From "Snake Banshee" To "Snake Woman":a Study On The Image Of "Snake Female" In Chinese Animation Works

There is no shortage of excellent characterizations in Chinese animation,each of which represents the characteristics of the same genre and carries the projection of the wishes of creators and viewers in the real world.The "snake female",born in the imagination,is a special and common image in Chinese animation,and its wide and distinctive range of images has formed a universal impression in the minds of viewers.From the distinctive and prominent golden snake spirit in the early paper-cut animation Hulu Brothers,which is a typical demon image,to the beautiful and noble Medusa Queen in the series Fights break sphere broadcast in 2017,the image of "snake female" is constantly evolving and adding new artistic concepts or features.In the animated film Green Snake released in 2021,the image of the "snake female" Xiao Qing was also liked by many audiences,and is an extremely rich and realistic image.The image of the "snake female" in Chinese animation has evolved to a brave and straightforward "heroine" like Xiao Qing.This dissertation analyzes the pattern of changes behind the image of the "snake female" from the perspectives of her appearance,character and fate.This paper discusses the origin of the image of the "snake woman" in China,and analyzes the evolution of the image of the "snake female" in Chinese animation texts.Based on the comprehensive artistic characteristics of animation itself,the image of "snake female" is regarded as a comprehensive image of character and destiny with the visual image as the main means of modeling.Through the analysis of typical cases,the following rules of evolution can be drawn: First,in terms of stylistic features,the image of "snake female" is diversified,popular and highly anthropomorphic.The shape of the character is close to that of a real woman,no longer only in the fixed form of human head and snake body.Costumes also show a trend of more simple,fashionable and lifelike design;colors are weakly symbolic,no longer deliberately using large blocks of color to lay out the "snake female" image,but integrating realistic design into it.The snake tail of the golden snake spirit has rarely appeared in the current mainstream "snake female" role,Green Snake small green often into human form,dressed in simple modern clothes in multiple colors,has no difference with ordinary people.Secondly,in the change of character,the image of "snake female" breaks the stereotype and favors a more humane and realistic characterization,and also integrates the contemporary human dilemma into the amorous character of "snake female",presenting a more modern character.While White Snake tells the love story,the kindness,bravery,wandering and sanity of Xiao Bai are expressed in multiple layers.In "Green Snake",Xiao Qing is no longer the flawless heroic figure as she demonstrates the confusion of a modern girl facing emotions on her adventure.Thirdly,the theme of fate changes,gradually becoming the protagonist with the right to speak about fate,and from the tragic context that was difficult to escape from in the early days,there is a gradual trend of autonomous awakening and wanting to escape from the tragic fate.In the series The Legend of Qin(2007),the female snake is deeply helpless due to her destiny,but in White Snake and Green Snake,the female snake struggles bravely to protect her emotions and fate.The image of the "snake female" in Chinese animation has been changing all the way,showing the overall pattern of change from "snake banshee" to "snake woman".The gradually prosperous and open cultural atmosphere makes the story background and character setting of "snake female" easier and more realistic,and the image is more integrated into the contemporary cultural context;under the trend of innovation in animation technology,the pursuit of physical wonders makes the "snake female" shape More realistic;the continuous awakening of female consciousness enables the "snake female" in Chinese animation to enrich the interpretation of multiple emotions from a female perspective.The humanized return of "snake female" in Chinese animation reflects the more diverse plasticity of the image of "snake female" sprouting in the origin of Chinese traditional culture under the animation art style.