Excellent Chinese animated films and series to get acquainted with donghua.
Despite the relationship between Chinese and Japanese animation, they are two very different phenomena. Japanese anime is more universal and therefore more exportable, while donghua – Chinese anime – is very much focused on its own mythology and culture.
This makes it difficult to break into the international market, but it also helps because Chinese animators have something fresh and original to offer.
1. The Daily Life of the Immortal King, 2020-...
Since birth, Wang Ling has possessed incredible spiritual power. He has developed his abilities so much that he was able to defeat a powerful demon at the age of six.
At the same time, everyone is sure that the popular hero Zhuo Yi accomplished this feat because Wang Ling hides his gift. Now that he has entered college, he still remains in the shadows, and his classmates consider him a rather weak magician.
Only the principal and Zhuo Yi understand how strong this boy is. But he cannot hide forever: every day brings challenges.
2. The Founder of Diabolism, 2018-2021
There are sorcerers who help people get rid of evil spirits and demons. They study this skill for a long time, devoting much time to self-improvement and must follow the right path.
Wei Wuxian suspects that the power can be drawn not only from one's own spiritual strength, but also from dark energies such as envy, anger, and other negative emotions. His peers condemn him for this, and one day, during a major battle, he dies in combat.
After 13 years, the villager Mo Xuanyu summons Wei Wuxian into his body. Reborn into a new life, the mage embarks on a journey to uncover the circumstances of his death.
3. The Legend of Hei, 2019
The wild forest spirit kitten Xiaohei loses his home when humans cut down trees for their needs. The baby is forced to wander the city, stealing food and running away from evil bullies.
One day, he meets a fellow spirit named Feng Xi, who offers him a new home – a cozy forest shelter. But the very next morning, Xiaohei loses his newfound family to the invasion of the magician Wuxian.
The calm and silent Wuxian takes little Hei with him, who stubbornly tries to escape in search of Feng Xi, but cannot get rid of his new companion's care.
4. Rakshasa Street, 2016-...
Xia Ling wanders around the city looking for work. One night, she receives a message inviting her to an interview, and while searching for the right address, she ends up in a street she has never been to before.
Here she is attacked by strange creatures, from which she is rescued by a man named Cao. He introduces himself as the General of Souls, and the street where they met is the Street of Demons, which connects the spirit world and the human world.
Restless souls live here, and some of them get tired of waiting for their turn in the afterlife. So they turn into evil spirits and attack living people.
5. The King's Avatar, 2017-...
All Ye Xiu can do in his life is play the computer game Glory. He has been a professional gamer for ten years and was the captain of one of the most successful guilds, winning the game three times.
Now that the team has started to lose, Ye Xiu is fired and his account is confiscated. He gets a job at an Internet cafe and starts to build a new account from scratch.
He acts anonymously, and those around him are amazed at how powerful he starts, demonstrating extraordinary skills. Of course, soon the players begin to understand what a legendary person is behind the new player nicknamed Lord Grim.