Abstract
This paper explores the role of voice in the transnational circulation and reception of Doraemon, focusing on the success of the 3DCG film STAND BY ME Doraemon (2014), which grossed 529 million RMB in China in 2015. In this film, Doraemon is voiced by Liu Chunyan, who also provided the character’s voice in the 1991 CCTV broadcast and is widely known as “Jin Guizi,” a beloved children’s program host. Her voice in STAND BY ME evokes strong “childhood memories” for many “adult” Chinese audiences, making her recasting a significant factor in the film’s emotional resonance.
The role of voice actors as mediators in transnational circulation of anime remains underexplored. This paper draws on the works of Miki Ishida’s (2020) and Rayna Denison (2017) on voice acting, the media theories of Thomas Lamarre’s (2018) and Alexander Zahlten (2019), and Koichi Iwabuchi’s concepts of “localization” (2001) and “inter-Asian referencing” (2017). It argues that dubbing does more than translate language—it shapes the reception of anime through the complex interplay of visual and auditory elements.
By examining Liu Chunyan’s dual role as both a voice actor and media personality, this paper demonstrates how her voice gains cultural meaning through its engagement with media platforms and audience memory. In doing so, it highlights the cultural and political significance of “voice” in the transnational circulation of anime, offering new insights into localization practices and media dynamics.
