Re-Encoding Culture in Chinese Animation: A Three-Level Model of Cross-Cultural Narrative Translation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/idealogy.v11i2.956Abstract
As Chinese animated films increasingly circulate globally, understanding how culturally specific narratives achieve cross-cultural intelligibility remains critical. Existing research often emphasizes either the export of cultural symbols or audience reception, overlooking the narrative mechanisms that mediate cultural translation. This study introduces Narrative Re-encoding as a novel concept in animation cross-cultural storytelling, proposing a three-level analytical framework—Value (cultural dimensions), Narrative (structural transformation), and Expressive (emotional mediation)—as both a theoretical and methodological contribution. Drawing on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and employing qualitative textual analysis with a structured coding framework, the study examines Ne Zha (2019) and Ne Zha 2 (2025), high-grossing films with global reach, to investigate how cultural values are re-encoded into universally intelligible story structures. Findings indicate that cross-cultural narrative effectiveness relies less on direct transmission of symbols and more on strategic narrative reconfiguration: balancing individualism and collectivism, reducing traditional power distance through relational design, and managing uncertainty in conflicts to enhance engagement. At the expressive level, culturally specific elements are transformed into emotionally universal experiences, enabling global resonance without prior cultural knowledge. This study contributes to cross-cultural media scholarship by conceptualizing narrative as an active mechanism of cultural translation and offering a practical model for analysing non-Western media globalization. It provides both theoretical insight and actionable guidance for creators seeking to design animated stories that resonate with diverse audiences.
Keywords: Chinese animation; Cross-cultural Narrative; Cultural dimensions; Narrative translation;
Ne Zha
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