With love, fantasy, action, adventure, and magic by the bucketload, what’s there not to love about Chinese animations? Check out our specially curated collection of C-animation classics!

C-ANIMATION

Bilibili

Yuan Jun Tang is an unassuming college freshman. He gained a place at Minsong University – and chose the college for a special reason. A former high school senior named Zhu Zhu studies at Minsong. And Yuan Jun Tang is still besotted with her, despite the fact that she graduated from high school some time ago. He hopes going to Minsong will help draw him close to Zhu Zhu, and let him with her heart.

He moves into student accommodation. But one day, when he is on his way out to meet Zhu Zhu, he bumps into a young woman outside his building. Her name is Shiya Li, and Yuan Jun Tang eventually recognizes her as being a former member of an “idol”-style all-female pop group. He used to be a fan of the group when he was in high school. He soon learns that Shiya Li has moved into the apartment downstairs from his own accommodation. Eventually, he strikes up a friendship with her. He also befriends a girl named Ruoni Cui, whom he meets at a party. Could he find love with any of these women?

This animation was based on a South Korean web-based cartoon (webtoon) series named “Yi Doona!” (translated as “The Girl Downstairs”) by Min Song Ah.

“The Girl Downstairs” is a 2023 Chinese animated series that was directed by Dong Yi.

A college freshman finds his heart torn between a former pop star, his high school senior, and a girl he met at a party!

An unassuming college freshman student learns that the woman who lives downstairs is a former pop idol – will she steal his heart?

The Girl Downstairs

♡ The thousand faces of Love

Ye Jia Yao is a young, modern celebrity cook who loves Chinese food. She dreams of becoming the most famous chef in the land. But while she is experimenting with a recipe, something goes terribly wrong and she is catapulted back in time to Imperial China. She finds she has woken up in the body of a magistrate’s daughter and that her name is now Ye Jin Xuan. Mere moments after she has come to terms with this, bandits descend on her village and kidnap her.

She comes face to face with the dashing Xia Chun Yu, the Marquis of the Jing An. Although he appears to be another bandit, he actually has a secret identity. A plot has been hatched to overthrow the Emperor and Xia Chun Yu appears keen to investigate. Ye Jin Xuan begins to form an uneasy alliance with Xia Chun Yu, as she starts to dream of heading to a big city to become a big-name chef. Will her dreams come true?

This animation is an adaptation of a hit Chinese web novel of the same name by Zi Yi. The novel also spawned a hit 2018 drama series named “Cinderella Chef.”

“Cinderella Chef Season 1” is a 2018-2019 Chinese animation series that was directed by Ni Jia Fei.

Cinderella Chef

🥢Cooking with Love💞 Team

The Chinese Imperial Court is ruled by the austere but dashing and clever Emperor Xiao Jin Yun and his polar opposite, the passionate Imperial Consort Xu Yu, a skilled fighter who possesses great phenomenal strength. The duo’s personalities clash, leading to seemingly endless bickering and disagreement. It seems they will never be able to put their differences aside, even for the sake of the realm.

But a near-death incident at a pool one day has strange repercussions. They awake to find they have swapped bodies – the Emperor’s spirit is now embodied in the Imperial Consort’s body...and vice versa! The Imperial Consort is disappointed to have been stripped of all her physical abilities. And the Emperor is shocked to discover that his concubines and consorts are engaged in a fierce battle for power and influence. He witnesses their deceit and scheming firsthand, and starts to understand that Xu Yu’s feelings for him are deeper and more genuine than those of his other wives and companions. Will they be able to pool their wits – and find true love?

“No Doubts in Us Season 1” is a 2021 Chinese animated series that was directed by Wang Feng Bin.

No Doubt in Us

Unexpected Swap of Roles Team

With his exceptional business acumen, Yi Ning was considered an elite member of the modern business world. But when he is mysteriously transported to the ancient Wu Dynasty, he decides to hide his business skills to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a heroic martial arts master.&nbsp;

While attempting to pursue his grand dreams of heroism, Yi Ning quickly realizes that life in the Wu Dynasty isn’t as simple as he had imagined. Landing in this time as the son-in-law of a merchant family, Yi Ning watches his wife, Su Tan Er struggle to keep the family cloth business afloat. Knowing he can help his new family succeed, Yi Ning tries to help but soon finds himself caught up in a fierce battle between the Su family and the imperial merchants.

Doing everything he can to help his wife and her family, Yi Ning fights tirelessly against those who would see them fail. But with enemies this powerful, what chance does he have at success?

Based on the novel, "Zuo Son-in-Law" by Fen Nu de Xiang Jiao, “My Heroic Husband” is a 2023 Chinese animated series directed by Hao Chao.

My Heroic Husband

Zhui Xu Team 

To casual observers, Tao Yao appears to be nothing more than an ordinary young girl. In fact, she is anything but. Tao Yao is actually a spirit healer. And her goal is not to treat people, but animals, monsters, and spirits who have found themselves in precarious situations. She travels around in search of those who need her help, lending her help to everyone from fox demons to werewolves!

But she is not alone in her quest. She has also been joined by a diminutive monk named Mo Ya. This monk cannot grow taller: His growth has been stunted. But after Tao Yao saved him, he became her loyal sidekick – ready to help her to the best of her abilities. This duo is soon joined by a fox named Gun Gun. And the final member of the group is perhaps the most mysterious – Liu Gon Zi, a snake demon who has taken control of a man’s body. The demon wants to use Mo Ya to his own ends. But Tao Yao convinces him to help her complete her missions first. He agrees, and this allows her to make use of his abilities. Will this motley crew help rescue the spirits and monsters who need Tao Yao’s help?

“Fairies Albums Season 1” is a 2020 Chinese animated series that was directed by Dong Yi.

Fairies Albums

📿The Healer Team🎏

Su Xiao has always been “spicy” – ever since her childhood years. Her demeanor means she usually leaves others frightened in her presence, even if that isn’t something she is always happy about. And that means she has often found herself struggling in the popularity stakes, despite the fact that she actually has a strong sense of humor and a hard-working attitude. Now an adult, she has turned her hand to acting. But as she has lost none of her frightening demeanor, she is almost always typecast as a villain, despite her wishes to branch out into a wide range of roles. 

One day, she crosses paths with Xiao Jian, a (secretly hypocritical and cynical) award-winning actor and investor, when he witnesses a third-rate director hugging Su Xiao wearing only his underwear in a hotel room. He opportunistically takes a photo of the two, even though nothing untoward had actually happened, and the whole incident was, in fact, totally innocent. To avoid a scandal, Su Xiao agrees to sign a contract with Xiao Jian, agreeing to do what he wants. But will this unorthodox agreement send them on the path to redemption...or even love?

“Spicy Girl” is a 2020 Chinese animated series that was directed by Uda Takenosuke.

Spicy Girl

Devil Spicy But Cute Pussycat 

As an avid reader of xianxia novels, Shen Yuan is well-versed in the ways of the “immortal hero”. A true aficionado of the genre and the “Proud Immortal Demon Way” series, Shen Yuan knows exactly what path such a hero must take to fulfill his destiny. So when Shen Yuan is mysteriously transported into the world of the series, he knows exactly what he must do as the story’s new hero.

Unfortunately, Shen Yuan isn’t the story’s hero, but rather the hero’s scumbag master, Chen Qing Qiu, who is destined to suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of his disciple, Luo Bing He. Determined to do whatever it takes to change his fate, Shen Yuan tries to find a way to change the story. The only problem is, all of his actions are monitored by The System, a monitoring program designed to keep him from derailing the story’s plot. Unable to act in any manner that falls too far outside the confines of his character, most of Shen Yuan’s attempts to befriend his disciple are blocked by The System

Despite The System’s best efforts to thwart him, Shen Yuan is determined to find ways to stay on Bing He’s good side. Will Shen Yuan succeed in his attempts to circumvent The System and step outside his predestined role as the scumbag master, or will his attempts to force his happy ending end in utter failure?

Adapted from the novel “Scum Villain's Self-Saving System” by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, “Scumbag System” is a 2020 Chinese animated series directed by Zhang Hai Dong.&nbsp;

Scumbag System

Having ascended to the Imperial throne of Chu State at the age of just 18, Chu Yuan is hoping for a peaceful reign. But during his first year as Emperor, a bloody rebellion threatens to break out. Unrest begins to brew at the southwestern border between Chu lands and the neighboring Xinan Kingdom. Chu Yuan prepares to intervene. But before he can do anything, the rebellion is quashed by Duan Bai Yue, the young ruler of the Xinan.

The two men form an uneasy alliance. Their relationship threatens to lurch from love to hate...to possible attraction. But as they grow more mature, some begin to worry that Duan Bai Yue could have designs on the Chu throne. When a key Chu ally is found dead, suspicion falls on Duan Bai Yue. But can the two men’s bond and pure hearts help them quell the forces of aggression – and lead them down the path of reconciliation?

This animated series was based on an illustrated novel of the same name from 2016.

“The Emperor’s Strategy” is a 2018 Chinese animated series that was directed by Gong Zhen Hua.

The Emperor's Strategy

Because I'm the Bad Guy

When an ordinary but somewhat aloof ninth-grade school student named Mo Fan falls asleep wearing a mysterious pendant one day, his life changes dramatically! He awakes in a world where almost everything is the same, except for the fact that magic – not science – is now taught at his school! In three months’ time, he finds himself sitting an examination on magic, and has no idea what all the answers are! In this world, magic-related jobs are the highest-paying, as magicians are his town’s only line of defence against fearsome monsters that live in the nearby forests.

As Mo Fan’s family is poor and he must take care of his physically challenged step-sister, he realizes that the only way that he will be able to have enough money to help his family is to become a magician himself! He wins acceptance to a well-known magic high school, but his fellow students soon learn of his poverty – and his ineptitude in all things magic-related! But he will not be daunted, and resolves to harness the power of two magic-bestowing elements. Will he be successful in his quest – and does a lifetime of magical spells await him?

“Full-Time Magister Season 1” is a 2016 Chinese animated series.

Full-Time Magister

Dreamers beyond Magic

Some time ago, the young 21st Century celebrity chef Ye Jia Yao was experimenting with a recipe that went very wrong. It went so badly, in fact, that it sent her back in time to China’s Imperial past. She was reborn in the body of a magistrate’s daughter as Ye Jin Xuan. And things went from bad to worse when bandits raided the village she found herself in and kidnapped her.

She became the “fake” wife of a dashing marquis named Xia Chun Yu, a man with a secret identity and a special mission. Over time, she began to fall for him, and it seemed that the feeling was mutual. But he never came clean about his feelings, leaving her frustrated. She also met He Lian Jing, a prince who befriended her. Lacking in social skills, he nonetheless formed a close bond with her. Now she has moved to a big city and hopes to make a fresh start as a cook in her new home. But it looks like Xia Chun Yu will reappear on the scene, causing more romantic complications!

This animation is the follow-up to “Cinderella Chef Season 1.” It is an adaptation of a hit Chinese web novel of the same name by Zi Yi. The novel also spawned a hit 2018 drama series named “Cinderella Chef.”

“Cinderella Chef Season 2” is a 2019 Chinese animation series that was directed by Ni Jia Fei.

Cinderella Chef 2

Tao Yao is a young girl with the amazing ability to communicate with animal and monster spirits – and even heal some human souls! She has spent a long time traveling around the country in search of spirits who need her help, offering aid to everyone, ranging from villagers to fox demons and even seemingly fearsome werewolves.

Joining her on her journeys are a small white fox named Gun Gun, who looks a little like a dog. Also on the adventure is a bumbling but good-natured monk named Mo Ya. The latter is tiny, and suffers from stunted growth, but is ready to serve Tao Yao ever since she saved him. And their number is rounded out by Liu Gon Zi, a snake demon who has taken possession of a man’s body. The demon wants to consume Mo Ya to his own ends. But Tao Yao has convinced him to wait, and help her on her quest first. The gang heads toward the capital, but gets hopelessly lost on the way. Instead, they come face-to-face with a male villager who has fallen for a noblewoman...and a mysterious bug demon! Which souls will they encounter next?

This series is the follow-up to the animation hit “Fairies Albums Season 1.”

“Fairies Albums Season 2” is a 2021 Chinese animated series that was directed by Dong Yi.

Fairies Albums 2

The devilishly handsome and wily Emperor Xiao Jin Yun rules the Dachen realm, with the passionate and impossibly strong, martial arts-specializing Imperial Consort Xu Yu at his side. The duo are bored of each other’s company and hold one another in low regard. But following a near-death incident at a pool, they awake to find they have switched bodies! This led them to live in each other’s shoes: The Emperor witnessed his concubines and consorts battling for influence, using deceit and all other manner of underhand tactics.

Xu Yu, now the Emperor, has also come to understand the ruler’s difficulties – and has developed a new appreciation for him. After overcoming many obstacles, they now face a fresh set of challenges: A clash at the border forced the “Emperor” to personally lead an army out to battle and the Tatar Queen has taken up residence in the Imperial palace. What is more, plots are being hatched: Ministers and royal family members plan to undermine the Imperial throne – and some even plan to reveal the duo’s secret identities. Will Xiao Jin Yun and Xu Yu once again manage to join forces to overcome the forces of chaos and corruption?

This animation is the sequel to the 2021 series “No Doubts in Us Season 1.”

“No Doubts in Us Season 2” is a 2022-2023 Chinese animated series that was directed by Wang Feng Bin.

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