ABSTRACT
Research into audiovisual translation (AVT) has grown significantly, yet the study of danmu, which comprises user-generated comments overlaid on audiovisual products, remains nascent. This study examines the reception of danmu, including both danmu commentary and danmu subtitling, among Chinese viewers on Bilibili through semi-structured interviews with 30 participants. A thematic analysis was performed to reveal the preferences and perceived effects of danmu on viewing comprehension,
and viewer’s perspectives on the future mechanism of danmu. The finding shows that most participants valued danmu for enhancing video understanding, especially through its interactive and real-time commentary but suggested improvements to its display and filtering features for better comprehension. While viewers appreciated danmu’s creative and collaborative nature, they were cautious about standardising it or integrating it into Western platforms, citing concerns over linguistic barriers and potential disruption of the viewing experience. This study offers practical suggestions for improving danmu on platforms like Bilibili, advocating for a balance between amateur presentation and standardisation to ensure co-viewing experiences and image clarity. It also provides a foundational understanding of danmu reception and encourages further research to explore its acceptance on other over-the-top (OTT) platforms, such as Netflix, for potential global adoption.
