I Am What I Am: Construction and Expression of Chinese “Romance” in Animated Movies

Abstract

From NEZHA: Birth of the Demon Child to Monkey King: Hero is Back, from White Snake to the current hit I Am What I Am, all animated movies are talking about Chinese romance, which is full of Chinese traditional culture and national spirit, filled with Chinese mythological universe and ordinary world. Taking I Am What I Am as the object of study, this paper analyzes the customs and human feelings in traditional culture and personal energy in modern culture from its text symbols, narrative plot and emotional spirit, so as to explore the differences between I Am What I Am and previous animated movies about gods, demons and monsters, and then conclude its more grounded "ordinary and extraordinary" Chinese romance.