The Research and Postgraduate Centre congratulates Prof. Dr. Wang Changsong from the School of Communication (SOC), Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), on recent publication of a research article in Animation, an AHCI Q1 journal with the latest impact factor of 0.5.

Ne Zha 2 is the highest-grossing animated film worldwide and the first film from an Asian country to break into the top five of the global box office. Centered on the Chinese mythological figure Ne Zha, the film has garnered acclaim for both its technical sophistication and powerful narrative design.

The article, entitled “Reimagining Myth and Ideology in Ne Zha 2: A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis”, examines how the animated film constructs and communicates ideological narratives. Drawing on apparatus theory and Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis (MCDA), the study investigates both the film's technical and institutional apparatuses and their roles in shaping its ideological meanings. Through an analysis of visual storytelling, character development, and the reinterpretation of Chinese mythology, the research explores the relationship between animation, ideology, and cultural representation in contemporary Chinese society. It also considers the role of Chinese animation in cultural translation and the international communication of cultural values.

The full article is available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/17468477261474069

Prof. Wang Changsong serves as the Dean of the School of Communication and the Director of the Centre for ASEAN and Chinese Screen Studies (CACSS) at XMUM. His research focuses on Asian cinema, Chinese film, and transnational media flows, with publications in both Chinese and English.