Mirza Aaqib Beg
The term anime is a Japanese word for animation. If we go by the literal meaning of it, then every country has its anime. But over the years, what we have come to learn is that when the word anime is used, it refers to the style of art used in animations in Japan. When we talk about Chinese anime, we generally mean animations that have been created in China or maybe Chinese adaptations of manga or Manhua (Chinese comics). So, without further adieu, let’s jump into the list of top Chinese anime ever made.
21. Dragon Raja aka Dragon Raja -The Blazing Dawn (2022-)
Based on the novel series of the same name written by Jiang Nan, ‘Dragon Raja,’ aka ‘Dragon Raja -The Blazing Dawn’ is directed by Wang Juan. It follows high school student Lu Mingfei, who is accepted into Kassell College, a private institution, despite not applying there. After much hesitation, he decides to join the institution, only to discover that the college’s main objective is to fight dragons and protect humanity. Is Mingfei up for the challenge? To find out, you can stream ‘Dragon Raja’ here.
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20. Fairies Albums (2020 -)
Tao Yao is a spirit healer who travels constantly with the goal of helping animals, monsters, and spirits who are dealing with tragic situations. In her quest to help everyone, from fox demons to werewolves, she is joined by a stunted monk named Mo Ya, who has become a loyal sidekick ever since he was saved by her. Tao Yao’s ragtag group also includes Gun Gun, a fox, and Liu Gon Zi, a mysterious snake demon that is controlling the body of a man. The eccentric group covers vast landscapes rescuing the spirits and monsters that are in desperate need of help. You can watch all the episodes here.
19. Cinderella Chef (2018 -)
Ye Jia Yao sees herself becoming the most famous chef in the world one day, and the fact that she is already a celebrity chef at a very young age makes it seem that her dreams are not too far-fetched. While her career is going great, Jia Yao suddenly gets transported to Imperial China after trying to experiment with a recipe. Before she can make sense of the situation, she finds herself entangled inadvertently in a political drama that threatens to put her life in danger. However, when she sees an opportunity to head to the big city, she suddenly starts dreaming of becoming a big-name chef again. But can she afford to dream so big in her dire situation? ‘Cinderella Chef’ is a hilarious romantic story of ambition and love that captures Ye Jia Yao’s romantic life and her brave pursuit of big dreams. You can watch all the episodes here.
18. Sweet Bite Marks (2022)
Adapted from the comic of the same name, ‘Sweet Bite Marks’ revolves around an ordinary high schooler named Xiao Xin, who lives in a world where humans and vampires have learned to peacefully coexist with each other. Her life takes a dramatic turn when the “Prince” Luo Yi, an heir of the noble vampire family, falls head-over-heels in love with her and dreams about tasting her blood. But to his surprise, his romantic advances are rejected by Xiao Xin, who does not have a good impression of vampires. When the news of her rejecting Luon Yi spreads among her peers, she becomes a target of cruel bullying. Interestingly, Luon comes to her rescue and impresses her by always standing up for her despite being rejected. Slowly, Xiao Xin’s feelings begin to change as circumstances bring her closer to the vampire Princes. You can watch the anime here.
17. Link Click (2021)
‘Link Click’ or ‘Shi Guang Da Li Ren’ follows the eccentric duo of Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi, who work at the Time Photo Studio. They are gifted with inexplicable power to go back in time that they use to fulfill the requests of their clients. The duo complement each other’s strengths and ensure that they help people without interfering with the present timeline too much. But little do they know that all their cases are connected by one giant conspiracy that is eventually going to get them in a world of trouble. You can watch the series here.
16. The Daily Life of the Immortal King (2020 -)
Animated by Haoliners Animation League, ‘The Daily Life of the Immortal King’ or ‘Xian Wang De Ri Chang Sheng Huo’ follows the cultivation prodigy Wang Lin, who prefers to keep his immense powers a secret in order to live an ordinary life. But as much as he may like to pretend that he is not special, Lin has the burden of saving the world on his shoulders, which continuously interferes with his personal life. The series follows his desperate attempts to balance his double life. You can watch the anime here.
15. The Emperor’s Strategy (2018)
After Chu Yuan ascends to the Imperial throne of Chu State at the age of just 16, he realizes that he has a huge responsibility on his shoulders. His leadership soon appears to face its first challenge when Chu lands and the neighboring Xinan Kingdom have a conflict with each other. But before he could intervene and show them a peaceful path, the unrest was quashed by the ruler of Xinan, Duan Bai Yue. As the two men start to get closer and form an unlikely alliance, conspiracy floats that Duan Bai Yue might be after the Imperial throne. An important political figure dies in strange circumstances; the theory seems even more plausible, putting Chu Yuan in a rough spot. How will the young ruler deal with the situation? You can find out here.
14. No Doubt in Us (2021)
Emperor Xiao Jin Yun, with the help of the skilled fighter and passionate Consort Xu Yu, ruled the Chinese Imperial Court. Since their personalities are polar opposites, it leads to constant disagreements and arguments between the two. At one point, it seems that there will never be a time when the two will be able to resolve their differences and work together peacefully. But everything changes one morning when the two wake up to learn that their bodies have been mysteriously swapped with one another. This new experience opens Xiao Jin Yun’s eyes, and he is shocked to realize that no one except Xu Yu has genuine feelings for him. As the strange predicament falls on their heads, the duo slowly starts to become more intimate, realizing that they care for each other more than they had ever imagined. You can watch the show here.
13. Scissor Seven (2018 -)
Seven or Wu Liqui possesses immense telekinetic powers that are quite intimidating. It appears that he would easily be able to pass the crash course in professional killing, but when the unthinkable happens, he ends up opening a barber shop on Chicken Island. He still decides to pursue his previous aim of becoming an assassin but gets into all kinds of trouble while trying to get back his lost memories. ‘Scissor Seven,’ also known as ‘Cike Wu Liuqi,‘ recounts an action-packed story of an amnesiac and broken character who is desperately trying to get some semblance of normalcy in his rough life. Feel free to watch the show here.
12. The King’s Avatar (2017 -)
If you are looking for an anime based on a multiplayer game, then ‘Quanzhi Gaoshou’ is probably the right series for you. The show revolves around an online multiplayer game named Glory. Ye Xiu is regarded by many as the best player, which is not surprising as he has devoted ten years of his life to it. But then he is forced to retire and leave his team; Ye finds work at an internet cafe.
When Glory adds the tenth server, Ye Xiu feels that it’s about time to get back into the gaming zone and compete with the best. It does not take him long to catch the attention of other top-level players who don’t know anything about him. However, even though Ye Xiu has a lot of experience and skills, the game has changed over the years. With no sponsor to back him up, he faces an uphill struggle to become the best in the business. Will he be able to find his feet and dominate other players just like he used to do back in the day? You can watch the anime here.
11. Monkey King: Hero is Back (2015)
‘Xiyouji Zhi Dasheng Guilai’ is a fantasy anime movie filled with action. It revolves around Monkey King, a legendary creature who was unrivaled in combat. He was really powerful and freely walked among the three realms, i.e., Heaven, Earth, and Hell. But he ends up breaking certain divine laws, thus angering the Gods and getting punished for his actions in the process. He is then imprisoned in an ice pillar and bound with chains, where he remains for many years.
One day, a boy, who gets lost, finds the cave in which the Monkey King is held. The boy touches the ice pillar, breaking the curse and releasing the imprisoned Monkey King. It marks the beginning of an adventure in which the Monkey King is pitted against an evil being who wants to sacrifice the souls of children to gain eternal life. You can watch the movie here.
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10. Legendary Twins (2022)
When the beautiful and arrogant Yaoyue, the sister of Yihua Palace, expresses her love to the martial artist Jiang Feng, he does not even think twice before rejecting her romantic advances. Interestingly, he is in love with Yaoyue’s servant, Hua Yuenu, and since they fear that they will be targeted if they are found to be living together, the duo decides to flee as far as possible. But as soon as Yaoyue learns the truth, she manages to track the lovers down with the help of her powerful clan. Hua and Jiang both die in the brutal confrontation, but their twin sons somehow survive the entire ordeal. But despite having inflicted so much pain already, Yaogyue is not done, as she plans to pit the two brothers against one another and have them destroy each other. You can watch the series here.
9. To Be Heroine (2018)
The action-comedy series ‘To Be Heroine’ or ‘Tu Bian Ying Xiong Leaf’ is a spinoff prequel to the popular show ‘To Be Hero.’ The anime follows Futaba, who transverses into a parallel world where people exist as babies in underpants. This marks the beginning of her bizarre and hilarious misadventures as he slowly finds out that she can fighters called SpiCloths using different pieces of her clothing. While the anime is mostly quite fun to watch, it also delves into serious themes once Futaba tries to learn about her past. Feel free to watch the anime here.
8. Psychic Princess (2018)
Inspired by the Chinese Manhua series of the same name, ‘Psychic Princess’ is a classic story of enemies turned lovers. The show follows the Grand Couselor’s eldest daughter, Qian Yunxi, who is shunned away by her own loved ones for possessing supernatural powers that are beyond the naturalistic explanation of any kind. At the delicate age of just 16, she is married off to Ye Youming, the enemy prince, who does not have her best interests in his heart at all. Soon afterward, Qian is sent to stay in a haunted house, where she ends up making friends with the spirits there. You can watch the anime here.
7. Soul Land (2018 -)
Tang San is one of the most talented martial artists in his clan, and his elders are convinced that he has a very bright future ahead of him. However, ignoring the rules of his sect, he acquires the forbidden knowledge and honors the principles taught to him since childhood by committing suicide. However, by virtue of his strong spirit, Tang is reborn as a blacksmith’s son. He soon learns about the spirit power and, determined to make a name for himself, embarks on a quest to use his incredible powers for the greater good. You can watch the show here.
6. The Island of Siliang (2021)
Created by Year Young Culture Animation, ‘The Island of Siliang’ is a fantasy action anime. The Zhao Yu Qing directorial introduces viewers to a universe where Gods, Humans, and Immortals exist within different times and spaces. The three groups have been given different powers and responsibilities but when Immortals or Humans break the Sacred Law, Gods take it upon themselves to punish them for their crimes. Interestingly, a mysterious place named Siliang Island exists between the World of the Gods and the Realm of Heaven, where the sinners are actually sent to suffer and pay for their mistakes. There, Tu Li lives, who aspires to become a master of martial arts and escape the island one day. But none of those two dreams are easy to achieve. However, Li is adamant and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. You can watch the show here.
5. The Girl Downstairs (2023)
Inspired by a South Korean web-based cartoon, ‘The Girl Downstairs’ is a rom-com series. The anime follows Yuan Jun Tang, a young adult who enrolls at Minsong University after learning that his high school crush, Zhu Zhu, studies there. He feels that being around her could potentially bring the duo closer but little does he know that he would end up meeting a few other great women there who will turn his mind around. The hilarious story of college freshmen desperately looking for love is a great watch for fans of the rom-com genre. You can stream the anime here.
4. Spiritpact (2016 – 2018)
‘Ling Qi’ is a supernatural anime that is inspired by the Chinese Manhua of the same name. The series follows Yang Jinghua, an impoverished man who is involved in an unfortunate accident one day. When he wakes up, he finds himself ten years younger. He feels that he has been reborn and thinks about starting his life afresh. But then he encounters the 13th Youmeshi of the Tanmoki, a white-haired man who tells him that he is dead. The exorcist presents You the chance to become his spirit shadow and offer him protection in return for his own protection from humans. As the two agree with the pact, the duo takes on unexpected challenges in the spiritual world that change them forever. Feel free to watch the show here.
3. Heaven Official’s Blessing (2021 -)
After his arrival in the heavenly realm for the third time, eight hundred years after he was regarded as the martial god, Xie Lian no longer has followers of his own. However, he has barely embraced his new life when he has the unexpected encounter with Hua Cheng, the Ghost king who strikes fear into the hearts of demons and gods alike. When he has barely figured out what could have motivated someone like him to meet a Heavenly official, Xie meets San Lang, a young man with vast knowledge who accompanies the protagonist as he embarks on a journey to unravel the mysteries of his past and understand himself better. You can watch the show here.
2. Full-Time Magister (2016 -)
After getting reborn in a universe where magic has replaced the essence of science, Mo Fan, an impoverished high schooler whose father is a poor laborer, vows to attend the prestigious magic institution. When he somehow gets in, his fellow classmates make fun of his lack of familiarity with magic abilities, but Mo somehow harnesses fire and lightning elements. It marks the beginning of his misadventures in the world of magic, where he encounters mythical creatures and tries to climb the social ladder to offer his family a better life. The anime is accessible for streaming here.
1. The Founder of Diabolism (2018 -)
In the world of cultivators, the most sought-after goal is to achieve the state of immortality, also known as Xian. While almost everyone follows the traditional path, a cultivator named Wei Wuxian can’t resist the attraction of dark energy and ultimately acquires unthinkable powers through demonic cultivation. However, his reign of terror and violence does not last long as other cultivators band together to take him down. Thirteen years after he is killed by a close ally, Wei Wuxian is reborn in the body of a lunatic. He wastes no time in finding his trusted friend and former classmate Lan Wangji and embarks on a journey that will slowly unravel the dark secret behind his death. Internationally, ‘Mo Dao Zu Shi’ is one of the most successful animated shows from China, and it is therefore not surprising that it has made it to this list. You can watch the show here.
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