Editorial丨Cultural understanding helps movie's success

Disney'sZootopia 2 has been a huge success in the Chinese mainland, raking in more than 3.8 billion yuan ($539.69 million) at thebox office as of Sunday afternoon, making it the second-highest-grossing Hollywood film of all time in the mainland market—only beaten to the top spot by Avengers: Endgame. The movie's cumulative box office receipts in the Chinese mainland nearly double those for North America and account for nearly half its worldwide total, underscoring China's role as a major player in the global cinema landscape. With a vast and engaged audience base, the potential for growth is immense.

迪士尼动画《疯狂动物城2》在中国大陆取得巨大成功，截至上周日下午票房已突破38亿元人民币（约合5.3969亿美元），成为该地区有史以来票房第二高的好莱坞电影——仅次于《复仇者联盟4：终局之战》。该片在大陆地区的累计票房几乎是北美票房的两倍，占全球票房近半数，彰显了中国在全球电影市场中的重要地位。中国凭借庞大且热情的观众群体，其增长潜力巨大。

Zootopia 2's appeal to Chinese audiences was enhanced by Disney's engagement initiatives. Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia-themed area, inspired by the first film, celebrated its second anniversary on Saturday. It is the world's only Zootopia-themed destination.

《疯狂动物城2》对中国观众中的吸引力因迪士尼的互动推广活动而增强。全球唯一以动物城为主题的游乐园区上海迪士尼乐园的动物城主题园区——其设计灵感源自首部电影——于上周六迎来两周年庆典。

Walt Disney Animation Studio also deliberately included Chinese cultural elements, such as characters representing the Chinese zodiac signs, in thesequel. One of the film's pivotal new characters is Gary De'Snake. Jared Bush, Disney Animation's chief creative officer, emphasized the character was introduced specifically to appeal to the Chinese audience: "We knew this was the Year of the Snake and we wanted the movie to come out the same year for sure." The story of protagonist Judy Hopps leaving her small town and finding success in the big city alsoresonates deeply with Chinese audiences at a time of rapid urbanization.

华特迪士尼动画工作室还特意在续集中融入了中国文化元素，例如代表中国生肖的动物角色。影片新增的关键角色之一是名叫盖瑞的蛇。迪士尼动画首席创意官杰拉德·布什强调，这个角色正是为吸引中国观众而设计：“我们知道今年是蛇年，所以坚持要让电影在同一年上映。”主角朱迪·霍普斯离开小镇、在大城市取得成功的故事情节，也深深触动了正经历快速城市化进程的中国观众。

Moreover, the adaptation of the film's script to accommodate Chinese cultural nuances and humor ensured that the story and its jokes got through to Mandarin-speaking audiences, which highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and understanding.

此外，电影剧本为适应中国文化特色和幽默风格所做的改编，确保了故事及其笑点能精准传达给普通话观众，这凸显了文化敏感度与理解力的重要性。

The Chinese mainland market's irreplaceable contribution to Zootopia 2's global box office success is indicative of a broader trend where Hollywood films increasingly rely on international markets for their financial success. As noted by observers, China's massive consumer base and its openness to both domestic and imported films create a unique environment for cinematic success. The market's capability to nurture high-grossing films challenges the notion that it is turning away from Hollywood films. Instead, quality andcultural resonance continue to be the key factors determining whether films will be a hit or not with Chinese audiences.

中国大陆市场对《疯狂动物城2》全球票房取得佳绩有着不可替代的贡献，揭示了好莱坞影片日益依赖国际市场实现商业成功的普遍趋势。正如观察人士所指出的，中国庞大的消费群体以及对国产与进口影片的开放态度，共同构筑了独特的电影成功环境。该市场培育高票房影片的能力，正挑战着“中国市场正疏远好莱坞影片”的论调。事实上，影片质量与文化共鸣度始终是中国观众决定影片成败的核心要素。

As Hollywood looks to the future, the importance of understanding and engaging with the Chinese market cannot be overstated. The success of Zootopia 2 may chart the course ahead for future collaborations between Hollywood and Chinese filmmakers. By incorporating culturally relevant elements and engaging in meaningful localization, studios can create films that resonate with Chinese moviegoers, which will not only enhance their box office performance, but also foster cultural exchanges and understanding between the two countries.

好莱坞展望未来之际，理解并开拓中国市场的重要性不言而喻。《疯狂动物城2》的成功或将为好莱坞与华语电影人的未来合作指明方向。通过融入文化共鸣元素并开展深度本土化，制片方能打造出深受中国观众喜爱的影片，这不仅能提升票房表现，更能促进两国间的文化交流与相互理解。

Indeed, films such as Zootopia 2 can help bridge the emotional andperceptual gaps between the Chinese and American people, especially amid political and trade tensions. They serve as a medium for mutual understanding and appreciation of their different cultures. By showcasing shared values, such as friendship, perseverance and justice, these films highlight common human experiences that transcend national boundaries. Respect and acknowledgement of cultural diversity can also help foster a sense of inclusion and connection, thus reducing stereotypes and misconceptions that often fuel animosity.

诚然，诸如《疯狂动物城2》这类影片有助于弥合中美民众在情感认知上的鸿沟，尤其在政治与贸易紧张局势下，它们成为促进彼此理解、欣赏不同文化的媒介。通过展现友谊、坚韧与正义等共同价值观，这些影片突显了超越国界的普世人性体验。尊重并认可文化多样性，还能促进包容感与联结感，从而减少那些常助长敌意的刻板印象与误解。

In a world where political narratives often erect barriers between nations, cultural exchanges such as those facilitated by Zootopia 2 offer a powerful counterbalance, promoting understanding and collaboration.

在一个政治叙事常在国家间筑起壁垒的世界里，《疯狂动物城2》所促成的文化交流提供了强有力的平衡力量，促进了理解与合作。

China has become a critical market for cinematic success. Apart from Zootopia 2, Ne Zha 2, the domestic animated hit from the Spring Festival holiday, was also a global sensation. Its 15.4 billion yuan box office revenue is the highest gross ever for an animated film worldwide. This indicates China's massive consumer base remains capable of lifting films to heights unmatched anywhere else. And this is not only true of movies.

中国已成为电影成功的关键市场，除了《疯狂动物城2》，春节档本土动画大片《哪吒之魔童降世》也引发全球轰动。《哪吒之魔童降世》154亿元的票房收入创下全球动画电影最高纪录，这表明中国庞大的消费群体仍能将电影推向无与伦比的高度。而这种现象不仅限于电影领域。

Through thoughtful collaboration and cultural exchange, both China and the US can enrich their cinematic landscapes, creating a more interconnected and culturally aware audience.

通过深思熟虑的合作与文化交流，中美两国都能丰富各自的电影景观，从而培养出更具联结意识和文化认知力的观众群体。

box office

票房

sequel

n./ˈsiː.kwəl/

续集

cultural resonance

n./ˈrez.ən.əns/

文化共鸣

resonate

v./ˈrez.ən.eɪt/

使…产生共鸣

perceptual gaps

adj./pɚˈsep.tʃu.əl/

认知鸿沟