This study, from the perspective of interculturalism, takes the Kung Fu Panda film series (KFP 1–4, 2008–2024) as its principal corpus and aims to examine how American animated films complete the process of cultural conversion through three observ...
This study, from the perspective of interculturalism, takes the Kung Fu Panda film series (KFP 1–4, 2008–2024) as its principal corpus and aims to examine how American animated films complete the process of cultural conversion through three observable stages—Borrowing (B), Neutralization (N), and Recontextualization (R)—across linguistic and media boundaries. Rather than addressing the “Americanization” of Chinese cultural elements, the research focuses on the mechanism of intercultural meaning production, that is, how new systems of meaning and value are generated through cross-cultural interaction.
Theoretically, the study integrates key concepts from translation studies and cultural studies to construct the B–N–R analytical framework. The Borrowing stage corresponds to Venuti’s (2008) ethical discussion of “foreignization” in translation; the Neutralization stage relates to Iwabuchi’s (2002) notion of “cultural odor” and “odorlessness”; and the Recontextualization stage is grounded in Bhabha’s (1994) theory of the “Third Space” and Robertson’s (1992) model of “glocalization.” Through this integration, cultural conversion is conceptualized not as a linear borrowing process but as a systemic interaction operating within ethical, narrative, and industrial dimensions.
Methodologically, multilingual versions of the four films (Korean, Chinese, and English) are compiled into a computable corpus. From each film, five to ten key scenes and trilingual dialogues are selected and combined with auxiliary production and distribution materials such as art books, staff interviews, and regional marketing resources. Each text is annotated with time codes, literal translations, and stage classifications following the rule R > N > B, ensuring transparency, consistency, and verifiability throughout the analysis.
The main findings are as follows.First, at the narrative level, the trilogy of task–reward–value and the ethical division among mentor, companion, and antagonist systematically reduce intercultural comprehension barriers, transforming moral judgment into an actionable logic. In this structure, R functions as the point of convergence, N as the guiding flow, and B as the entrance of visibility.
Second, at the audiovisual level, the explicit borrowing of Chinese imagery—such as ink-wash motifs and shadow-play aesthetics—is functionally neutralized through digital brushwork, color transition, and the universal grammar of Hollywood orchestration. When these elements are reintroduced at narrative junctures, they achieve emotional resonance and complete a closed loop of perception, experience, and reinterpretation.
Third, at the distribution level, the inclusion of cultural consultants, the equivalent translation of kinship and honorific expressions, and the use of multilingual promotional narratives and social-media commentary together create a collaborative chain connecting production, text, and dissemination, thereby maintaining consistent value recognition across diverse markets.
In conclusion, the study demonstrates that American animation can establish transcultural empathy without erasing cultural difference. Furthermore, by systematizing the operational structure of the B–N–R model into narrative and audiovisual modules, the research provides a practical and transferable strategy for the internationalization and cultural conversion of Chinese animation.