Research on the Construction of Female Images in Chinese Animated Films - Proceedings Article

Aug 20, 2026

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Rapid growth of Chinese animated films has advanced cinematic expression, artistic form, and dynamic character depiction, while female imagery remains a distinctive aesthetic and cultural sign. Recent years still show limited animated works in which women serve as the main images, and such portrayals often rely on simplification and stereotype. This study reviews female-image characteristics in Chinese animation, explains causes behind biased shaping, and proposes measures to build more diversified female images, providing creative references for current female-themed animation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

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Pages5

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Abstract

Introduction

Characteristics of Female Images in Chinese Animated Films

Athena Transactions in Social Sciences and Humanities, Volume 1 Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Arts, Design and Contemporary Education (ICADCE 2022), pp. 99–103 DOI: [https://doi.org/10.55060/s.atssh.221107.018](https://doi.org/10.55060/s.atssh.221107.018), ISSN (Online): 2949-8937 Proceedings home: [https://www.athena-publishing.com/series/atssh/icadce-22](https://www.athena-publishing.com/series/atssh/icadce-22) PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE Research on the Construction of Female Images in Chinese Animated Films Xi Li1,* 1Jiangsu Vocational College of Business, Nantong, China ABSTRACT Nowadays, Chinese animated film has developed rapidly, and has made great progress in film expression, artistic form presentation, dynamic characterization of characters, etc. In addition, the female images in Chinese animated films have unique aesthetic characteristics and cultural connotation, and are changing with the development of the times. However, in recent years, there are few animated films with women as the main images. Besides, these animated films have the characteristics of simplification and stereotype in the shaping and construction of female images. Female image is an important part of animated films. By sorting out the female image characteristics in Chinese animated films, this study expounds the stereotyped creation phenomenon of animated films with female as the theme, analyzes the causes of the deviation of female image shaping, and explores the specific measures to construct diversified female images, in order to provide creation reference for the current animated films with the female as theme. ARTICLE DATA Article History Received 3 March 2022 Revised 13 March 2022 Accepted 24 October 2022 Keywords Animated film Female image Stereotype 1. INTRODUCTION With the rapid development of digital media technology and people's growing demand for spiritual culture, the film and television animation industry allover the world is booming today, and Chinese animation has also entered a new era of rapid development. From the enlightenment era of Chinese shadow puppetry to the first audio animation"Rickshaw Boy" created by Wan brothers in China, to the birth of the world-famous animation "The sky" in the middle of the 20th century, and then to "Nezha", which has entered the top five box office in Chinese film history, "Jiang Ziya" and "white snake" have begun to occupy a place in the film market, and the development of Chinese animation has entered a mature period. However, behind this prosperous scene, the lack of animated works with the female as theme cannot be ignored. Throughout Europe, America, Japan and South Korea, there are many animated films with female as theme, which are constantly enriched in image depiction, but also endowed with new value connotation, and continuously output and spread in the form of cultural symbols. However, development of Chinese animated films with female as theme in recent years presents the phenomenon of following a set routine. In addition, there are few animated films, and animated films have the characteristics of simplification and stereotype in female image and character. 2. CHARACTERISTICS OF FEMALE IMAGES IN CHINESE ANIMATED FILMS In the long development of Chinese animated films, films with women as the main images are not the mainstream of the whole film market, and do not occupy the main position in Chinese animated films. The female image characteristics in animated films are also more one-sided and unitary. First, female is the dependent image centered on patriarchy. Simone de Beauvoir pointed out in the book "The Second Sex" [1] : "It is the patriarchy of a woman staying at home, which determines that she is *[Corresponding author. Email:](Corresponding author. Email: yyxiong2022@163.com)[ yyxiong2022@163.com](Corresponding author. Email: yyxiong2022@163.com) © 2022 The Authors. Published by Athena International Publishing B.V. Th

FAQs

What is the focus of the study?

The study focuses on how female images are constructed in Chinese animated films and how stereotypes affect their portrayal.

What problems does the paper identify in recent female-themed Chinese animation?

It notes that there are few works with women as the main images and that portrayals often simplify and stereotype female characters.

How does the paper approach solving the stereotype issue?

It analyzes the causes of deviation in female-image shaping and explores specific measures for constructing more diversified female images.

Aug 20, 2026

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