A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF YOUNG ADULTS’ ACCEPTANCE OF CHINESE OPERA ANIMATED FILMS BASED ON EXPECTATION CONFIRMATION THEORY AND CULTURAL IDENTITY

Abstract

Chinese opera animation represents a culturally rich yet highly stylized media form, whose acceptance among young adult audiences remains insufficiently explained at the level of psychological mechanisms. Existing studies have primarily emphasized cognitive evaluation, with limited attention to the roles of emotional resonance and cultural identity in shaping sustained engagement.  To address this gap, this study conducts a systematic literature review of 93 publications retrieved from CNKI, Scopus, and ProQuest (2005–2025). Using bibliometric analysis and thematic synthesis, the study identifies key constructs underlying audience acceptance and develops an integrated conceptual framework grounded in Expectation–Confirmation Theory (ECT).  The findings suggest that audience acceptance follows a dual-path process. The cognitive–evaluative path explains how expectation confirmation generates satisfaction, forming the basis for acceptance. The identity-based path demonstrates how viewing experiences foster cultural identity, transforming evaluative satisfaction into sustained engagement. Based on these relationships, this study proposes the Expectation–Identity Integration Model (EIIM), which integrates cognitive evaluation and identity construction within a unified framework.  This study contributes in three ways. First, it extends ECT into culturally embedded media contexts by incorporating cultural identity as a post-viewing mechanism. Second, it develops an integrated model explaining audience acceptance through both cognitive and identity-based pathways. Third, it provides a theoretically grounded framework to inform future empirical research and the design of culturally resonant animated content.