This chapter examines how the diffusion of Chinese animation has been transformed by the rise of New Media and digital convergence. It begins with the rapid expansion of internet connectivity and mobile technologies, which positioned video consumption at the center of Chinese digital culture. The chapter traces the emergence of web-based and mobile animation, noting the early popularity of Flash works and the gradual rise of online platforms that enabled short-form, serialized, and user-generated content. Platforms such as Bilibili, Youku, Tencent Video, and Douyin reshaped the circulation of animation by combining distribution, fan participation, and monetization. Case studies, including Miss Puff, illustrate how independent creators leveraged the web to reach audiences outside state-controlled frameworks, while the growth of fan networks and grassroots practices expanded participatory cultures. The chapter also addresses mobile-first design, distributed animation (Màn dònghuà), and the integration of comics, games, and short videos into convergent ecosystems. By the mid-2020s, Chinese animation was embedded in a consolidated digital economy where streaming platforms, interactive formats, and e-commerce defined consumption. These dynamics demonstrate that New Media not only broadened access and accelerated circulation but also reconfigured the industrial and aesthetic boundaries of Chinese animation.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

New Media Diffusion and Digital Convergence

  • Vincenzo De Masi

摘要

This chapter examines how the diffusion of Chinese animation has been transformed by the rise of New Media and digital convergence. It begins with the rapid expansion of internet connectivity and mobile technologies, which positioned video consumption at the center of Chinese digital culture. The chapter traces the emergence of web-based and mobile animation, noting the early popularity of Flash works and the gradual rise of online platforms that enabled short-form, serialized, and user-generated content. Platforms such as Bilibili, Youku, Tencent Video, and Douyin reshaped the circulation of animation by combining distribution, fan participation, and monetization. Case studies, including Miss Puff, illustrate how independent creators leveraged the web to reach audiences outside state-controlled frameworks, while the growth of fan networks and grassroots practices expanded participatory cultures. The chapter also addresses mobile-first design, distributed animation (Màn dònghuà), and the integration of comics, games, and short videos into convergent ecosystems. By the mid-2020s, Chinese animation was embedded in a consolidated digital economy where streaming platforms, interactive formats, and e-commerce defined consumption. These dynamics demonstrate that New Media not only broadened access and accelerated circulation but also reconfigured the industrial and aesthetic boundaries of Chinese animation.