Yi Nian Yong Heng

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.

Im new to this making an interest stack or writing reviews thing. But recently watched a boat load of Donghua (Chinese anime) in a very short time period. The CGI takes a little getting used to, but just like watching SUB, you barely remember what it was like before.

This stack is based on Action/Adventure/Fun Cultivation type Donghua. Its not something you really see in anime a lot so it came across as new for me and I deep dove into all the top ones I could find.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND! This is not for everyone. This is not a list where you'll find something you may like, no matter who you are. This is more like "if you love one or two of these, you'll very likely love the rest in the list" kind of thing.

Lastly. I don't actually remember if one is better than another (especially after so many countless episodes and seasons). I have a small list in my head that pops up when I think "cultivation Donghua I wish I could rewatch like I had never seen it before." Some start off slow but get interesting and some the opposite.

I can't tell you what to watch and I don't care if you didn't like it. I did. Don't judge me.

Xianxia, directly translated to 'immortal heroes' comprises a number of popular genres including 'Cultivation', is a genre of Chinese fantasy heavily inspired by Taoism and influenced by Chinese mythology, Chan Buddhism, Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese folk religion, Chinese alchemy and other traditional Chinese elements.

Protagonists are usually "cultivators" who seek to become immortal beings called xian. Along the way, they attain eternal life, supernatural powers, and incredible levels of strength. The fictional cultivation practiced in xianxia is heavily based on the real-life meditation practice qigong.

The stories usually include elements such as gods, immortals, yaoguai, ghosts, monsters, magical treasures, immortal items, medicinal pills, and the like. They often take place in a "cultivation world" where cultivators engage in fierce and usually deadly struggles to acquire the resources they need to grow stronger. Oftentimes, the initial setting is reminiscent of ancient China, but the stories usually become cosmic in nature, with the protagonists attaining godlike abilities, sometimes creating their own planets, galaxies or universes. While the primary focus is action and adventure, there are also romance-heavy stories.

Description taken from the wikipedia page about Xianxia subgenre.

Donghua, literally meaning "moving pictures," refers to animation produced in China

This is a stack comprised of Chinese animation mainly in the Xinxia / Wuxia genres

Created to help with challenges

EXAMPLE CHALLENGE: Watch an Alternative Version or Alternative Setting of an anime you've previously completed (listed as such under "Related Anime")


NOTE: Only the first released anime in a franchise will be added.

Finished scanning the first 5 pages of the 2022 Anime Watching Challenge. Adding more as time allows.


~~If you find this stack and wish to contribute please feel free to message me. Thank you!!~~

++++ 2nd Stack: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/17304
++++ 3rd Stack: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/23846

Includes→
• Original Chinese anime.
• Anime based on manhua.

Donghua refers to Chinese animated content, which can include TV series, films, and shorts. It's a term used to describe animation produced in China or by Chinese creators.Donghua is often compared to anime, which is Japanese animated content, but there are differences in style and storytelling. Donghua tends to have a realistic (3D) art style and often incorporates Chinese historical/cultural elements.

Some of the more popular Donghua titles include "Battle through the heavens," "Mo Dao Zu Shi," "Soul Land," etc.

bio credits: chat gpt

This list is not exhaustive but offers the titles I thought were relevant to include (and that I enjoyed the most). hope this helps ! enjoy :)

Some lesser known Chinese Anime I'm going to check out. Lesser known on MAL, some are popular on YouTube, like Perfect World has millions of views.

More:
> A Record of Mortal's Journey to Immortality (3 Seasons)
> Tales of Demons and Gods (7 Seasons)
> Apotheosis (2 Seasons)
> The Land of Miracles (3 Seasons)
> Shrouding Heaven (1 Season)
> Martial Universe (4 Seasons)
> The Demon Hunter (1 Season)
> The God of War Dominates (1 Season)
> Immortality (4 Seasons)

Smaller Series:
> White Cat Legend (2 Seasons)
> Ling Long: Incarnation (3 Parts)
> Yao-Chinese Folktales
> Swarm
> The Three-Body Problem
> One Hundred Thousand Years of Qi Refining
> Spirit Sword Sovereign (4 Seasons)
> Martial God Asura

Collection of all Cultivation Donghua (only the first season entry)

Cultivation is a reoccuring theme which can be found in Xianxia/Xuanhuan, the extent varies

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.

Donghua is the term used to refer to animation produced in China, encompassing all animated works but specifically referring to Chinese animation. Donghua adapts manhua comics and is often associated with 3D CG animation, although it can also use more standard anime-style animation - IMDb.

All entries are based on popularity, views (audience), rating, quality, and my opinion.

All donghua in this interest stack are considered above-average or top-tier, animation and/or story-wise.

Some 2D donghua here have not been watched by me but are generally well received.

This list is in no particular order.

This list will be continuously updated.


Check out my other list ([SSS] 3D donghua) for more recommendations. Visit my profile for more.

Anime found on Viki Rakuten. (details explain if subscription is needed:)

+ "Leiji Matsumoto;s OZMA" (watch free)
+ "My Little Boys" (watch free)

A mix of different genres and themes to explore in the shoujo/teen girl demographic. Good for beginners who arent familiar with the content and are interested in testing it out.
ft. donghua & aeni

pt.1 https://myanimelist.net/stacks/45837

All sorts of Chinese animes/3D series that is above overall 8 points, and should watch in my experience. Only the first seasons are included.

I am not a Chinese speaker, so all the series included has more or less decent English subtitles.

Shortcut to "cultivation" series: must watch; Fanren Xiu, Xian Ni and Dadao Chaotian

Anime where the premise is leveling up or cultivating in a martial arts system.

𝙍𝙀𝙂𝙐𝙇𝘼𝙍 𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀𝙎 | 𝙌𝙐𝘼𝙇𝙄𝙏𝙔 𝙎𝙀𝙇𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 | 𝙑𝙄𝙎𝙄𝙏 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙁𝙄𝙇𝙀 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙀
2D Chinese anime/donghua that I recommend personally with passable animation and art styles.