One is a panda that typifies China, the other is a mole¹ that has delighted Czechs and eastern Europeans for decades.

熊猫，以国宝形象，成为中国的象征之一。小鼹鼠，捷克国家级的经典卡通形象，已在捷克和东欧风靡数十载。

Now, thanks to the efforts of the Little Mole’s ‘family’ in the Czech Republic and Chinese Central Television, the two will join forces in a new animated² cartoon series that looks set to delight audiences in Europe and China.

现在，在捷克共和国《鼹鼠的故事》制作方和中国中央电视台的共同努力下，熊猫和小鼹鼠将牵手亮相中捷新近摄制的系列卡通片《熊猫和小鼹鼠》，给欧洲和中国的观众带来无尽欢乐。

The series, to be known as “The Panda and Little Mole,” is in the final stages of production and will start to air in China from March 28, a senior CCTV executive told China Daily.

中央电视台的一位高管告诉《中国日报》说，《熊猫和小鼹鼠》目前处于后期制作阶段，将于3月28日在中国开播。

Weijing Zeng, the state broadcaster’s director of animation³, told China Daily the 52 episodes would be aired on CCTV’s Children’s Channel 14 from 7 pm weekly, with two 12 minute episodes per transmission.

央视动画部主任曾伟京表示，这部52集的卡通片即将登陆央视少儿频道（央视14套），每周播出一次，于晚七点连播两集，每集12分钟。

The joint venture starts broadcasting as Chinese President Xi starts a two-day state visit to the Czech Republic, which officials say is aimed at enhancing relations between the two states at trade, sporting and cultural levels.

这部合拍卡通片开播之际，正值习近平主席对捷克共和国进行为期两天的国事访问，有关官员称此次访问旨在加强中捷两国在贸易、体育及文化等多领域的合作。

The Little Mole, Krtek in Czech, was the brainchild of Zdenek Miler, animator who first introduced the small black and white creature with the red nose 60 years ago. The cartoon series, famous for its simplicity⁴, became a hit throughout eastern Europe and France.

鼹鼠的故事》，60年前由捷克动画大师兹德内克·米莱尔创作而成，小鼹鼠这个有着红红鼻子的黑白色的小家伙自此问世。这部系列卡通片，以故事情节简单著称，在东欧和法国一路所向披靡，拥趸不计其数。

CCTV first showed the original Little Mole series in China in the 1980s, and it rapidly gained a big following amongst children.

鼹鼠的故事》于上个世纪80年代在央视首播，之后在中国的小朋友中迅速收获了一大批“鼹鼠迷”。

Chen Chao, 33, a Beijing-based porcelain⁵ artist, was impressed by the unique artistic⁶ style of the original when he watched the animation program during the 1980s.

33岁的陈超（音）是北京的一位瓷器艺术家，80年代观看这部卡通片时，他就被其别具一格的艺术风格深深打动。

“It was like a combination of paper cut and collage⁷, and the subject dealt with the impact of human life on animal life, which in today’s view, related to environmental protection, ”he said.

陈超说：“这部卡通片就像是剪纸艺术和拼贴艺术的完美结合，而且它的主题讨论的是人类生活对动物生存的影响，以今天的观点来看，就是环保题材。”

He is curious to see whether there is change in artistic style and is looking forward to new stories and metaphors⁸ in the new panda and mole animation.

陈超表示，他很好奇新片的艺术风格是否会有变化，同时期待在《熊猫和小鼹鼠》中看到新鲜的故事和寓意。

Lucie Bradacova-Gomezova, a property manager and translator, told China Daily that she prefers the Little Mole over American cartoons such as Tom and Jerry, which tend to be more violent, whereas the Little Mole is seen as gentle and adorable.

露西·布拉达科娃·戈麦斯是一位道具师兼翻译，她告诉《中国日报》，相比《猫和老鼠》这样更为暴力的美国卡通片，她更喜欢《鼹鼠的故事》，喜欢它的敦厚可爱。

“I remember watching it as a little girl on a black and white TV when Czechoslovakia only had two channels. Now my kids love to watch it on DVD. It really stands the test of time,” she said.

戈麦斯说：“我还记得我是个小女孩时，用黑白电视机观看《鼹鼠的故事》的情景，那时的捷克斯洛伐克只有两个电视频道。今天，我的几个孩子用DVD观看这部卡通片，不变的是对它的钟爱。《鼹鼠的故事》的确经得起时间的考验。”