2025 is shaping up to be another monumental year for Chinese animation, or donghua. With stunning visuals, captivating storylines, and a booming industry, donghua are increasingly capturing global attention. From epic cultivation sagas to intricate sci-fi and heartwarming comedies, the landscape is vibrant and ever-expanding.
While exact, real-time viewership figures across all Chinese platforms (Tencent Video, Bilibili, iQIYI, etc.) are often kept proprietary, we can gauge immense popularity through consistent high rankings, social media buzz, official announcements, and the sheer longevity and consistent quality of these series.
Here’s our look at the Top 10 most popular and most-watched donghua making waves in 2025, combining long-running giants with highly anticipated new entries and sequels!
The Unstoppable Giants: Continuous Viewership Powerhouses
These series are the bedrock of donghua viewership, often airing year-round as “Annual Series” (年番) and accumulating billions of views. If you’re looking for consistent entertainment, these are your go-to.
Battle Through the Heavens
- Genre: Xianxia, Action, Fantasy
- Why it’s huge: Still the undisputed king of 3D cultivation donghua. Xiao Yan’s journey from a fallen genius to a formidable alchemist and martial arts master continues to captivate. Its annual series format ensures constant engagement, making it a perennial chart-topper.
Perfect World
- Genre: Xianxia, Action, Fantasy
- Why it’s huge: Following the epic journey of Shi Hao, a heaven-defying prodigy, Perfect World consistently delivers high-quality 3D animation and intense cultivation battles. It’s another titan in the annual series format, boasting massive viewership.
Soul Land 2 (Douluo Dalu Ⅱ)
- Genre: Xianxia, Action, Romance
- Why it’s huge: As the sequel to Soul Land, arguably the most-watched donghua of all time, Soul Land 2 inherited an enormous fanbase. While the first series concluded, its successor continues the legacy with new characters and intricate spirit master powers.
A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality
- Genre: Xianxia, Action, Martial Arts
- Why it’s huge: Praised for its grounded (for Xianxia!) narrative and excellent 3D animation from Bilibili, this donghua has a devoted following. It meticulously adapts a beloved web novel, showcasing a protagonist who relies more on wits and diligence than innate talent.
Renegade Immortal
- Genre: Xianxia, Action, Reincarnation
- Why it’s huge: This donghua, centered on Wang Lin’s journey to overcome his mediocre talent and seek true immortality, has seen an explosion in popularity in 2025, frequently topping quarterly viewership charts. It’s lauded for its darker, more complex cultivation narrative and has become a major flagship for Tencent’s annual lineup.
Swallowed Star
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Post-Apocalyptic
- Why it’s huge: Continues to dominate the sci-fi cultivation space. Swallowed Star consistently impresses with its massive-scale, futuristic 3D animation and high-stakes battles against cosmic entities, cementing its place as a must-watch for fans of high-tech martial arts.
The Game Changers: New Releases & Highly Anticipated Sequels
These titles are either brand new entries making a massive splash or returning favorites whose new seasons are generating immense excitement and viewership.
Lord of the Mysteries
- Genre: Steampunk, Lovecraftian Horror, Fantasy
- Why it’s huge: This is arguably the most anticipated new donghua of 2025. Based on one of the most popular and critically acclaimed Chinese web novels of all time, its unique blend of Western fantasy, mystery, and cosmic horror has fans buzzing worldwide. Its Summer 2025 release is set to be a viewership magnet.
To Be Hero X
- Genre: Superhero, Action, Comedy
- Why it’s huge: From the visionary director of Link Click and Heaven Official’s Blessing, To Be Hero X is a major new release for 2025. Co-produced with Aniplex and airing simultaneously in China and Japan, its unique premise of heroes whose powers stem from public faith has garnered immense hype and critical attention.
Purple River Season 2 (Zichuan)
- Genre: Military Fantasy, Political Drama, Wuxia
- Why it’s huge: The return of the epic military fantasy series, centered on the strategic conflicts of the Zichuan Clan. Purple River Season 2, following Zichuan Xiu’s coronation, was eagerly awaited, escalating the warfare and deepening the political drama, making it a crucial hit for fans of strategy and large-scale war.
Super Cube
- Genre: Urban Fantasy, Action, Sci-Fi
- Why it’s huge: An undeniable breakout hit of the Spring 2025 season. While facing some criticisms, Super Cube was internationally recognized for having some of the most dynamic and expertly choreographed 2D/3D hybrid fight scenes of the year, quickly securing its place as a top-tier action series.
The Big Picture: What Defines 2025?
The list confirms the strength of annual 3D cultivation series, but the success of new, high-concept adaptations like Lord of the Mysteries alongside the animation excellence of Super Cube, proves that the industry is rapidly diversifying and improving its quality across all genres.
Last Updated on October 22, 2025 by Yu Alexius
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