TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's main opposition party unveiled a provocative animated promotional video Monday (Aug. 18) that targets nuclear energy policy through satirical humor. The Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨), Taiwan's largest opposition party, launched "Headmaster Liar" (萊爾校長), a spinoff video inspired by the Hong Kong comedy "Fight Back to School" (逃學威龍) and crafted in the distinctive animation style of "South Park" (南方四賤客). The controversial production has generated significant positive online responses as Taiwan approaches a critical referendum on nuclear power.
The animated production features a distinctive red-clad character delivering dialogue that deliberately echoes Uncle Tat (達叔) from the classic Hong Kong comedy, strategically designed to engage (young) Taiwanese audiences through familiar humor on democratic processes and public opinion formation. The video serves as campaign material advocating for the controversial reopening of the No. 3 Nuclear Power Plant, a key issue in Taiwan's upcoming referendum scheduled for Saturday (Aug. 23). This approach represents the opposition party's attempt to influence public sentiment through entertainment-based political messaging.
KMT STUDIO convener Ko Ju-chun (葛如鈞) emphasized the video's deliberate homage to beloved Hong Kong comedies while delivering the pointed message that "ideology cannot generate electricity." Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Taiwan's ruling party legislator Shen Pao-yang (沈伯洋), who appears as a character in the animated production, criticized the opposition's financial investment in what he considers a futile referendum effort. However, Shen diplomatically conceded that "the party can do what they want as long as they are happy." ◼
