Chan Aesthetics in Chinese Animation

This study investigated the integration of Chan aesthetics into Chinese animation from the 1920s to the present, analysing its impact on national style and artistic expression. By exploring selected works from the Shanghai Animation Film Studio (SAFS: 1960s–1980s), the contemporary animated film Nezha: The Demon Child (2019), and the works of independent animation artist Ye Youtian (2013–2014), this research considers how Chan aesthetics manifest through traditional cultural elements, audiovisual techniques, narrative structures, and modern thematic explorations. The findings revealed that Chan aesthetics not only reinforce the national style of Chinese animation, consciously or unconsciously, but also serve as a philosophical framework that sustains the dynamic evolution of the national style. As Chinese animation continues to adapt to modernization and global influences, the enduring relevance of Chan aesthetics offers valuable insights into the interplay among tradition, innovation and national identity in the medium for artists and researchers.