Year Hare Affair
Year Hare Affair is a Chinese webcomic and media franchise by Lin Chao, initially under the pen name "逆光飞行". The comic uses anthropomorphic animals as an allegory for nations and sovereign states to represent 20th and 21st century political, military, and diplomatic events.
An animated adaptation of the series started airing in Douban in March 2015 and a free-to-play strategy video game based on it was released on iOS and Android in July 2015.
Overview
The series uses anthropomorphic figures to depict China's history during and after the Cold War period. China is represented by a white rabbit, which the series portrays as peaceful and intelligent.Year Hare Affair was inspired by a lengthy post on a military web forum.
Included events (in order by year)
- Chinese Communist Revolution
- Second Sino-Japanese War
- Hundred Regiments Offensive
- Cold War
- Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- 30 September Movement
- Sino-Soviet Split
- Sino-Soviet border conflict
- Cultural Revolution
- Chinese economic reform
- Senkaku Islands dispute
- United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758
- 1972 Nixon visit to China
- The Signing of Joint Communiqué of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China
- Battle of the Paracel Islands
- Uganda–Tanzania War
- Sino-Vietnamese War
- Soviet–Afghan War
- Iran–Iraq War
- Gulf War
- Dissolution of the Soviet Union
- U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade
- Yinhe incident
- Third Taiwan Strait Crisis
- Kosovo War
- Hainan Island incident
- War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- September 11 attacks
- Chen Shui-bian corruption charges
- The Commission of Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning
- Scarborough Shoal standoff
Video game
A free-to-play strategy role-playing video game based on the webcomic, was released on iOS and Android on 15 July 2015. The player controls one of three factions: Hare, Bald Eagle and Bear.Another game called “Year Hare Affair: Burning Snow” was also released sometime later, and can currently be played on itch.io. An educational game about Chinese history was also released and unlike the first two, this one can be played in its original format.Reception
Critical response
Hare is now used as Internet slang referring to China.Criticisms
The historical vision, provided in the first two seasons of Year Hare Affair, came under heavy criticism in an overview on the Russian website South China Insight, especially Sino-Soviet relations. Though it is admitted that relations with Russia "occupy a leading place" in reflecting of Chinese history, but with a "complete disregard for historical facts", such as Soviet involvement in the Chinese Communist Party's foundation and the Red Army's liberation of Manchuria from Japanese forces. It was also noted that the Sino-Vietnamese War has been completely left out.Oiwan Lam of Global Voices Online finds racism in portraying African nations as hippopotamuses, which she considers "a lazy and stupid animal". In that regard, "China's aid for Africa has also been simplified as a last resort because 'the first world refused to play with us'".
Some commentators argue that the webcomic and its animated adaptation oversimplify complex historical events, potentially promoting nationalist sentiment or stereotypes, especially in its depiction of countries such as Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Critics have also pointed out instances where the series' satirical elements may reinforce negative stereotypes or historical grievances rather than fostering understanding. Conversely, defenders of the series highlight its satirical and entertainment-focused intent, suggesting that it should not be interpreted as a historical documentary or a precise representation of historical facts, but rather as a creative work aimed at humor and satire.