Chinese animation has a prismatic history. In recent years, Chinese studios have been producing series at the same level of artistry as the best animation anywhere in the world. Dònghuà is the Mandarin term for all animation, regardless of visual style or national origin, but in the interest of specificity, animation produced in China should be described as dònghuà.
Although it draws influence from the visual design of Japanese anime, dònghuà has a narrative style unique to its Chinese origins. Themes of cultivation, chivalry, romance, and revenge are adorned with motifs inspired by Chinese historical eras.
Some of the most popular genres of dònghuà are wǔxiá, xiānxiá, and xuánhuàn. Wǔxiá means “martial heroes,” and tells the kinds of action-forward adventure stories seen in live-action martial arts cinema. Xiānxiá means “immortal heroes,” and as a counterpoint to wǔxiá, it incorporates elements of Chinese folklore like sorcery, ghosts, demons, and immortality. Xuánhuàn means “mysterious fantasy,” and describes stories that combine Chinese folkloric elements with non-Chinese environments and aesthetics. There is a dazzling array of Chinese animated series and films to choose from, but here are 10 of the best dònghuà!
10. Immemorial Love for You
Immemorial Love for You (爱在西元前 Ài Zài Xīyuán Qián) is a science-fiction romance based on the award-winning song “Love Before BC,” by Taiwanese singer Jay Chou. An extraterrestrial humanoid species arrive on Earth and construct the Tower of Babel as a means of returning home. But when a technical malfunction at the tower destroys their spaceship, the female protagonist Li Muzi is killed. The male protagonist Chu Qi stays on Earth, struggling to find another way home. Li Muzi reincarnates 2500 years later and the two are reunited.
The runtime of each episode is only 15 minutes, but this romantic drama spans spacetime. Although not officially subtitled in English yet, Immemorial Love for You is available on YouTube in the original Mandarin, or with French, Japanese, or Spanish subtitles.
9. The Demonic King Who Chases His Wife
In xiānxiá narratives, characters practice martial arts and mysticism to become more powerful and extend their lives in the hope of achieving immortality. This Taoist-inspired process is called “cultivation” and its practitioners are called “cultivators.” The Demonic King Who Chases His Wife (邪王追妻 Xié Wáng Zhuī Qī) is a beautiful—and sometimes hilarious—example of a cultivation story. This dònghuà follows the interactions of an assassin named Sū Luò who was reincarnated as the Fourth Miss of Su Manor, and Nangong Liuyun, the imperial highness of the Jin Empire. The clash of their stubborn sensibilities informs both their romantic interactions and their supernatural experiences. Watch it now on AnimeSuge or Zoro.
8. Adorable Food Goddess
Although the original title—萌妻食神 Méng Qī Shíshén—can be translated as “Cute Wife Who Is a God of Cookery,” the title has also been translated as Cinderella Chef. (But Adorable Food Goddess somehow sounds more like an animation!) Adapted from a web novel by Zǐ Yī 281, this effervescent celebration of cooking and eating is a historical romance with supernatural elements.
Ye Jiayao dies of accidental mushroom poisoning while cooking at home and is instantaneously reborn in ancient China as the bride Ye Jinxuan. But before she can even process what happened, she is kidnapped by bandits—the leader of whom is an undercover agent of the king. The adventure plot never obscures the romance, and the joyful tone will literally leave viewers hungry for more. Now streaming on Crunchyroll Premium.
7. Soul Land
Soul Land (斗罗大陆 Dòu Luō Dàlù) is based on the web novel of the same name by Táng Jiā Sān Shǎo. This 3D fantasy adventure begins when Tang San, a highly skilled member of a martial arts clan, is reincarnated on the Douluo Continent. Here, each denizen has an intrinsic spirit that grants them unique powers. Through a process of cultivation, they strive to become Spirit Masters. Tang San struggles to find his place at first, but using the knowledge he had acquired in his previous life gives him an advantage as a cultivator.
The environments are rendered in shimmering detail and the fluid movement of the characters is captivating. The story luxuriates in its magical combat, and although the plot sometimes languishes in extended fight scenes, the overall visual design is absolutely mesmerizing. English translation coming soon to Viki.
6. Zhen Dao Ge
This action adventure series balances 3D rigging and opaque colors for an animation style reminiscent of Star Wars Resistance, with earthy character designs populating detailed environments. While the title is not translated, it is truncated from the original Mandarin: 枕刀歌: 千里不留行 Zhěn Dāo Gē: Qiānlǐ Bù Liú Xíng, meaning Pillow Knife Song: Never Stay a Thousand Miles. The idea that the protagonist sleeps with a knife under his pillow is evident in every scene of this revenge story. When his family was betrayed and massacred by members of their own community, He Fangzhi survived by pretending to be dead. He then learns the martial arts forms that enable him to avenge his family. If you were transfixed by Code Geass or cheered at any point during Kill Bill, this is the dònghuà for you. Now streaming on 9anime.
5. Rakshasa Street
This supernatural action series is a perfect example of a xuánhuàn dònghuà. Adapted from the mànhuà Requiem Street by Xu Chen, Rakshasa Street (镇魂街 Zhèn Hún Jiē) is set in a contemporary urban environment where humans and ghosts co-exist, but only humans with guardian spirits can enter. A recent college graduate named Xia Ling is called for a job interview and ends up on Rakshasa Street, where she is soon surrounded by malevolent ghosts. Cao Yan Bing, the Requiem General of Rakshasa Street, saves her. From there, things become more complicated and more metaphysical, but the series balances its deliberate pace with explosive action and cute humor. Now streaming on Anime Planet.
4. Hitori no Shita: The Outcast
Hitori no Shita: The Outcast is an adaptation of the webcomic Under One Person (一人之下 Yīrén Zhī Xià), written by Dòng Màn Táng and illustrated by Mi Er. A Chinese-Japanese co-production, this contemporary wǔxiá is animated in a fluid 2D style reminiscent of the best Aniplex or Madhouse anime series.
While visiting his grandfather’s grave, a boy named Zhāng Chǔlán is assaulted by zombies. Fortunately for him, a girl named Féng Bǎo Bǎo appears in the cemetery and fends off the zombies with a kitchen knife. Chǔlán soon discovers that the martial arts technique he learned from his grandfather is being sought after by martial artists with suspicious motivations. Chǔlán travels through cemeteries and urban landscapes to uncover his grandfather’s history and his connection with Bǎo Bǎo.
Themes of familial bonds and inheritance are punctuated with supernatural motifs. Each episode presents a new mystery—and staggering fight choreography. Chengxi Huang, formerly a director for the Naruto sequel Boruto, animates sequences of martial arts action that will make you want to rewind those scenes over and over again. Now streaming on Crunchyroll Premium.
3. Heaven Official’s Blessing
Heaven Official’s Blessing (天官赐福 Tiān Guān Cì Fú) is based on the novel series by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù. The source material was published in 244 chapters, supplemented by five additional stories that span eight chapters beyond the foundational story. Even the mànhuà adaption is 89 chapters, so this dònghuà moves at a more literary pace than a lot of action-oriented animation. This is a series that requires attentive viewing. Fortunately, the ornate plot is presented with a clean yet robust animation style reminiscent of Avatar: The Last Airbender or The Legend of Korra, and a cinematic use of color, its world populated by a diverse cast of elegantly designed characters.
This historical romance story is both a xiānxiá and a dānměi—the Chinese term for boy’s love. Themes of cultivation and ascension (mastering your cultivation and becoming a god) are beautified with intimate moments between characters. The author once described herself as the kind of writer who “would write up an entire book just for a scene,” and it shows. Now streaming on Crunchyroll, Funimation and Netflix.
2. Fog Hill of Five Elements
More than any other animated series that immediately comes to mind, Fog Hill of Five Elements (雾山五行 Wù Shān Wǔháng) looks like a mànhuà come to life. Characters move like they were sketched directly onto the screen over painterly backgrounds, and the effect is exhilarating.
This xiānxiá is an original story that incorporates Chinese mythology, folklore, and history, from magical animals like the qilin to the five classical elements: fire, water, earth, wood, and metal. The titular Fog Hill is a sacred place where the five titles of Elemental Warriors can be earned, but naturally (supernaturally?) the sacred place is also populated by mythic monsters. The artfulness of this series and its meticulously rendered fight choreography make it a must-see-to-believe kind of dònghuà. Now streaming on 9anime.
1. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation
Yes, this is another dònghuà based on a series of novels by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù. And yes, it is absolutely stunning. If you only put one dònghuà series on your watchlist, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (魔道祖师 Mó Dào Zǔ Shī) would be an exquisite choice.
This xiānxiá series details the cultivation, death, and rebirth of a cultivator named Wèi Wúxiàn, who used forbidden methods to control the undead. When his spirit is summoned 13 years later, he is reincarnated into the body of a devastatingly attractive young man named Mò Xuányǔ, and soon becomes involved in an investigation into attacks committed by an undead assailant. He is then forced to reconcile with the ways in which the world changed while he was gone, and even more so with his true feelings for his fellow cultivator, the also devastatingly attractive Lán Wàngjī.
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation captures the intricately detailed world-building of the novels as well as the narrative elements of magic, mystery, and yes, more boy’s love. Watch with English subtitles on Dailymotion.
(featured image: Tencent Pictures / Haoliners Animation League / Wawayu Animation)
