Scientometric Analysis of Audience Engagement in Animation: Research Trends and Thematic Evolution

Abstract

While the behavioral and psychological aspects of audience engagement in animation are well documented, limited research has focused on the early forms of interaction. This study provides a comprehensive scientometric analysis to address these gaps, emphasizing underexplored early-stage interactions.This study presents a comprehensive scientometric analysis of audience engagement in animation, emphasizing underexplored early social media interactions and spontaneous audience responses. It aims to fill existing research gaps by identifying trends and mapping thematic evolution through co-citation and keyword co-occurrence analysis.Key literature was collected from the Web of Science database, and co-citation and keyword co-occurrence networks were analyzed to map the evolution of research on audience engagement and identify major themes. The study also examined research networks involving authors, journals, countries, and institutions. By analyzing 394 publications, 50 unique co-citation clusters were identified, and five main research areas were highlighted: technological tools, interaction design, immersive experiences, audience behavior, and personalized recommendations. In recent years, research has increasingly focused on virtual reality, artificial intelligence, immersive experiences, and emotional connections. The findings provide insights for future research and industry practices.