Angering Japanese movie fans, this same frame image of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" | Japan | Block Diagram
According to Agence France Presse on August 1st, online images synthesized from the movies "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" have sparked anger in Japan. Japan is the only country that has suffered nuclear weapon attacks during wartime.
There are two films: one is a live action movie about popular children's dolls, and the other is a biographical film about Robert Oppenheimer, one of the inventors of atomic weapons.
The composite images shared on social media combine the protagonists of two movies, one of which shows Barbie sitting on Oppenheimer's shoulder cheering against the backdrop of the apocalyptic explosion.
An angry Japanese social media user used # NoBarbenheimer's tag to say, "Do they know how many people died when Mushroom Cloud appeared?... Don't joke about atomic bombs."
On July 28th, a huge poster of the movies "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie" was posted at the entrance of Los Angeles Los Angeles Phillies Theater.
A few days before the end of World War II in 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing at least 140000 and 74000 deaths, respectively.
Another user wrote, "We just hope to understand the damage caused by these two atomic bombs before speaking, not only to Japan but also to the whole world."
The official account of the Barbie movie on "X" responded to a picture of this kind, saying "it will be an unforgettable summer" and attached a kiss emoji.
The news that was no longer visible on Tuesday prompted Warner Bros. Japan, the local publisher of Barbie, to apologize. The company stated in a statement, "We apologize to those who have been offended by this series of thoughtless actions."
The publisher also stated that the response from the official US account was "extremely regrettable" and that they are urging headquarters to "take appropriate action".
Previously reported:
The controversy surrounding the production of images by movie fans has led to regret expressed by the Japanese publisher of "Barbie"
The highly popular film "Barbie" in the United States has faced resistance in Japan due to some fan made images reviewed on its official account, which has prompted some Japanese netizens to think of the United States bombing Japan with original bullets at the end of World War II. The film's publisher in Japan expressed regret in an article on July 31st.
On August 5, 2022, people lay flowers in front of the Peace City Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Xiaoyu
"Barbie" and the blockbuster film "Oppenheimer" about Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the American atomic bomb, were released on the same day in the United States on July 21, both becoming box office favorites. So some fans linked these two films together, creating a hot topic on social networks called "Barbenheimer", and images of the male and female protagonists being "framed" appeared one after another.
Barbie's official social media account participates in this topic interaction. In a picture, Oppenheimer, with a stern expression, carries the excited Barbie on his shoulder, and the background appears to be a violent explosion, reflecting the red sky. Like and leave a message on Barbie's official account: This will be an unforgettable summer, accompanied by a kiss and red heart emoji. For a picture of Barbie's hair being replaced with mushroom clouds, the official account stated that the design was done by Ken. "Ken" is the name of Barbie's boyfriend.
The related images have angered some Japanese netizens, and there have been voices on Japanese social media opposing the release of "Barbie" in Japan. "Don't be Barbie" has become a hot topic on the internet.
On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively; On the 15th of the same month, Japan announced unconditional surrender.
Japan has long portrayed itself as a "victim" of atomic bombing, but downplayed its identity as an aggressor and perpetrator, and downplayed the reasons for the bombing and the history of aggression against other countries. Japanese right-wing politicians openly glorify the history of aggression, and many people also seriously lack understanding of the true history of war.
Barbie is scheduled to be released in Japan on August 11th, and it is unclear whether Oppenheimer will be released in Japan.
The Japanese subsidiary of Warner Bros. Pictures, the publisher of "Barbie," issued a statement on July 31, stating that "Barbie Heimer" is not part of Warner Bros. 'official promotional activities and that the actions of the official account are "not well considered", and is requesting a "proper response" from Warner Bros. headquarters.
