Reconstructing Traditional Mythological Character Images in Animation Character Design from a Semiotic Perspective : Focusing on the Central Characters in the Chinese Animated Film Series ‘Ne Zha’

As the global animation industry continues to expand, the dual forces of technological advancement and market demand have posed new challenges for traditional mythological animation in balancing cultural continuity with contemporary relevance. Focusing on character design as a key entry point, this study aims to explore strategies for creative transformation. Drawing on semiotic theory, it constructs a three-tier analytical model—comprising the Real System, Denotative System, and Connotative System—and analyzes the symbolic evolution of Nezha and Ao Bing in China's 3D animated Nezha film series. The study finds that modern technology has overcome the limitations of traditional visual carriers; under the premise of preserving core cultural anchors, symbolic elements are reconstructed to align with contemporary narrative contexts; and the resulting value transformation fosters the integration of traditional culture with modern ideological expression. This research further proposes a threefold dynamic mechanism—“technological empowerment, symbolic reconstruction, and value reconfiguration”—to reveal the logic of cultural symbol reproduction. The mechanism offers a methodological framework for the modernization of myth-based animation and contributes theoretical insight into the creative regeneration of cultural symbols.