So you are new to donghua or perhaps you are not too sure what donghua even means. Donghua (动画) means animation in Chinese and is being used to refer to Chinese animation in the same way that anime is often used to refer to Japanese animation. If you are curious as to what donghua has to offer, you have come to the right post. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of recommendations but a sort of sampler of the best that donghua has to offer.
As with all “lists”, this is my own personal opinion of what I consider to be the best of donghua at the time of writing. Since I am focusing on the animation style and motion, this sampling will skew towards more action-oriented shows.
Wu Shan Wu Xing (Fog Hill of Five Elements)
This has some of the most gorgeous and unique animated styles in donghua due to its brush-type outlines, making the show look like a moving painting at times. The action is also very kinetic and emotionally heightened through clever use of color shifting.
Type: hand-drawn 2D animation
Animation Company: Samsara Studio
Where to find it: Bilibili (without subtitles), Nyaa (quality fansubs available)
Zhen Dao Ge (Song of the Restless Blade)
I dare say Zhen Dao Ge has the best action choreography in any animated show I’ve seen and that includes anime and Western animations. The movements of the characters are very fluid and the fights are grounded in a sense of realism. I’ve seen anime that experimented with this style and failed with stilted character movement but this show has turned it into something uniquely fantastic.
Type: 2D cell-shading
Animation Studio: Infinity Animations
Where to find it: Tencent (without subtitles), Nyaa (quality fansubs available)
Ling Long: Incarnation (Spirit Cage / Ling Cage)
A significant portion of donghua are 3D animations. Even if that isn’t really your cup of tea, this show might change your mind. The 3D is sublimely rendered with extremely fluid fight scenes and expressive character work. Ling Long also feels very cinematic in its execution.
Type: 3D-CGI
Animation Studio: YHKT Animation
Where to find it: Bilibili (without subtitles), Nyaa (quality fansubs available)