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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFor Chinese-produced animation—often called donghua—the best-looking work is not all made the same way. This editorial ranking weighs animation and direction, visual identity, how movement and staging serve the story, narrative strength, originality, and the commitment each title asks of viewers. It treats 2D and 3D as different visual approaches, not as a quality ladder. The list spans series and a feature film, and distinguishes completed stories from ongoing or unfinished ones.
How this ranking works
“Best-animated” is a judgment, not an official league table. The order below favors titles whose visual choices feel distinctive and purposeful, while also considering story, viewer fit, and whether the animated adaptation offers a complete arc. A hand-drawn action sequence and a polished CG fantasy can excel at different things; the useful question is what each approach makes possible on screen.
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Donghua covers many genres, formats, and visual traditions. These ten are a cross-section, not the only defensible choices: The King’s Avatar, The Legend of Hei, White Cat Legend, and The Outcast are among other worthwhile options.
The 10 best-animated Chinese anime
1. Link Click
Why it ranks first: Its 2D suspense drama makes animation serve the emotional and narrative turns, not just the supernatural premise. The visual storytelling is strongest when a character’s movement, expression, or framing carries the tension of a scene.
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The hook is simple and consequential: a pair of characters can enter photographs and revisit moments in the past, but changing what they encounter carries risks. That setup gives the series room to move between suspense and intimate character drama. It is a strong starting point if you prefer expressive 2D designs to the conspicuous CG look found in some donghua, though the appeal is more than a style preference.
The official Japanese series page credits Li Haoling as director and scriptwriter and says the series began streaming on Bilibili in April 2021. It reported a Bilibili rating of 9.8 and 160 million total plays within four months of release; those are historical platform figures, not current totals. Bilibili’s official Japanese introduction also lists other staff, including character-design contributor INPLICK, art director Takumi Tanji, and composer Tianmen.
Best for: Viewers who want a visually expressive 2D series, supernatural suspense, and emotional stakes. Consider another pick if: You want a self-contained feature or a story with little mystery-driven escalation.
2. Fog Hill of Five Elements
Why it ranks here: This is the craft-first choice: hand-drawn action with ink-brush texture and a striking sense of movement. Its combat can feel less like characters trading blows and more like shapes and brushstrokes surging across the screen. Watch how poses, speed, and visual texture give the action its force.
The trade-off is narrative completeness. The 2026 guide describes seven episodes across two chapters and calls the wider story unfinished. Its concentrated action and distinctive look make it an easy recommendation for viewers who prize animation craft, but less so for anyone who needs a resolved plot.
Best for: Action fans drawn to hand-drawn movement and painterly design. Consider another pick if: A complete story matters more to you than visual spectacle.
Rank #2
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3. Scissor Seven
Why it ranks here: Its stylized comedy-action uses exaggerated designs and elastic performance to make movement funny as well as energetic. The tone can shift from absurd gags toward a more serious story without losing its distinctive, loose visual identity.
The 2026 guide lists five seasons and an ongoing story. That is a longer commitment than the premise might suggest, but the short-form appeal makes it easier to sample than a sprawling cultivation epic. Netflix was reported as carrying the series at the guide’s research time; check your local catalog for the seasons and language options currently available.
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Best for: Viewers who want comedy, inventive action, and an accessible first episode. Consider another pick if: You want a consistently serious tone or a finished story.
4. Mo Dao Zu Shi (The Founder of Diabolism)
Why it ranks here: This fantasy mystery pairs supernatural conflict with political tragedy and a large cast. Its strongest appeal is the way atmosphere and dramatic staging support a story of loyalty, history, and consequence rather than relying on action alone.
The guide lists 35 episodes across three seasons and describes the series as completed. Its layered history and ensemble make it a rewarding choice for viewers who like piecing together a complicated past; the nonlinear account and number of characters can be a barrier if you prefer a direct, small-scale story.
Best for: Viewers seeking a substantial fantasy mystery with a closed animated arc. Consider another pick if: You want a short watch or an immediately simple plot.
Rank #3
![The Legend of Hei (Standard Edition) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SUfp4KIeL._SL160_.jpg)
- Mandarin and English with English subtitles
5. Heaven Official’s Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu)
Why it ranks here: Period-fantasy imagery and relationship-centered storytelling give this adaptation a different kind of visual appeal from the list’s combat-first entries. Its atmosphere and character interactions are central to the experience.
The animated adaptation covers only part of a larger story, according to the guide. Treat it as an ongoing portion of a broader narrative rather than a complete account. The guide reports that Crunchyroll carried several listed titles, including this one, at its research time, but catalog availability can vary by country, season, and language.
Best for: Viewers who want period fantasy and character relationships. Consider another pick if: You need the animated version to resolve the full story.
6. A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality
Why it ranks here: This long-form 3D cultivation fantasy is better judged by how it builds a world and sustains strategic survival than by comparing its CG technique with hand-drawn work. Its appeal lies in the accumulating sense of a dangerous world and a protagonist who must make careful choices to endure.
It asks for patience: a long journey suits viewers who enjoy gradual world-building and sustained progression, not those looking for a short, self-contained arc. The guide does not establish a uniform episode count or completion status here, so check the current official listing before treating it as a finished watch.
Best for: Viewers who enjoy patient cultivation stories and 3D animation. Consider another pick if: You want brisk pacing or a clearly bounded commitment.
7. Soul Land (Douluo Dalu)
Why it ranks here: Its draw is a team’s development across a long generational journey. The scale and progression give viewers time to follow characters and their changing relationships, making it a different kind of commitment from a compact action series.
The guide distinguishes the original Tang San storyline from the ongoing Soul Land 2. Check which installment you are choosing: they are not interchangeable entry points if you want to follow that original story.
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Best for: Viewers who enjoy ensemble growth and long-running fantasy. Consider another pick if: You want one short season or are not interested in an extended progression story.
8. Renegade Immortal (Xian Ni)
Why it ranks here: This darker cultivation fantasy ties its path to power to revenge and grief. That emotional cost separates it from stories where advancement is mainly an adventure or a game-like progression.
The series is ongoing, according to the guide. Its darker tone and accumulating commitment are part of the appeal, but make it a poor fit for viewers seeking a light fantasy or a completed arc.
Best for: Viewers drawn to revenge stories with a somber emotional center. Consider another pick if: You want comedy, a lighter tone, or a conclusion now.
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9. Swallowed Star
Why it ranks here: Its science-fantasy scale grows from danger close to home toward a cosmic setting. That shift in scope is the visual and narrative draw: the story keeps widening its frame rather than staying with a single local conflict.
The series is ongoing and requires a long commitment, with substantial terminology, according to the guide. If you want to sample it, expect a world that takes time to explain rather than a short film that immediately delivers its full arc.
Best for: Viewers who like expansive science fantasy and long-form world-building. Consider another pick if: You prefer a concise story or minimal lore.
10. Ne Zha 2
Why it makes the list: This feature film gives viewers a finite alternative to a multi-season series, with spectacle as its central appeal. It is the straightforward choice if you want to see Chinese animation at feature length without signing up for a long episode run.
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Best for: Viewers who want a feature-length spectacle and can watch the earlier film first. Consider another pick if: You want a standalone story or a longer, slower character journey.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose by visual style, story, and time
| Title | Visual approach and standout appeal | Story / commitment | Completion status in the guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Link Click | 2D suspense and expressive character drama | Supernatural mystery with emotional stakes | Not stated |
| Fog Hill of Five Elements | Hand-drawn, ink-brush action | Seven episodes across two chapters | Wider story unfinished |
| Scissor Seven | Stylized comedy-action | Five seasons; short-form appeal | Ongoing |
| Mo Dao Zu Shi | Fantasy mystery and dramatic staging | 35 episodes across three seasons | Completed |
| Heaven Official’s Blessing | Period fantasy and relationship-centered storytelling | Adaptation covers part of a larger story | Not complete adaptation of the larger story |
| A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality | 3D cultivation fantasy | Long-form survival and world-building | Not stated |
| Soul Land | Fantasy and ensemble development | Long generational journey; distinguish the original story from Soul Land 2 | Original Tang San story distinguished from ongoing Soul Land 2 |
| Renegade Immortal | Darker cultivation fantasy | Revenge, grief, and a costly path to power | Ongoing |
| Swallowed Star | Science fantasy expanding to cosmic scope | Long commitment and substantial terminology | Ongoing |
| Ne Zha 2 | Feature-film spectacle | Watch the first film beforehand | Feature film |
Episode counts and completion labels in this table are included only where the guide establishes them; they are not estimates. “Not stated” means the cited guide does not provide a completion status for that title.
Where to watch legally
Streaming catalogs change by country, season, subtitle or dub, and licensing window. A recent roundup reported Crunchyroll carried several of these titles and Netflix carried Scissor Seven at the time it was written, but that is not a guarantee of current availability where you live.
- Search the exact title in the official streaming catalogs available in your country.
- Open the title page and verify the season or film you want; a service may carry only part of a series.
- Check the listed subtitle and audio languages before starting, since options can differ between seasons and regions.
If buying Heaven Official’s Blessing on Blu-ray, verify the exact season edition, audio, subtitles, and player-region compatibility before ordering. Physical editions and their language configurations may differ.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
