A Multidimensional Cognitive Analysis of Narrative Dimensions in Chinese Mythological Animation: Based on Grounded Theory and the CRITIC Method

In recent years, with the development of China's animation industry and growing confidence in national culture, mythological animated works have frequently emerged and received widespread acclaim.However, current research primarily focuses on narrative structure, stylistic analysis, or communication effects, with limited attention to the diverse cognitive mechanisms involved in audience reception.To address this gap, this study constructs an evaluation model for Chinese mythological animation narratives, aiming to enable multidimensional and quantitative analysis of audience cognitive preferences and the value of narrative elements.Employing a mixedmethod approach that integrates grounded theory and the CRITIC method, the study first identifies 15 core narrative dimensions-including narrative structure, cultural symbols, emotional resonance, and value significance-through semi-structured interviews and online text analysis.Subsequently, based on 432 valid questionnaire responses, the CRITIC method is applied to calculate the objective weights of each dimension in audience cognition, resulting in a multidimensional cognitive structure model.The findings indicate that the cultural symbols dimension holds the most significant importance (weight = 0.4420), significantly surpassing narrative rhythm (0.1891) and emotional engagement (0.2028), highlighting the audience's strong focus on cultural spatiality and symbolic reconstruction.This study not only addresses theoretical gaps in mythological animation research-particularly in quantifying perceptual experience and constructing interpretive paths-but also provides a practical and theoretically grounded evaluation tool for animation production and cultural dissemination, offering both academic and applied value.