A Study on the Character Design of ‘Catch! Teenieping’: Combining Emotional Personification and Abstraction

Abstract

We analyze the character design of the animation Catch! Teenieping from both semiotic and posthuman perspectives. Our study investigates how abstract concepts such as emotions, occupations, and desserts are visually embodied and anthropomorphized in character design for children’s media. We focused on how this visual system facilitates emotional identification and encourages expressive learning in young viewers. Through case analysis of characters like Hachuping and Owping, we explore the symbolic strategies that translate intangible values into relatable character traits. Our findings highlight the potential of emotional character design to support children’s emotional recognition and social interaction beyond passive media consumption. By integrating semiotic decoding and posthuman theory, we propose a new framework for understanding the educational and affective roles of character-driven content. This study contributes an original perspective to the field of character design by linking visual abstraction with emotional learning, and offers insights for future directions in content planning for emotionally resonant children’s media.