"Kung Fu Panda" attracts a large audience in China because it makes most of our audiences in China feel very cordial, and the scene layout, character design, plot handling and cultural details are full of China culture.
Scene: At the beginning of the film, all the audience are in a fairyland. One after another, the colorful Chinese paintings come into view, dotted with mountains, dotted with farmland, antique oriental buildings, misty clouds, green mountains and green waters, pavilions, erhu, flute and other unique background music, so that each picture exudes the poetry and charm of oriental art, and then presents a life atmosphere in the noisy small market with a stroke of a pen: buns, noodles, steamed bread. People: In the choice of characters, the panda is a symbolic animal of China and a national treasure of China, which undoubtedly bears the brand of China. Master Oogway is an elder who understands the way of heaven and man and understands everything in the world. In addition, the animated images such as monkey, crane, snake, tiger and mantis and the corresponding boxing patterns also reflect the martial arts culture with the most China characteristics. Unique figure design contains rich cultural connotations.
Plot: In the plot, Kung Fu Panda seems to be an imitation of China's martial arts films. A chivalrous man with unparalleled martial arts betrayed the master's legacy and became a villain, while another apprentice, through growth and experience, assumed the responsibility of fighting the wicked to save the people. This story frame is very similar to the story of China's martial arts films. Many kung fu applications in movies can be found in China Wushu. The skill of climbing over the eaves is very common in many martial arts films. Fighting with chopsticks is a unique plot in China's martial arts films. The method of practicing with water tank is also quite characteristic of China. Even the footage of Po accidentally becoming the Dragon Warrior reflects the adventure and fate of China's martial arts. The characters and plot design of the film show the charm and mystery of China's martial arts films.
Culture: When Po looked forward to opening the martial arts secret book, he found it was blank. This is also a true portrayal of "winning without tricks" pursued by martial arts masters. This plot also echoes the secret of Po's father's cooking. "The real secret is nothing." . A simple sentence tells the mystery, which is quite a Taoist realm of "the Tao is nameless" and "the image is invisible". Cultural connotations like this are everywhere. Master Oogway once said that "the state of mind is like water, it is hard to see when the water ripples, but it will be crystal clear when it is calm", which is tantamount to Fan Zhongyan's life realm of "not being happy with things, not being sad for himself".
The idea that runs through the whole film is tantamount to the spirit of "benevolence and righteousness" and is the essence of Confucianism. Taro is a master's favorite pupil because of his strong martial arts. However, he violated benevolence and morality, violated the law and killed innocent people for his own benefit. These behaviors doomed him not to become the Dragon Warrior, because the result of China Kung Fu competition is often that martial arts practice is more important than moves. Seemingly clumsy and dull appearance, Po's honest and kind behavior of eliminating violence, punishing evil and promoting good are all acts of benevolence and righteousness, which coincides with Confucianism.
The American Cultural Connotation of Kung Fu Panda
American culture emphasizes a kind of heroism and spirit of struggle. They believe that through hard work and struggle, they can realize their ideals and reach the peak through their courage and determination. This essentially embodies an inspirational thought, and this process shows the realization of an American dream.
The American dream in western countries basically refers to the story of grassroots people realizing their ideals through unremitting efforts and struggles. The hero of Kung Fu Panda is not a big shot, but a lazy and willful ordinary panda. Maybe we can see some minor faults in daily life in him. This clearly reflects the grassroots nature of the protagonist. But it is such a little-known person who, through his own efforts, has become a great hero who saved the whole life. Coincidentally, Po became the heir of the Dragon Warrior. Since then, although he was not recognized by the master and disciples, and even ridiculed by them, after listening to the persuasion of "grasping the present", he resolutely persisted, bravely defeated himself, took responsibility, and finally realized his ideal. This is a story about growth and success told by Kung Fu Panda, and it is an inspirational story from a civilian to a hero. This theme is a classic theme of Hollywood movies, which is successfully expressed by using China elements, just like a giant panda growing up in the United States, performing American spirit and humor.
Enlightenment from Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is a typical representative of the integration of Chinese and western cultures. Through the interpretation and understanding of China culture, making full use of China elements, taking the panda, the national treasure of China, as the core, this paper shows the legendary story with American spirit in the style of ink painting, and also shows the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. From characterization to scene selection, from story structure to detail setting, the film embodies the breath of China culture and shows the unique style of China. Therefore, we can say that Kung Fu Panda is a western art wrapped by China culture.
The creation of this work of art is closely related to American culture. American culture is diverse and inclusive, and it embraces all cultures in the world, which also inspires us to think that an exotic cultural element can also be the material and source of our national artistic creation. At this point, Kung Fu Panda has made a good attempt and exploration. Therefore, it is also necessary for us to study and learn different cultures. We should learn to explore and use the cultural elements of other countries' national values for planning, package artistic works with their own cultural and ideological connotations, and display and publicize them in the form that other countries like, so that the programs can be accepted by the broad audience while spreading the essence of Chinese culture. From the perspective of artistic creation and cultural development, this is positive and meaningful. Kung Fu Panda is the result of the collision, exchange and integration of Chinese and western cultures, and it is a manifestation of progress. At the same time, facing the invasion and challenge of western culture, the understanding and recognition of China culture also proves the cultural influence and national charm of China culture with a long history and profound connotation. Many philosophical and moral languages in Kung Fu Panda are closely related to China's Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Such a successful American cartoon can make full use of the cultural connotation of China, which is an innovative move. With rich cultural heritage and profound cultural accumulation, we should show our unique side with the spiritual connotation of our nation. What is national belongs to the world, and our nation has its own characteristics. Only with its own characteristics will it not be replaced or submerged. No matter what elements and ways are used to express a film, its spirit is irreplaceable by other nations. The history of the United States is only more than 200 years, but this has not hindered their artistic creation, because their creation is not limited to the cultural accumulation brought by more than 200 years of history. It is good at extracting materials from various cultures, using various elements to express them, regardless of region and nationality, so as to create its own national film and television works.
In Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu, acupuncture, calligraphy, chopsticks, firecrackers, buildings, pavilions and pavilions are all unique elements in China, but they are enriched by Hollywood's three-dimensional animation technology, which shows both the signs of cultural integration and the performance of cultural core. China has a long history and rich cultural connotations. Therefore, our film and television artistic creation in China should constantly make use of various cultures, enrich expression techniques, tap national characteristics and spread the cultural essence of our nation. If we can fully tap the cultural resources of our nation, penetrate the spiritual connotation of our nation, and integrate the elements that westerners like to see and hear, and form a comprehensive understanding of culture, then we will also create film and television works that people all over the world like to see and hear.