The world of animation has never been more vibrant, and at the forefront of this global renaissance is Donghua – Chinese animation. Once primarily a domestic phenomenon, Donghua has exploded onto the international scene, captivating audiences with its unique storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and diverse genres, from sweeping historical fantasies and action-packed cultivation epics to heartwarming slice-of-life tales and futuristic sci-fi adventures.
As we look ahead, 2025 is shaping up to be another landmark year for Donghua enthusiasts. Building on the incredible momentum of previous years, studios are poised to deliver continuations of beloved sagas, highly anticipated adaptations of popular novels and manhua, and potentially groundbreaking original works. The quality of animation, particularly in the realm of high-budget 3D CG, continues to push boundaries, promising visuals that truly “blow your mind.”
Predicting exact release dates in the dynamic animation industry is always tricky, but based on production cycles, source material popularity, and studio announcements, here are 10 Donghua series (including likely continuations of massive hits) that are generating significant buzz and are highly anticipated to make a major impact in 2025.
Get ready to mark your calendars and prepare to be transported to incredible new worlds!
Here are 10 Donghua series we believe you absolutely must watch in 2025:
- Soul Land (Douluo Dalu)
- Why it’s Anticipated for 2025: As one of the longest-running and most popular Donghua adaptations ever, Soul Land has built an enormous global fanbase. Its continuous production schedule means its epic journey through the world of Spirit Masters and spirit beasts is highly likely to hit major, climactic arcs in 2025. The series is known for its consistent, high-quality 3D animation and intricate world-building based on the smash-hit novel. Fans are eager to see Tang San’s continued growth and the unfolding destiny of the Shrek Seven Devils.
- What to Expect: More thrilling cultivation battles, emotional character development, exploration of complex power systems, and stunning visuals depicting elaborate spirit abilities and sprawling landscapes.
- Battle Through the Heavens (Doupo Cangqiong)
- Why it’s Anticipated for 2025: Another titan of the xianxia (immortal hero) genre, Battle Through the Heavens follows the classic underdog story of Xiao Yan. After a critically acclaimed special season in 2023/2024, anticipation for the next major arc continuation in 2025 is sky-high. The series boasts some of the most spectacular fight choreography and environmental effects in modern Donghua.
- What to Expect: Xiao Yan overcomes impossible odds, mastering powerful flame abilities, facing formidable foes, and reuniting with key characters as he ascends the cultivation ranks. Expect jaw-dropping action sequences.
- Perfect World (Wanmei Shijie)
- Why it’s Anticipated for 2025: Perfect World has quickly established itself with its stunning visuals and epic scale, adapting another beloved cultivation novel. The pacing is fast, and the power levels are immense. Its consistent release schedule makes it a strong contender for delivering significant story beats and visual spectacles in 2025.
- What to Expect: Shi Hao’s journey through a primordial world filled with ancient clans, mythical creatures, and cosmic power struggles. Expect grand battles, exploration of mysterious realms, and continuous power-ups for the protagonist.
- Swallowed Star (Cun Shi)
- Why it’s Anticipated for 2025: Blending cultivation elements with a futuristic, sci-fi setting, Swallowed Star stands out visually and thematically. The animation quality is top-tier, depicting futuristic technology, terrifying monsters, and cosmic phenomena. Its ongoing nature means 2025 is likely to dive deeper into the universe and Luo Feng’s interstellar adventures.
- What to Expect: Earth’s defenders fighting alien threats, space exploration, advanced martial arts training, and cosmic-level cultivation. The blend of sci-fi and xuanhuan makes for a unique and visually rich experience.
- Link Click (Shiguang Dailiren)
- Why it’s Anticipated for 2025: This original Donghua series took the world by storm with its compelling time-travel mystery, deep emotional core, and stylish animation. With two highly successful seasons and significant international acclaim, a third season is one of the most anticipated releases. While no official date is set, 2025 is a hopeful target year for fans craving resolution and continuation of its gripping plot.
- What to Expect: Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang continuing to use their powers to enter photographs and fulfill clients’ regrets, but facing escalating dangers and unraveling a larger conspiracy that threatens their lives and their bond. Expect twists, emotional drama, and a killer soundtrack.
- Heaven Official’s Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu)
- Why it’s Anticipated for 2025: Based on the hugely popular danmei (boys’ love) novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, Heaven Official’s Blessing is renowned for its exquisite art style, complex characters, and moving narrative. After a successful Season 2, anticipation for the next chapter of Xie Lian and Hua Cheng’s story is immense. The series has a massive global following, making a potential 2025 return a major event for Donghua fans worldwide.
- What to Expect: Further exploration of Xie Lian’s past trials and his relationship with the Ghost King Hua Cheng, uncovering heavenly secrets, and experiencing both tender moments and thrilling supernatural encounters, all rendered with stunning visual elegance.
- Scissor Seven (Wu Liuqi)
- Why it’s Anticipated for 2025: This unique 2D animated series offers a refreshing blend of action, comedy, and surprising emotional depth. Its distinct art style and lovable, eccentric characters have earned it a dedicated international fanbase. With its episodic yet overarching narrative, a continuation in 2025 is highly probable and eagerly awaited.
- What to Expect: The amnesiac scissor-wielding assassin Seven taking on bizarre jobs on Chicken Island, encountering rival assassins, rediscovering his past, and protecting his friends, all delivered with creative fight choreography and laugh-out-loud humor.
- The King’s Avatar (Quanzhi Gaoshou)
- Why it’s Anticipated for 2025: A pioneering Donghua in the esports genre, The King’s Avatar captivated viewers with its realistic depiction of competitive gaming and a compelling comeback story. While arcs related to the main series might transition to movies or special episodes, the universe and its characters remain incredibly popular, making a return in some form during 2025 highly anticipated, perhaps following different teams or events.
- What to Expect: High-stakes virtual reality MMORPG battles in the game ‘Glory’, strategic team play, character development centered around dedication and skill, and the thrilling world of professional esports.
- Throne of Seal (Shen Yin Wang Zuo)
- Why it’s Anticipated for 2025: Another strong adaptation in the fantasy/cultivation genre, Throne of Seal features a knightly protagonist and a world battling against demonkind. With its detailed world and consistent adaptation, 2025 is expected to continue exploring major story arcs and character advancements for Long Haochen and his companions.
- What to Expect: Holy Knights, demons, intricate power systems involving spiritual energy and equipment, strategic battles, and the formation of a powerful team striving to protect humanity.
- Fog Hill of Five Elements (Wushan Wuxing)
- Why it’s Anticipated for 2025: Though known for its meticulous, slower production cycle, Fog Hill is universally praised for its breathtakingly fluid animation, stunning traditional Chinese ink-painting inspired art style, and intense martial arts sequences. Each short season is a visual masterpiece. Anticipation for any new episodes or a new season in 2025 is immense purely for the unparalleled artistic quality and action it promises.
- What to Expect: Visually spectacular battles between elemental warriors and mythical beasts, a mysterious world inspired by Chinese mythology, and a tightly focused narrative delivered with unparalleled animation quality. If it airs in 2025, it will be a major highlight.
Anticipated 2025 Donghua Quick Guide
Here’s a table summarizing these highly anticipated Donghua series:
| # | Title (Likely English) | Genre(s) | Key Anticipation for 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soul Land | Xianxia, Fantasy, Action | Continuation of epic journey, major plot points likely. |
| 2 | Battle Through the Heavens | Xianxia, Fantasy, Action | Highly anticipated continuation after special season. |
| 3 | Perfect World | Xianxia, Fantasy, Action | Further exploration of vast world & protagonist’s growth. |
| 4 | Swallowed Star | Sci-Fi, Xuanhuan, Action | Deeper dive into cosmic scale adventures. |
| 5 | Link Click | Mystery, Sci-Fi, Drama | Hopeful release of highly anticipated Season 3. |
| 6 | Heaven Official’s Blessing | Danmei, Fantasy, Romance | Continuation of beloved story, beautiful visuals expected. |
| 7 | Scissor Seven | Comedy, Action, Mystery | Next installment of unique 2D international hit. |
| 8 | The King’s Avatar | Esports, Action, Drama | Potential continuation or new project in the universe. |
| 9 | Throne of Seal | Fantasy, Action, Adventure | Continuing adaptation of popular novel’s major arcs. |
| 10 | Fog Hill of Five Elements | Martial Arts, Fantasy | Anticipation for unparalleled artistic and action quality. |
“Animation offers a medium of storytelling that is not limited by the constraints of reality.”
This quote perfectly encapsulates the magic of Donghua, especially the titles listed above, which often transport viewers to fantastical realms, explore the limits of human (and superhuman) potential, and blend genres in unique ways. The technical prowess now common in Donghua, particularly the sophisticated use of 3D CG animation by studios like Motion Magic, Foch Films, and others, allows for the creation of worlds and action sequences that were previously unimaginable.
The Rise of Donghua: Trends Shaping 2025
Several trends highlight why Donghua is booming and why 2025 looks so promising:
- High-Quality CG Animation: While 2D still thrives (like Link Click, Scissor Seven, Fog Hill), high-fidelity 3D CG has become a hallmark of many popular Donghua, especially for complex action and detailed fantasy worlds. This allows for dynamic camera work and intricate effects.
- Strong Source Material: A vast majority of hit Donghua are adaptations of wildly popular web novels (like those on Qidian) and webcomics (manhua). This built-in fanbase provides a solid foundation for production and ensures compelling, long-form narratives.
- Expanding Genres: While xianxia/xuanhuan dominate the most-watched lists, Donghua is diversifying. Modern mysteries (Link Click), sci-fi (Swallowed Star), esports (The King’s Avatar), comedy (Scissor Seven), and danmei (Heaven Official’s Blessing) are gaining significant traction internationally.
- Global Accessibility: Platforms like Crunchyroll, Bilibili’s international app, and YouTube (with official streams) are making Donghua more accessible than ever to non-Chinese speaking audiences, complete with subtitles and sometimes dubs.
How to Watch These Anticipated Series
While release platforms for 2025 titles aren’t finalized, the most common places to find official Donghua streams include:
- Bilibili (often has the fastest updates and largest library, especially via their international app)
- Crunchyroll (increasingly licensing popular titles)
- YouTube (some studios or platforms offer official streams or clips)
Keep an eye on official announcements closer to 2025 for specific platform details for each series.
Frequently Asked Questions About Donghua
Here are some common questions newcomers and existing fans might have:
- What exactly is Donghua? Donghua simply means Chinese animation. It encompasses all animated works originating from China, similar to how “anime” refers to Japanese animation.
- Why is so much Donghua in 3D CG? Many popular Donghua, particularly in the xianxia/xuanhuan/sci-fi genres, are produced using 3D CG because it is often efficient for rendering complex action sequences, detailed environments, large-scale battles, and intricate character designs and costumes common in these genres.
- Where can I legally watch Donghua? As mentioned, popular platforms include Bilibili (international app), Crunchyroll, and sometimes official YouTube channels. Availability can vary by region.
- Is Donghua only about cultivation and martial arts? While xianxia (immortal hero) and wuxia (martial hero) are popular genres, Donghua covers a wide range including sci-fi, fantasy, romance, comedy, modern slice-of-life, mystery, historical, and more. The list above tries to show some of this variety!
- Are the release dates for 2025 guaranteed? No, the anticipated releases listed are based on current production trends, source material popularity, and expected continuations of ongoing series. Animation production can have delays, so these are exciting possibilities for 2025, not guaranteed dates.
Conclusion
2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year for Donghua. From the continued sagas of cultivation giants like Soul Land and Battle Through the Heavens to the return of critically acclaimed originals and unique 2D gems like Link Click and Scissor Seven, there is a wealth of captivating stories and stunning animation on the horizon.
The growth in quality and accessibility means there’s never been a better time to dive into the world of Chinese animation. If you’re looking for animation that pushes boundaries, tells epic stories, and offers fresh perspectives, keep these 10 series on your radar. They are poised to deliver experiences that will truly blow your mind. Get ready for 2025 – the age of Donghua continues to rise!