinese netizens are beginning to ditch these kind of practices.
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when will the chinese learn that the world is watching. they can fool their own people but people around the world are laughing on their shameless business practices.
there seems to be fewer and fewer new ideas
actually, they can’t fool their own people either.
the taiwanese adaption Meteor Garden was such a bit hit when it came out.
plus, it was in mandarin, so proabably many chinese had watched it before.
i personally don’t know much mainland china actors…but regardless, no other four guys can’t be better than the F4 in Meteor Garden imo.
How strange, I heard about the rumours of the mainland china version of Hana Yori Dango, but I didn’t know they wouldn’t bother to license it… Is a license that expensive to get?
Not sure how much the license would cost, but they are spending millions on the production anyway… surely they can afford to pay for the license.
that’s whats in right now…making one’s country their own version of a big hit..nevermind if it’s a movie or a drama…havent you heard about filipino version of twilight? it’s a big buzz..whatever happens to that i just hope it will be of good quality
@yellowpaint94
The filipino Twilight version has been foiled after fans revolted against it. What a relief!
You seem to be very misinformed. Hunan TV isn’t plagiarizing it. They bought the rights to remake it.
http://cfensi.wordpress.com/2008/11/04/hunan-tv-wants-to-film-a-meteor-gardenhana-yori-dango/
anon#8… the link you provided didn’t mention anything that the TV station has bought the right to remake it.
All the hype was that they are going to make something similar, and at the point of writing this article… they said that they will make something ‘original’… point is, how original is it going to be? If It was not plagiarism, it’s a shameless exploitation for marketing purpose.
The latest news now is that they are not actively linking the drama to Hana Yori Dango, because they know they will be in legal trouble if they continue to do so… they already got all the promotion and buzz they wanted anyway.
from what I read, the Korean bought the rights for 2 years so the Chinese need to wait 2 years, but they already filming..if it’s plagiarism, let’s the court decide.
btw, which other tv drama series that are ‘remakes’ and not paying for copyrights?
luma… the Chinese production has now distanced themselves with the original manga (making their own plots etc), so the plagiarism issue is probably over legally… it’s up to the public to decide if the TV station was being exploitative though.
There were probably a few series that popped into my mind when I first wrote the article, can’t think of which in particular now that are dubiously plagiarising.
Ok before everyone start’s craptalking about the drama, maybe you should do more research and watch it before the bashing…
here’s the plot:
Chu Yuyun, the lead character of the series is a poor, hardworking, smart high-school girl. One of her biggest dream is to enter the most prestigious school in the country, Aliceton University where only the richest and the best students can study. With the help from her uncle, she finally gets in unbearingly that she might meet the group F4.
Yun Hai, Duan Mu Lei, Shangguan Ruiqian and Ye Shuo are the four richest students of Aliceton and known as the campus popular group F4. They became the idols of all the girls and even boys in the campus because of their attitude, power and looks. However, they are unsatisfied with their life as their parents puts so much pressure on them being the richest in China. In order for them to be kicked out from Aliceton University, they perform a series of pranks.
Yuyun fights for justice for the victims of the group and she become their instant target. Through fighting and arguing, they began to admire each other and became friends. Touched by Yuyun, F4 eventually becomes the top four students of the school. At the same time, they became loving, responsible males. Through the multiple struggles and hardships, Girl and F4 grew up. They learned to control their own lives, chose their own futures, and to strive for their dreams.
and here’s the MV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CUXrkGbvvU
And please dont’ decide until after you watched it >.>
Hi Yeinjee and all readers,
A bit off topic but if you want to watch the trailer of Chinese H4 Meteor Shower:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Cfanboys
Enjoy! Cool blog btw.