Posthumanism in Recently Animated Adaptations of Chinese Literary Classics

Abstract

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, how can anthropocentric ideas be recognized? Can intelligent machines and cyborgs coexist peacefully with human beings? These questions give rise to a sense of crisis. As a result, the posthumanism topic intrudes continuously into contemporary literature, film, animation and other art forms. Since the release of the first Chinese animated feature film, Princess Iron Fan im 1941, Chinese animators have continued to adapt literary classics and Chinese classical literature has been an essential source for Chinese animation. In 2021, two highly representative animated films, Nezha Reborn and Green Snake, adapted from classical literature, expressed strong posthumanism ideas. This phenomenon should not be considered a coincidence but rather a kind of vigilance and reflection of the crises that humanity is facing.