For English-language viewers searching for the best Chinese anime, donghua is the more precise term for animation produced in China. This ranked list is an editorial guide, not a universal or measured top ten: it weighs storytelling, visual identity, accessibility for newcomers, and variety across genres. Start with Link Click for a supernatural mystery, or choose another entry based on the kind of story you want.
10 Chinese anime recommendations, ranked
These picks span mystery, romance, comedy, historical fantasy, esports, and warfare. The order is a recommendation rather than a formal score; the titles are not ranked against one another using current popularity or review ratings.
![Shinkansen blast [Blu-ray] JAPANESE EDITION](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61cvCrON36L._SL160_.jpg)
![The Emoji Movie [Blu-ray + Digital HD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61TAx7xqO7L._SL160_.jpg)
1. Link Click
A supernatural mystery built around emotionally charged cases makes Link Click a strong first stop for viewers who want a plot that pulls them from one episode to the next. Its high-concept setup is paired with personal stakes, so it can appeal even if you do not usually seek out fantasy. Bilibili’s 2021 ESG report said the series had exceeded 200 million views and reached a highest reported position of 20th in MyAnimeList’s global anime ranking. Those are historical figures reported by the company, not current view counts or rankings. Read Bilibili’s 2021 ESG report.
2. Heaven Official’s Blessing
This historical fantasy follows Xie Lian and his encounters with a mysterious ghost king. Its supernatural adventure and Chinese-style fantasy setting suit viewers looking for a more romantic, mythic story. Bilibili’s official series page describes it as a novel adaptation and lists its mainland premiere date as October 30, 2020; that is a mainland start date, not a statement about when it became available elsewhere. See Bilibili’s series listing. If you would rather read the source story, the English-language novel series is published by Seven Seas; its catalog lists eight volumes and identifies it as the novel that inspired the animation. View the Seven Seas novel series.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
3. Scissor Seven
Try Scissor Seven for a comedy-action change of pace. Its irreverent humor makes it a recommendation for viewers who want action without the solemn tone of a historical epic or cultivation drama. The comic tone is a viewing guide, not a claim about an official genre ranking.
4. The King’s Avatar
For competition, teamwork, and gaming culture, choose The King’s Avatar. It is the pick here for viewers more interested in esports-style rivalries than in cultivation fantasy or supernatural lore.
Rank #2
![Iron Man: Rise of the Technovore [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/619Vzvqi+eL._SL160_.jpg)
- Factory sealed DVD
5. Fog Hill of Five Elements
Fog Hill of Five Elements is the visually led action option on this list. It is a good choice when striking movement and action are the main draw, rather than a contemporary romance or a comedy-first story. Treat that as a reason to try it, not an objective award or a measurable comparison with the other animation styles here.
6. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi)
Choose Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, also known as Mo Dao Zu Shi, for historical fantasy and cultivation. Its story is also available as an officially published English-language novel series from Seven Seas, making it a natural next step for viewers who want to continue with the story in print.
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
7. The Daily Life of the Immortal King
This lighter cultivation-comedy recommendation is suited to viewers who want fantasy with a comic approach. Bilibili includes the series in its Chinese-animation category, though a category listing does not establish availability in every country. Browse Bilibili’s Chinese-animation catalog.
8. A Will Eternal
For a longer fantasy journey with cultivation and comedy, consider A Will Eternal. It broadens the list beyond shorter, more immediately accessible standalone-feeling recommendations. Current legal availability is not established here, so check local catalogs before settling on it.
9. The Girl Downstairs
The Girl Downstairs adds contemporary romance to a list otherwise weighted toward fantasy and action. It is the clearest choice for viewers who want a modern relationship story rather than supernatural stakes. Bilibili lists it in its Chinese-animation catalog, but catalog presence is not proof of local streaming rights. Check Bilibili’s catalog.
10. The Ravages of Time
For historical strategy and warfare, try The Ravages of Time. It offers a different kind of conflict from the supernatural and cultivation stories elsewhere on this list. Verify current legal availability in your territory before looking for a stream.
Best Value
How to choose your first donghua
Use the kind of viewing experience you want to narrow the list. The episode commitment and whether each series is complete or continuing are not established consistently here, so check a current official or licensed listing for that information before starting.
- Want a mystery with emotional stakes? Start with Link Click.
- Want historical fantasy and supernatural adventure? Try Heaven Official’s Blessing or Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.
- Prefer comedy? Choose Scissor Seven for comedy-action, or The Daily Life of the Immortal King and A Will Eternal for cultivation comedy.
- Want competition rather than cultivation? Pick The King’s Avatar.
- Prioritize action visuals? Give Fog Hill of Five Elements a try.
- Looking for another genre? Choose The Girl Downstairs for contemporary romance or The Ravages of Time for historical warfare and strategy.
Where to watch Chinese anime
Catalogs and licensing vary by territory and can change. Bilibili’s official pages show that it catalogs Chinese animation and include selected titles, but they do not establish which episodes a viewer can legally stream in every country. Search the title in your region’s licensed services or official listings, and confirm that the listing covers the episodes you want before subscribing or starting.
What the available rankings do—and do not—show
There is no authoritative universal ranking of these ten titles in the sources used here. Bilibili’s category page is useful for finding titles and platform labels, not for comparing quality: its view counts are platform-specific and are not equivalent to review scores or cross-title popularity measures. The 2021 figures for Link Click and the book-sales milestone for Heaven Official’s Blessing are dated, source-reported facts, not current evidence that either animation is ranked above another.
For context, Seven Seas reported in 2021 that volume one of Heaven Official’s Blessing debuted at number 8 on the New York Times Paperback Trade Fiction list in its first week. That was a book-sales milestone, not an animation ranking. Read the publisher’s announcement.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteQuick Recap
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.
