The Application of Digital Technology in Mural Preservation: A Case Study of Dunhuang Animation

With the development of digital technology, the rich culture, outstanding artworks and Buddhist resources in Dunhuang MogaoGrottoes are being presented to the public in a unique form. Among them, the creative method of integrating mural elements with artistic styles and applying them to animation works has attracted wide attention. This kind of animation technology can not only restore the mural heritage of Mogao Grottoes more vividly, but also greatly innovate the presentation of mural art. It is a new platform and an important medium for displaying and disseminating Dunhuang art heritage to the world. The differences in the animated presentations of Dunhuang murals typically reflect the advantage of animation technology. It embodies a new way of thinking in the digital development and innovation of Chinese murals. This paper traces the origins of Chinese mural art and explores the application and development of digital technology in the protection of murals. Furthermore, it discusses the integration and dissemination paths of digital technology and animation innovation and provides specific examples for comparative analysis. Through the comparative analysis of the original murals of the traditional Dunhuang mural “A Deer of Nine Colors (Bensheng)” and “Sacrificing Himself to Feed Tigers” and their corresponding animation works in terms of the mural backgrounds, the animation creation context, animation design, and narrative structure, this paper explores the differences in technology, dissemination methods and effects of the two. At the same time, to extend this background, this paper reviews the current development status of mural animation creation in China and puts forward feasible suggestions. This approach not only provides a new creative perspective for the scalability of future works but also contributes positively to the digital protection and inheritance of a series of mural paintings. Keywords: Dunhuang murals; Digital animation; Artworks creation; Digital inheritance