Five days after its release on big screen, "The Autobots" by Chinese director Zhuo Jianrong was pulled from local cinemas. SVC CGV Cinema and SFC Yonghua Cinema cited "bad quality"-- aesthetically and ethically--for removing the controversial animated movie.

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"We canceled the screening yesterday because the quality was too bad. And now there's a copycat scandal," Shanghai Daily quoted Yonghua Cinema City vice president Dai Guoping.

On July 8, Chinese social media exploded with accusations against Zhuo that his "The Autobots" is a rip-off of Disney Pixar's "Cars." Netizens pointed out the similarities, from the poster design to the Chinese title and storyline that closely resemble the American franchise.

"Even a blind person could see this is plagiarism," one Chinese user commented.

Prior the cancelation, Zhuo's movie was screened only once a day and raked in a mere 7,000 yuan ($1,100). Viewers were reportedly furious at being misled by the semblance and ultimately mistook "The Autobots" as a "Cars"  movie. One social media user shared that the movie was so boring he or she had to leave the theater before the end.

"Worst animation I've seen . . . I thought it was 'Cars' when I bought a ticket," another netizen posted on ticket website Gewara.

Zhuo fiercely defended his creation and even claimed during an interview with CNN that he has never seen Cars. He further insisted that the many similarities with Pixar's animated film only proves that "The Autobots"  has a "superstar appearance." The director even called the netizens "losers" and "new-age traitors to China." Xiamen Blue Flame Television Animation, the animation company that made the production possible, seconded Zhuo's claim that the movie was an "original creation."

A Walt Disney Company spokesperson said on July 7 that Pixar's mother company shares the Chinese netizens' sentiments but has no further comment about the incident. According to Zhuo, Disney has allegedly sent him legal letters, which his company responded with evidence of his movie's authenticity.

"Our animated characters are all copyrighted in China. and we are operating within our legal parameters," Zhou insisted.

"The Autobots," with a quality "no better than illustrations in real estate offices," reportedly received more than 5,000 online reviews and gained an average of 2.1 out of five points.

TagsCars movie, Disney Pixar, Disney Cars, The Autobots, Chinese filmmaker, Cars copycat