Luo Xiao Hei Zhan Ji

While the term "anime" is known to be an animated show produced in Japan, there is a wide range of items it may refer to. Another section it may be referring to is the most definitely overlooked part of animation, donghua, more likely known as Chinese animation.

Since it was produced in China, not Japan, it may have not gained as much attention, while it deserves no less than others. Here are a few you might want to check out!

Note that this list includes the main seasons, not side stories.

Wholesome plot, wholesome characters for a feel-good read

It can be an anime about cats or just feature one cat. Also: not exactly a house cat but any kind of feline.

Largest groups (1-50):
1. Pokemon - 186🥇🔺
2. Holo no Graffiti - 156🥉🔺
3. Mobile Suit Gundam - 149🥈
4. Doraemon - 100🔺
5. One Piece - 89🔺
6. Sore Ike! Anpanman - 86* (Yanase Takashi Märchen Gekijou (Robo-kun to Kotori episode) and Hal no Fue were screened in Yanase Takashi Theater with Anpanman ga Umareta Hi.)
*7. Hello Kitty - 82* (❗️WIP!)
8 Detective Conan - 81
*9. Taka no Tsume - 69*🔺
10. Love Live! - 68🔺
11. Precure - 65
12. Irodorimidori - 63
13. The iDOLM@STER - 62
14. Lupin III - 62
15. BanG Dream! - 61
16. Fate Series - 58
17. Crayon Shin-chan - 47
18. Xi Yang Yang Yu Hui Tai Lang - 44
19. Dragon Ball - 45🔺
20. Ginga Tetsudou 999 - 43
21. Wu Ren Dao Da Maoxian - 39
22. IDOLiSH7 - 38
23. Pororo - 38
24. Shimajirou - 36
25. Digimon - 36
26. Peeping Life - 36
27. Macross - 34
28. Naruto - 34
29. Ghost in the Shell - 34
30. Ensemble Stars! - 33
31. Code Geass - 33
32. Kamiusagi Rope - 33
33. Osomatsu-kun - 33🔺
34. Cardfight!! Vanguard - 32
35. Xiong Chumo - 31
36. Gegege no Kitarou - 31
37. Arknights: Reimei Zensou - 31
38. Pretty Rhythm, PriPara - 30
39. Gintama - 29
40. Tenchi Muyou! - 29
41. Mahou no Princess, Mahou no Tenshi - 29* (Mahou no Princess Minky Momo, Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami, Mahou no Yousei Persia, Mahou no Star Magical Emi, and Mahou no Idol Pastel Yumi were clumped together (in Chiaki) probably due to some crossovers but they're actually different franchises. Should probably be renamed to Pierrot Mahou Shoujo Series or Pierrot Magical Girls Series as per https://pierrot.jp/magicalgirls/)
42. Zhu Zhu Xia - 28
43. Duel Masters - 28
44. Tennis no Ouji-sama - 28
45. Mameshiba - 28
46. Bakemonogatari, Monogatari Series - 27
47. Hello Carbot - 27🔺
48. Sword Art Online - 26
49. Shingeki no Kyojin - 25
50. Girls & Panzer - 25

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Slowly climbing to the top 50:
51. Tales Series - 25
52. Xin Datou Er Zi He Xiao Tou Baba - 24
*53. Keroppi - 24* (❗️WIP!)
54. Dr. Slump - 23
55. Kkoma Bus Tayo - 23
56. Inazuma Eleven - 23🔺
57. Yu☆Gi☆Oh! - 22
58. Monster Strike - 22
59. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon - 22
60. Uchuu Senkan Yamato - 22
61. Tetsuwan Atom, Astro Boy - 22
62. Boku no Hero Academia - 22
63. Hong Mao Lan Tu - 22
64. Tottoko Hamtarou - 21
65. Kuroko no Basket - 21
66. Teekyuu - 21
67. Saint Seiya - 21
68. Kaixin Baobei - 21
69. Kinnikuman - 21🔺
70. Toaru Series - 20
71. Initial D - 20🔺

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Under 20 entries:
72. Qin Shi Ming Yue - 20
73. Persona - 19
74. Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken - 19🔺
75. Hokuto no Ken - 19
76. Sinbi Apateu - 19
77. Korasho no Kaitei Wakuwaku Daibouken! - 18
78. Dou Dou Hu Wen Zhang Zhi Mi - 18
79. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha - 18 [🔞]
80. Azur Lane - 18
81. Sai Er Hao - 18
82. Beyblade - 18
83. Nanatsu no Taizai - 18
84. Neon Genesis Evangelion - 18
85. Youkai Watch - 18
86. Oshiri Tantei - 17🔺
87. Overlord - 17
88. Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica - 17
89. Haikyuu!! - 17
90. Mazinger - 17
91. AU - 17
92. Aikatsu! - 17
93. Hua Jiang Hu Zhi - 16
94. Cyborg 009 - 16
95. Natsume Yuujinchou - 16
96. Backkom - 16
97. Umi Monogatari - 16
98. .hack - 16
99. Free! - 16
100. Miniforce - 16
101. Nintama Rantarou - 16
102. Kaiketsu Zorori - 16
103. Black Jack - 16
104. Soukou Kihei Votoms - 16
105. Selected Shaonian Shiye - 15

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Under 15 entries:
106. Huyao Xiao Hongniang - 15
107. Baki - 15🔻
108. Virtual-san wa Miteiru - 15
109. Bleach - 15
110. Yami Shibai - 15
111. Shakugan no Shana - 15
112. Chibi Maruko-chan - 15
113. Ranma ½ - 15
114. JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken - 15
115. Devilman - 15
116. Rurouni Kenshin - 14

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➡️Largest Anime Franchises (1-50): https://myanimelist.net/stacks/20094
Largest Anime Franchises (51-100): https://myanimelist.net/stacks/39205

For more, check out "Largest groups" on Chiaki: https://chiaki.site/?/tools/watch_order_groups/type/large
(Note: Count may not be always accurate since they mostly rely on the 'Related Entries' in anime pages and not all related entries listed are really part of some franchises.)

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I've also included:
- "Watch order guides" by other users I find helpful and for convenience; number of entries included.
- Some clubs (mostly the ones with the most members), if you want to join one and maybe revive some.
- Anime Watching Challenges by the Anime Watching Challenges Club [AWCc] (https://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=70446); also check AWCc's Hall of Fame [HoF] (https://anime.jhiday.net/hof/).
- Live action adaptations (Ctrl + F in the [[ Live Action Adaptations ]] club (https://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=5450) or use their script).

I'll be updating this from time to time so the entries will change.

*Inspired by this thread: https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=2032254 (Which anime franchise has the most MAL entries?)

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Legend:
🥇🥈🥉 - Gold, Silver, Bronze = Top 3
🔺 - Moved Up (risen in the rankings with new addition/s in the DB)
🔻 - Moved Down (something was removed in the DB)
✔️ - Description Box is up-to-date. Other stacks (number of entries, title change), challenges and clubs (status/activity) checked.
❗️WIP! - Work in progress (means I'm working on a watch order guide stack)

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P.S. Everything would look clean if they just enable BBCode for stacks.

P.P.S. I made a second stack for 51-100. So I could just move some of the entries to the other stack instead of really deleting them.

Also, watch out for Pororo! He'll slowly climb to the top 10. Alas! The penguin is now ranked 23rd. LOL.

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[📌 Last Updated: October 15, 2024]

To be part of that list an anime (or donghua/aeni) needs:
-To be complete since at least 1 year.
-To be first serie adaptation of an anime OR of a remake. (no earlier prequel/parent story)
-To not be in top 1000 popularity.
-To have a popularity rank 5 times as high as its scoring rank minimum.

Arknights Watch Order:
1. Luo Xiao Hei Zhan Ji (Mar 17, 2011 to Aug 27, 2019) | ONA | 28 episodes × 7 min. per ep. - Parent Story / Sequel / Prequel / Other
2. Luo Xiao Hei Zhan Ji: Fan Wai (Jul 10, 2011 to Nov 21, 2020) | ONA | 5 episodes × 1 min. per ep. - Side Story
3. Luo Xiao Hei Zhan Ji (Movie) (Sep 7, 2019) | Movie | 1 episode × 1 hr. 41 min. - Prequel
4. Arknights (Nov 19, 2019 – ?) | ONA | ? episodes × 30 sec. - Other / Parent Story
5. Untitled World (Jul 1, 2020) | Music | 1 episode × 1 min. - Character / Other
6. Last Of Me (Jul 26, 2020) | Music | 1 episode × 1 min. - Other
7. Holy Knight Light (Dec 26, 2020) | ONA | 1 episode × 9 min. - Side Story
8. End Like This (Jan 9, 2021) | Music | 1 episode × 2 min. - Other
9. Luo Xiao Hei Zhan Ji: Zhongsheng Zhi Men (Apr 24, 2021 to Jul 17, 2021) | ONA | 12 episodes × 8 min. per ep. - Sequel
10. Closure no Kimitsu File (May 16, 2021 to Nov 21, 2021) | ONA | 17 episodes × 2 min. per ep. - Side Story
11. Li Shi Zhentan Shiwusuo: A Day in Lungmen (Oct 24, 2021) | ONA | 1 episode × 3 min. - Home Service - Side Story
12. Ain't Seen Nothing Like This (Jan 20, 2022) | Music | 1 episode × 2 min. - Other
13. Guiying Yu Li Shi Zhentan Shiwusuo (Jan 23, 2022) | ONA | 1 episode × 4 min. - Other / Side Story
14. Xiaoke de Huatu Xie Hua Specials (Apr 23, 2022 to Apr 22, 2023) | ONA | 2 episodes × 1 min. per ep. - Side Story
15. Wildfire (May 6, 2022) | Music | 1 episode x 3 min. - Other
16. Arknights x Luo Xiao Hei Zhan Ji: Hao Jiu Bu Jian (Sep 9, 2022) | ONA | 1 episode × 1 min. - Other
17. Running in the Dark (Oct 23, 2022) | Music | 1 episode × 1 min. - Character / Other
18. Arknights: Reimei Zensou (Oct 29, 2022 to Dec 17, 2022) | TV | 8 episodes × 23 min. per ep. - Other / Character / Prequel
19. Li Shi Zhentan Shiwusuo: A Day in Lungmen (Dec 23, 2022 to Feb 3, 2023) | ONA | 6 episodes × 10 min. - Parent Story / Spin-off
20. Egao no Hanataba (Jan 10, 2023) | Music | 1 episode × 3 min. - Character / Other
21. Day by Day (2023) (Jan 16, 2023) | Music | 1 episode × 1 min. - Other / Side Story
22. Li Shi Zhentan Shiwusuo: A Day in Lungmen - Once Upon a Time in Lungmen (Jan 27, 2023) | ONA | 1 episode × 5 min. - Side Story
23. Li Shi Zhentan Shiwusuo: A Day in Lungmen - Liang Xiaoshi Jiaqi (Apr 22, 2023) | ONA | 1 episode × 9 min.
24. Arknights: Touin Kiro (Oct 7, 2023 to Nov 25, 2023) | TV | 8 episodes × 23 min. per ep. - Sequel
25. Ashen (Oct 22, 2023) | Music | 1 episode x 1 min. - Other
26. Xiaoke de Huatu Xie Hua (Dec 1, 2023 to Jan 5, 2024) | ONA | 12 episodes × 4 min. per ep. - Other
27. Arknights 4th Anniversary PV (Jan 9, 2024) | PV | 1 episode x 5 min. - Other
28. Unbreakable (Jan 18, 2024) | Music | 1 episode x 2 min. - Other
29. Lili Kurong (Jan 28, 2024) | ONA | 1 episode x 1 min. - Other
30. Arknights 2024 Special Commemorative Animation PV (Apr 27, 2024) | PV | 1 episode x 2 min. - Other
31. Shiguang de Zengli Tebie Jinian PV (Dec 23, 2024) | PV | 1 episode x 1 min. - Other
32. Arknights 5th Anniversary Special Video (Jan 9, 2025) | PV | 1 episode x 7 min. - Other
33. Arknights: Rise from Ember (Not yet aired) | TV | ? episodes x ? min. - Other

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Source: Game
Genres: Action, Fantasy
Themes: Anthropomorphic, Video Game

Tags: Donghua, Yostar, Arcus, Mobile Game Franchise

Club: Arknights https://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=79100 (Inactive)

YouTube:
羅小黑戰記 (Luo Xiaohei's War Records) https://www.youtube.com/c/luoxiaohei
Arknights Official - Yostar https://www.youtube.com/@ArknightsOfficialYostar

Arknights Collaboration Music Video https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbuSQ8SJFnFEQTayBa5pPhYHkf9IDdsN3&si=8H-lRL-jJoXMRRw-

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Included in: Largest Anime Franchises
https://myanimelist.net/stacks/20094

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Pending:
Keep Holding On https://myanimelist.net/anime/58064

2024 Arknights Yinlu Lian Jue - Bumi Langchen Xiandao Yugao https://myanimelist.net/anime/60611

Arknights 5th Anniversary Special Video https://myanimelist.net/anime/60727

Denied:
Lonetrail https://sean.fish/dbsentinel/anime/55082

Track here: https://sean.fish/dbsentinel/search?title=Arknights&entry_type=anime&status=all&media_type=all&order_by=id&sort=desc&page=1&blur=on

Note: Use JustWatch to check availability in your region.
https://www.justwatch.com/us/search?q=Arknights

✔️。

An original net animation (ONA), is an anime that is directly released onto the Internet.
They are created for the direct to video market and are popular with the subscription video on-demand market (netflix, amazon prime, disney+) as such it's a format that is still gaining in popularity nowadays.

I don't know what this genre would be, but like it's a bunch of anime with a similar vibe. They're all like slice-of-life/action/comedy. The MC is usually starting a new life in some way and dealing with past experiences.

I would say it's 90% an easy turn-off-your-brain watch and 10% crying. Except for Violet Evergarden, all these shows are what I would call pretty average anime - a good 7 - but they mean a lot just to me and that's what mattered. I have a complex enough life as it is, I like my happy, dumb shows with characters I can relate to. (The star rating is based on my own enjoyment and how they stuck with me, more than objective quality of the show)

I only put the first season of each show, not my favorite season.

I don't really know how my anime list works but if you have any recommendations I would love them! It's surprisingly difficult to find donghua/anime like this.