The Reshaping And Integration Of Panda Image In Kung Fu Panda2

In recent years, panda image, as a Chinese national treasure, is often used asleading character in foreign animated movies. As a result, panda image has becomemore and more popular around the world. Hollywood uses the Chinese cultural element“panda” to create two animated films, Kung Fu Panda (2008) and Kung Fu Panda2(2011). Compared with China’s Panda Jingjing (1996) and Little Big Panda (2011),Hollywood’s two animations Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda2have gained greaterpopularity in the world and the cultural expression of the two movies presented in itsblending of eastern and western cultures especially draws the attention of critics andaudience.Based on the cultural identity theory and cultural value theory, this thesis choosesa Chinese animated movie Little Big Panda and Kung Fu Panda2as the subjects ofresearch. By employing the method of comparative analysis, the author summarizes therespective characteristics of these two animations from the aspects of scripts, techniqueof expression and musical score. Then the thesis probes into the main reason whyAmerican animation enjoys greater popularities in the world from the aspect of culturalconsciousness in animations making, although the two movies share same elementpanda. It turns out that the American animation succeeded in spreading the AmericanUniversal Values. Besides, the author explores the similarities and differences in theway of character formation between the two animations. By comparing Little Big Pandaand Kung Fu Panda2, the author analyzes the processes of reshaping and integration oftaking panda as subject matter in Kung Fu Panda2: on one hand, Chinese panda imageis reshaped from Chinese filial piety presentation to American freedom culturepresentation; on the other hand, Chinese martial spirit is transferred to Americanindividualistic heroism. The cultural reconstruction in Kung Fu Panda2aims to makeits cultural expression conform to American cultural essence. This study reveals that themaking and success of animated films and television works, as far as movie culturalexpression is concerned, cannot be separated from native culture and absorbing foreigncultural elements through reshaping and integration can be an effective way ofspreading native culture, which is of reference value to China’s building of “soft power” (Nye,2004).The thesis consists of six parts. Part One provides a general introduction to thisresearch. Part Two makes a literature review, and presents theoretical foundation for thesubsequent discussion and analysis. In Part Three, the author first describes the image ofChinese panda and its presentation of Chinese culture in a Chinese movie Little BigPanda, which is the traditional Chinese symbol of panda. Then, the author describes theimage of Chinese panda and its presentation of American culture in Hollywood KungFu Panda2. Part Four focuses on analyzing the reshaping and integration of pandaimage from the perspectives of individualism-collectivism and cultural identity. Theauthor makes a comparison between the Chinese and American movies and makes ananalysis of two patterns of cultural values with the guidance of relevant theories. In PartFive, the author discusses the nationalization and coexistence of different cultural valuesin animation’s culture expression. Part Six is the conclusion of the whole study.