Japanese cartoon uses potty humor to explain nuclear calamity to kids

As officials raced to reinstate power to tsunami-damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant today, one artist is attempting to explain Japan’s nuclear crisis to kids with some potty humour.

“Nuclear Boy” follows a square-headed lad pain from a tummy ache. After Nuclear Boy expels a few troublesome clouds of gas, doctors work around the clock to medicate him with seawater and boron, this so he won’t defecate all over the country.

“Nuclear Boy is infamous for his stinky poo. It would surely ruin everyone’s day if he pooped,” reads the translation.

Set to a banjo soundtrack, the cartoon also skin characters shaped like the stricken Chernobyl and Three Mile Island plants.

The cartoon has gathered more than a million views since it was posted on YouTube last week.