Logical Analysis and Impact of Character Development in Animated Films: A Case Study of Nezha 2
Abstract
In the context of global media, animated films have become a crucial area for showcasing a nation's cultural soft power. A construction of effective characters is usually essential for the successful adaptation of intellectual property (IP). This study examined how Ne Zha 2: The Demon Boy Churns the Sea (2025) integrated traditional mythology with contemporary society through the analysis of the underlying logic in the construction of the characters. To analyze the narrative context of the "shared body" of the protagonist in the film and the enlarged set of secondary characters, this article uses literary analysis and textual analysis, combining the theory of the cultural representation of Stuart Hall with the theory of displacement of Northrop Frye. The results reveal that the film, through a strategy of familiarization with traditional IP mythology, transformed the relationship between Ne Zha and Ao Bing, passing from a binary opposition present in previous works to a shared destination. Use the dialectical logic of the "unity of opposites" to dismantle the stereotypes of traditional mythology. The extended list of secondary characters elevates the narrative of a simple, familiar story to a portrait of different social classes, deeply reflecting the structural prejudices of society. This film has great potential for intercultural communication thanks to its narrative structure, which effectively resolves the conflict between the essence of ancient ethnic culture and modern universal values. It provides new theoretical ideas about how to maintain ethnic identity while the IP of Chinese mythology is globalized.
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