Author(s): Zixuan Zhong

Abstract: Grounded in Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) and the multimodal metaphor framework, this study examines 58 valid multimodal metaphors identified in the 2023 Chinese animated film Deep Sea. Adopting a mixed-methods approach of quantitative statistics and qualitative case analysis, it categorizes the metaphors, describes their distributional features, and explores how pictorial, linguistic, and sonic modalities collaborate to construct metaphorical meaning. The findings show that ontological metaphors account for the largest proportion (52%), followed by structural and orientational metaphors (24% each). Pictorial modality serves as the fundamental carrier, while pictorial-linguistic and pictorial-linguistic-sonic combinations are the dominant realization patterns. The synergy of multiple modalities visualizes the protagonist’s inner psychological state and enhances audience empathy. This study extends the application scope of multimodal metaphor research to animated film discourse and provides cognitive insights for animation production and mental health communication.

Keywords: cognitive linguistics, multimodal metaphor, animated film, Deep Sea, conceptual mapping

Article Info: Received: 20 Aug 2026; Received in revised form: 17 Sep 2026; Accepted: 20 Sep 2026; Available online: 27 Sep 2026

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.115.25