Propaganda drive in China as cartoon Xi Jinping plays whack-a-mole

Chinese president Xi Jinping is getting increasing exposure as a cartoon character with his latest animated self playing whack-a-mole.

Released over the weekend, the clip from the Communist Party of China is the latest in a string of propaganda videos aimed to appeal to a younger generation less likely to be enticed by the rousing "red songs" of yore.

In his latest cartoon incarnation, Xi is shown cracking down on corrupt officials with a mallet as the narrator lists the officials who have been targeted – former state security chief Zhou Yongkang and political star Bo Xilai among them.

China's stats chief faces graft probe: Report

Both Zhou and Bo were once high fliers in the establishment who have since been sentenced to life for corruption and abuse of power.

The five in the cartoon were featured in tiger costumes in a reference to Xi's drive to crack down on both "tigers" or powerful leaders and "flies" i.e. lowly bureaucrats.

The video also features a cartoon version of "coolest foreigner" former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger, praising Xi's anti-graft efforts in Mandarin—complete with a foreign accent.

How China’s anti-corruption drive is hurting growth

Kissinger is credited for normalizing relations between the U.S. and China.

The video released over the weekend is the first in a series of three, reported the state-run Xinhua News Agency. Stay tuned.

Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook.