Borrowed Narratives, Altered Values: Audiovisual Translation of Western Cartoons and Their Potential Implications for Arab Children’s Socio-cultural Perceptions

Abstract

Western cartoons dominate Arab children's entertainment via satellite channels and streaming platforms, carrying Western values, humour, and family dynamics that often diverge from Arab collectivist, faith-based traditions. Using a descriptive qualitative methodology, this study examines audiovisual translators as cultural mediators, analysing dubbed scenes depicting non-traditional family and gender roles, non-heteronormative relationships and identity disclosure, and normalised slapstick violence. Despite significant investment in translation, ideological content largely persists unchanged, raising questions about media institutions' responsibility toward cultural values. The study explores why Arabic media continues to adopt such content and the challenges translators face balancing fidelity with local relevance