Humphrey Yang

Chang An, the inaugural work of the "New Culture" series by Light Chaser Animation, offers a glimpse into the life stories of Tang Dynasty poets such as Gao Shi and Li Bai within the historical context of the dynasty's rise and fall. This animation piece effectively portrays the distinctive traits of Chinese literati, providing a collective character portrait. Diverging from the fantastical themes of "New Legends" and "New Gods," Chang An places a central focus on meticulously reconstructing historical details and narrating the intricate character-driven stories. Its underlying intent is to establish archetypal personalities and images representative of Chinese literati. Given this context, this paper employs a narratological perspective to delve into the process of character and image development of the literati in "Chang An," with an exploration of structural dynamics, binary narratives, and the interplay of imagery.