Cultural Identity and Collective Imagination: Exploring Community Aesthetics in Chinese National Animation

This paper examines the role of Chinese national animation in promoting cultural confidence and constructing a collective national identity through the lens of community (gong tong ti) aesthetics and John Fiske's three-level semiotic theory.By analyzing the reproduction of visual symbols, the integration of narrative structures, and the participatory dynamics of audience interaction, the study reveals how animated landscapes, narratives, and secondary dissemination collaboratively forge emotional, cultural, and spiritual communities.The research illustrates how traditional Chinese aesthetic forms are reinterpreted and modernized through digital technology, thereby revitalizing cultural memory and reinforcing national heritage.Case studies including Ne Zha, White Snake, Yang Jian and Deep Sea demonstrate that national animation serves not only as an innovative artistic medium but also as a mechanism for cultural inheritance and identity formation.Ultimately, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of how national animation facilitates cultural sharing and sustains an evolving collective imagination in the contemporary era.