Research on the Traditional Image Shaping and Communication Strategy of Sun Wukong under the Perspective of Cross Media

Abstract

As a significant symbol of traditional Chinese culture, the image of Sun Wukong has been continuously reconstructed across various media forms such as literature, theater, film, animation, and video games, resulting in a transmedia and multidimensional narrative identity. This paper draws upon theories of transmedia storytelling and digital communication to analyze the visual transformation and communication strategies of Sun Wukong’s image in digital animation and interactive games. It identifies current challenges such as the weakening of cultural connotation, difficulties in media adaptation, and the dominance of technology over narrative. Based on representative case studies, the paper further explores the renewal pathways of the Sun Wukong image in digital environments, and summarizes practical and expressive strategies suitable for today’s media ecology.