Vivification in Subtitle Translation Based on Three-Dimensional Transformation<br>—A Case Study of Chinese Micro-Documentary <i>On</i> <i>the</i> <i>Tail</i> <i>of</i> <i>the</i

Under China’s “Go Global” strategy for its culture, subtitle translation in audiovisual works serves as a vital nexus for cross-cultural communication, with its quality profoundly shaping the construction of national cultural image. This study, based on the three-dimensional transformation principle of Eco-translatology, takes On the Tail of the Chinese Dragon, a cultural micro-documentary produced by China Media Group (CCTV), as a case study. It investigates how the translator amplifies the vividness and appeal of subtitles through adaptive selection across linguistic, cultural, and communicative dimensions, thereby rendering Chinese culture more accessible to and resonant with global audiences. Through interdisciplinary narrative techniques, such as multi-line storytelling and the intertwining of time and space, the documentary explores the historical origin and development of Chinese dragon culture, providing a new example for subtitle translation in cultural documentaries. This study aims to offer valuable insights into the practice of subtitle translation in audiovisual works.