Nezha Across Cultures: Language and Translation in Nezha (2019) and Nezha 2

The animated films Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child (2019) and its sequel, Nezha 2, have not only seen great box-office success in China but also gained global attention. The dialogues, rich in traditional Chinese culture, have captivated audiences worldwide. This paper uses the theories of domestication and foreignization to explore how these translation strategies affect the interpretation of characters and cultural significance by different audiences. It also examines the challenges translators face in preserving the language features and cultural implications of the original dialogues while effectively conveying the film’s messages to foreign audiences. By analyzing key lines from the films, this study highlights the role of translation strategies in cross-cultural communication.