While anime originates from Japan, Chinese anime, most commonly known as donghua (動畫), has really taken off over the last few years and now there are tons of great series and films available on Netflix. Anime is now an integral part of Chinese culture, and they are also a great source of learning content for Mandarin language students. In this blog, we share our 5 favourites:

The Daily Life of the Immortal King (仙王的日常生活)

Having fought off a powerful demon aged just six, Wang Ling must now navigate through his greatest test yet… High School. He plans for an uneventful experience, but it’s not that straight forward. The Daily Life of the Immortal King came out in 2020 and was straight away a massive hit.

Heaven Official’s Blessing (天官赐福)

After being banished to the mortal realm to protect humanity against evil spirits, a deity uncovers a dark secret about the heavenly gods. Heaven Official’s Blessing is based on a novel of the same name and was released on Netflix in 2021.

Scissor Seven (刺客伍六七)

Seven, a scissor-wielding hairdresser and recently turned assassin, offers contract killing at a killer price, but often he has trouble completing his assignments. Refreshingly unique and laugh-out-loud funny, Scissor Seven is a highly-rated, must-watch donghua series.

Flavours of Youth (肆式青春)

Flavours of Youth is a donghua film based on three short stories about reminiscing over a bowl of steaming noodles, a fashion model finding her way in life and a bittersweet first love in Shanghai. Snuggle up on the sofa and watch Flavours of Youth this weekend for a heart-warming movie night.

Legend of Exorcism (扶摇)

Kong Hongjun strives to battle demons and joins forces with an exorcism squad to bring peace back to the mortal world. Legend of Exorcism is a surprisingly goofy yet suspenseful anime series, that’s bound to be an entertaining watch for all Mandarin learners.

Are you a donghua fan looking to get to grips with the Mandarin language? Find out more about our Mandarin courses here.