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The Evolution of Cartoon Images of Pandas in Western Media: A Multimodal Analysis



Author(s)

YANG Yijia

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DOI:10.17265/2328-2177/2025.04.006

Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

Applying visual grammar theory, this study examines representational, interactive, and compositional meanings of the giant panda in Western media cartoons related to China from 1999 to the present. Distinct phases in the panda’s representation were identified and illustrated by cases of cartoons in major Western media. These phases trace shift of panda cartoon image from a symbol of peace and friendliness to a politicized emblem of China’s international stance. Key visual trends, such as transitivity, color symbolism, scale enlargement, and increasing compositional complexity, embody the panda’s role in shaping China’s global image and its function in international discourse. These trends reflect the panda’s transformation into a contested symbol, which mediates between China’s self-representation and Western perceptions of its geopolitical rise. By situating the analysis within the context of China’s growing global influence, this study contributes to visual and media studies, demonstrating how cultural symbols are recontextualized to reflect and shape geopolitical narratives.

multi-modal analysis, visual grammar theory, Western media, panda cartoon image