Chinese Animation Industry: Historical, Economic and Cultural Perspective

近年来，中国动画凭借其在技术制作和商业能力方面的显著发展，吸引了国际社会的关注。本论文旨在描绘中国动画产业从20世纪至今的转型，并将其发展置于这一转型时期中国所经历的经济、社会、文化和政治变迁之中。 本研究围绕三个主要领域展开：中国动画的历史发展、当代动画产业的特征与转型，以及其内容的主题与表现形式。论文特别关注数字化、快速的经济发展以及国家参与对产业体系的影响，同时也着重探讨政治、文化和经济因素如何影响中国动画创作者所创作的叙事内容。 本研究采用历史资料以及有关当代中国动画领域的学术研究，并在论文的最后一部分辅以新闻报道和中文网络资料。因此，论文最终以牛来的案例研究作为结尾。这部近期的电影及媒体现象，为考察贯穿本研究所讨论的历史、产业和文化因素之间的互动提供了一个机会。通过这一方法，本论文旨在概述中国动画的发展演变，同时进一步深入理解其当代形式、产业动态以及日益增强的国际可见度。

In recent years, Chinese animation has attracted international attention due to its remarkable developments in both technical production and commercial capabilities. The objective of this thesis is to portray the transformation of the Chinese animation industry from the 20th century to the present, situating its development within the economic, social, cultural, and political changes undergone by China during this transformative period. The research is structured around three main areas: the historical development of Chinese animation, the characteristics and transformation of the contemporary animation industry, and the themes and forms of representation of its content. Particular attention is devoted to the impact of digitalization, the rapid economic development, and state involvement on the industry system. The focus is also placed on the ways in which political, cultural, and economic factors have influenced the narratives produced by Chinese animators. The analysis uses historical sources as well as academic research on the contemporary Chinese animation sector, complemented by journalistic and Chinese-language web sources for the final section of the work. The thesis thus concludes with a case study of 牛来 Niú Lái, a recent movie and media phenomenon which provides an opportunity to examine the interaction between the historical, industrial, and cultural factors discussed throughout the study. Through this approach, the thesis aims to provide an overview of the evolution of Chinese animation while also providing a deeper understanding of its contemporary forms, industry dynamics, and growing international visibility.