Hey, fellow donghua fans! I’m back with another deep dive into the creative powerhouses shaping the Chinese animation landscape. A few weeks ago, we explored Haoliners, but today, we’re spotlighting a studio that has become synonymous with fluid, high-octane 2D action: Big Firebird Cultural Media (大火鸟文化)!
If you love crisp, detailed fight choreography and dynamic characters, chances are you’ve already been mesmerized by their work. This studio is a favorite among donghua watchers because their style often achieves a level of polish that rivals top-tier Japanese anime, making their shows incredibly high-engagement and popular globally. Many of their works, like those adapted from popular manhua and video games, have even received official Japanese dubs!
Big Firebird is not just a newcomer; they boast over a decade of experience in the industry. They specialize in adapting popular web novels and manhua (Chinese comics) into stunning ONA (Original Net Animation) series. Their talent has earned them major collaborations with giants like Tencent Comics & Animation, iQIYI, and Youku.
Ready to see why Big Firebird has become a fan favorite? Let’s jump into their absolute best and most notable works, including their massive recent hits!
🌟 The Big Firebird A-Tier Hits (2021-2025 Updates)
These are the titles that cemented Big Firebird’s status as a top-tier studio.
1. Spare Me, Great Lord! (大王饶命) – The Flagship Hit!
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Year(s): Season 1 (2021), Season 2 (2023), Season 3 (Confirmed, Upcoming)
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Genre: Cultivation, Comedy, Modern Fantasy
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Why It’s Essential: Spare Me, Great Lord! (Da Wang Rao Ming) is now a massive cultural phenomenon. It is arguably Big Firebird’s most important series of the decade, showcasing their perfect blend of signature 2D action and excellent comedic timing. The show follows Lu Shu as he gains power from the “Negative Emotional Energy” he collects by annoying others. It’s an absolute must-watch for any donghua fan.
2. The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming (鲲吞天下之掌门归来)
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Year: 2025 (Premiered May 1, 2025)
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Genre: Xianxia (Immortal Cultivation), Action, Reincarnation
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Why It’s Essential: This is the newest A-tier project from the studio. It follows a spirit sect leader who is betrayed and devoured by his own spirit pet, only to be reborn in a new body. The trailers and initial episodes immediately garnered attention for their impressive action and detailed animation, proving that Big Firebird continues to deliver top-quality battle choreography.
3. Super Cube (超能立方)
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Year: 2025 (Premiered March 2025)
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Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Supernatural
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Why It’s Essential: An instant new hit for the studio in the first half of 2025. This series focuses on a teenager who gains immense powers (teleportation, super speed) from an otherworldly artifact. Like their best works, Super Cube is praised for its consistently crisp and breathtaking fight scenes, making it a sleeper hit of the 2025 season.
4. Hitori no Shita: The Outcast Season 3 (一人之下 3)
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Year: 2020
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Genre: Action, Supernatural, Martial Arts
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Why It’s Essential: This single season remains the gold standard for many Big Firebird fans. By replacing the previous studio and hiring animation talents like Weilin Zhang, Big Firebird delivered a season lauded globally for its sakuga (fluid animation) and incredible fight choreography, particularly the Wang Ye-focused arc. Crucial Update: Be sure to note that the studio only handled Season 3; subsequent seasons were produced by other teams.
📚 Foundational & Notable Series
These earlier hits and notable works were crucial in establishing Big Firebird Cultural Media’s reputation for versatile and high-quality animation before their latest blockbusters.
The Demonic King Who Chases His Wife (邪王追妻)
This successful, long-running romance Isekai adaptation showcases Big Firebird’s ability to handle genres outside of pure action. Running for three seasons (2019, 2020, and 2021), The Demonic King Who Chases His Wife is based on a popular shoujo manhua. It proves the studio can deliver engaging character dynamics and detailed historical fantasy settings, appealing directly to fans of the romance and Isekai genres.
Hero Return! (英雄再临)
Released in 2020, Hero Return! is an adaptation of the popular manhua Hero? I Quit a Long Time Ago. This series is a perfect example of the OP MC (Overpowered Main Character) trope, centering on a hero who just wants a normal life. It served as an excellent showcase for the studio’s action capabilities, with its fun premise and ability to deliver thrilling fight sequences.
Planting Manual (妖精种植手册)
Spanning two seasons in 2020 and 2022, Planting Manual is a unique cultivation Isekai. The protagonist is transported to another world where his cultivation journey involves collecting mysterious seeds that bloom into fairies. The post-2021 Season 2 continuation highlights the series’ sustained popularity and Big Firebird’s commitment to continuing successful fantasy adaptations.
My Cultivator Girlfriend (我的天劫女友)
An earlier hit from 2017, My Cultivator Girlfriend is a foundational work in the cultivation-romance genre for the studio. The story is set in a modern world and revolves around the unexpected romance between a security guard, Ma Yingxiong, and the female cultivator he saves. It is popular for its dynamic central relationship and served as an introduction to the cultivation genre for many fans.
Punishing: Panini (战双帕尼尼)
A short-form, action-comedy series released in 2020, Punishing: Panini is a chibi spin-off based on the hit mobile video game Punishing: Gray Raven. Though brief, these episodes are a fun and often humorous showcase of the characters in a lighter setting, demonstrating the studio’s ability to handle different animation styles.
Frankenstein Family (实验品家庭)
Also known as Creatures Family Days, this 2015 series is one of Big Firebird’s earliest works to gain notable international recognition. The premise involves children modified by their mad scientist parents. The show’s unique sci-fi/comedy/family theme, along with its official Japanese dub, helped introduce the studio’s capabilities to a wider, non-Chinese audience.
🎮 Big Firebird’s High-Profile Game Collaborations
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Black Myth: Wukong (Animation Contributor): Though not an anime series, Big Firebird’s work on creating some of the breathtaking 2D animated short movies/cutscenes for this highly anticipated AAA game is a massive credit. It speaks volumes about the studio’s quality and its role in China’s top-tier entertainment projects.
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Honkai: Star Rail: They were also credited for producing the animated short “On the Journey” for the globally popular game, another major feather in their cap for high-quality game animation.
So, what do you think?
The rise of Big Firebird Cultural Media is a testament to the incredible quality and production talent emerging from the Chinese animation scene. From the polished action of The Outcast S3 to the cultural phenomenon that is Spare Me, Great Lord! and the new hit The All-devouring Whale, this studio is a powerhouse you need to keep on your watchlist.
How many of these top-tier donghua have you already watched? Which title are you most excited to see next? Let me know in the comments below!
Last Updated on November 2, 2025 by Yu Alexius
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