In recent years, the world of animated storytelling has expanded beyond traditional borders, with Chinese donghua—animated series produced in China—gaining significant traction worldwide.
Titles like The King’s Avatar (aka Quan Zhi Gao Shou) and Haoliners Animation Studio‘s Tian Guan Ci Fu (aka Heaven Official’s Blessing) have not only captivated domestic audiences in China but are also attracting a growing international fanbase.
A fanbase that, in the last few years, has exploded in number and, in all likelihood, will only get bigger as donghua animators improve their craft.
After all, as streaming platforms like YouTube, Netflix and WeTV expand their donghua offerings, and as people on social media talk about it more, the popularity of donghua is only likely to rise.
So much so, my prediction is the next decade will be THE decade of the Chinese donghua, with Chinese animation soon overshadowing anime from Japan in its popularity.
Here are just a few obvious (to me, anyway) reasons why.
Engaging storytelling and unique themes
At the heart of many successful donghua are rich narratives that blend fantasy, adventure, and romance.
All things that appeal to a wide audience. But all done in a distinctly Chinese way.
The King’s Avatar, for instance, revolves around the competitive world of esports, a theme that is interesting to younger viewers globally.
The series explores themes of perseverance, teamwork, and the struggles of an underdog who has been hard done by. All of which makes the donghua relatable across cultures, while maintaining a distinct Chinese sensibility.
Similarly, Tian Guan Ci Fu features a richly woven narrative full of both Chinese mythology and moral dilemmas, drawing in viewers who appreciate both story depth and character development.
The donghua is also ‘Boys’ Love light’ — aka the censored Chinese version of a Boys’ Love story that originated in the hugely popular novel series of the same name — a genre that has the fastest growing fandom, and with the Chinese genre featuring the most unique stories.
These unique storytelling elements, soaked as they are with distinctly Chinese myths, legends and ways of thinking, cause donghua to be easily distinguishable from its Western and even Japanese counterparts.
This then offers fresh perspectives and diverse genres that are new to many international viewers.
That also means, as Hollywood becomes more and more “woke” and the content American companies produce suffers horribly because of it, more viewers will move away from Hollywood properties and, instead, look for unique content that deviates from the western norm.
Donghua is beautifully positioned to fill that gap.
Growing accessibility of donghua through streaming services
In just the last three or four years, the rise of streaming platforms has made it easier for international audiences to access donghua.
Services like Netflix and Crunchyroll, are increasingly incorporating Chinese animated series into their catalogs, while Chinese platforms Bilibili (VIP membership available on YouTube for $5,99 a month), YOUKU (currently $28.99 for a year) and Tencent Video (WeTV in America and the west) are now easily available to international audiences.
Netflix, for instance, has successfully promoted shows like The King’s Avatar, Tian Guan Ci Fu, The Daily Life of the Immortal King, Flavor of Youth, Scissor Seven, and Qi Refining for 3000 Years, which has led to increased interest and viewership outside China.
That convenience of streaming also not only allows fans to binge-watch their favorite shows, but also makes it easier to share content through social media, which boosts the visibility of donghua even more.
This accessibility has encouraged international audiences to explore and embrace donghua, creating a more diverse and dynamic animation landscape.
Throw in that, when Tencent Video (aka WeTV) offers a full year of all-you-can-binge donghua and Chinese dramas for under $55.99, it’s darned affordable too.
Cultural appeal and artistic aesthetics
Donghua often showcases unique art styles and cultural elements that can be both exotic and fascinating to viewers unfamiliar with Chinese culture.
I know when I first began watching them, I was blown away by the mythical creatures and exotic legends I had not heard of before.
The aesthetic choices in series like Tian Guan Ci Fu and Qi Refining for 3000 Years, with their beautiful character designs and intricate backgrounds, also attract fans of all ages.
Particularly as the blend of traditional Chinese art with modern animation techniques creates a visually stunning and unique experience that captivates audiences.
Sure, there is the typical and prettier 2D animation most anime fans are familiar with that clashes with the “uglier” 3D animation Chinese animation companies seem to prefer (“ugly” to many western eyes, at least), but even the visuals in that latter style of animation have been improving in leaps and bounds. (Look at the huge difference between the character models and backgrounds of Jade Dynasty from Season 1 to those of Season 2 for instance).
As globalization continues to increase curiosity about different cultures, and as Chinese animators’ skills become world-class, viewers will become even more eager to explore content that offers insights into Chinese traditions, philosophies, and narratives.
Particularly when it comes with a visually gorgeous aesthetic.
This cultural allure adds another layer to the appeal of donghua, making them an almost guaranteed obsession with much of the planet within the next decade.
After all, look at the rapid growth of Korean dramas.
Twenty years ago, only a tiny subset of viewers watched K-drama on a weekly basis. Now millions of people around the world can’t get enough to satisfy their curiosity and, on platforms like Netflix, they are some of their most-watched shows.
Such will soon be the case with donghua. I am convinced of that.
Strong fan communities and engagement
The rise of fan communities around donghua has also played a crucial role in their increasing popularity.
Platforms such as Reddit, Discord, and various international social media channels like X, Facebook and YouTube feature discussions about donghua, fan art, and fan fiction, allowing enthusiasts to easily talk about their passion with other like-minded fans.
The communal aspect also increases viewer engagement and helps to create a dedicated fanbase, which can boost a donghua series’ visibility massively.
Especially as much-loved donghua are then recommended to others in an online group, who go off and watch them themselves.
Just like Japanese anime, popular donghua even inspire merchandise, conventions and online events nowadays, fostering a vibrant culture that also helps attract new viewers.
As these communities continue to grow, they will help push the popularity of donghua to even more intense heights.
Success stories of just some of the many donghua so far
Several donghua have already made significant inroads into the global market, setting a precedent for future success.
Mo Dao Zu Shi (aka Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation) has become a huge donghua fan favorite. Not only for its captivating story and characters but also for its successful adaptation into various formats, including audio dramas and manhua (Chinese comics).
The series has gained even more popularity through fan translations of the Chinese novels (danmei) the donghua is based on, followed by legitimate publishers like Seven Seas Entertainment now publishing the volumes in English.
And selling boatloads of copies of them.
When you think about what will happen in the next 10 years, it’s pretty clear the popularity of Chinese donghua is on the brink of a global explosion.
With engaging storytelling, increasing accessibility through streaming platforms, cultural appeal, strong fan communities, and the success of other titles, donghua in the same vein as The King’s Avatar (which is superb, by the way, and available on WeTV), Tian Guan Ci Fu (brilliant and on Netflix), Soul Land (WeTV), Perfect World (WeTV), Bai Yao Pu (gorgeous and on Bilibili), Lian Qi Shi Wan Nian, and Thousand Autumns (on WeTV) are well-positioned to capture the hearts of viewers worldwide.
As this move towards Chinese donghua continues to happen at an enormously fast rate, the world of animation will become even more vibrant and diverse, with just one more way of telling fascinating stories added to its lexicon.
Me, I’m all for it as, in the last few years, donghua has become my most favorite anime genre yet.
Entertainment journalist covering Japanese and Chinese anime industry for a decade.
Favorite donghua — World of Immortals, A Will Eternal, The Demon Hunter, Perfect World, Battle Through the Heavens, Fabulous Beasts, Spy x Sect, Soul Land, Tales of Herding Gods, Heaven Officials’ Blessing, Qi Refining for 3000 Years.