This article examines the social functions of Kazakh animation in the digital environment and its role in shaping the cultural identification of young people.

The aim of the study is to determine the potential of national animation in preserving and transmitting cultural values, revitalizing historical memory, forming value orientations, and engaging youth in digital cultural participation from a cultural-sociological perspective.

The relevance of the research is associated with the growing influence of digital media on the worldview and cultural experiences of young people, as well as the increasing importance of producing national content. The methodological framework includes qualitative content analysis, visual-semiotic analysis, and observation of audience activity across digital platforms. The analytical corpus consists of Kazakh animated works characterized by distinct folklore-based, historical, and value-oriented content. The findings demonstrate that the influence of Kazakh animation on youth is realized through three main mechanisms: emotional identification with national characters, recognition of linguistic and visual cultural codes, and participation in the production of cultural meanings through commenting, sharing, and reinterpretation of content in the digital environment. The study also reveals that the effectiveness of national content depends not only on thematic features but also on artistic quality, natural language use, sound design, visual aesthetics, and platform distribution strategies. The scientific novelty of the article lies in conceptualizing Kazakh animation as an independent social resource contributing to the cultural socialization and digital identification of youth.