Animation Design for Interpreting the Beijing Central Axis from a Cross-Cultural Communication

Abstract

In 2024, "Beijing Central Axis—A Masterpiece of the Ideal Capital Order in China" was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and the documentary Crafting Civilization: BEIJING CENTRAL AXIS aired on National Geographic, offering the first systematic interpretation of its cultural significance from the perspective of an international mainstream media outlet. To enhance global communication, the documentary incorporates more than twenty animated sequences. Using this production as a case study, this paper proposes an animation design method oriented toward cross-cultural communication. Drawing on cross-cultural communication models, it identifies the notion of "Shared Meaning Space" between creators and audiences and develops a dual-axis framework that coordinates visual and narrative strategies. The approach is validated through the production of Crafting Civilization: BEIJING CENTRAL AXIS, demonstrating that the "dual-axis & "Shared Meaning Space"method can foster cultural empathy and enhance the visibility and communicability of Chinese culture among international audiences.