From Underdog to Usurper: China’s Donghua Challenges Anime’s Reign

Written by Julian Cardenas on 14 Aug 2025

When it comes to Asia’s new wave of animation capabilities, South Korea has already carved out a seat at the table with stylish hits like K-Pop Demon Hunters proving that Aeni or Korean anime can compete with Japan’s long-established industry. 

Yet hot on its heels is China, which after decades of being known primarily for its skyscrapers, factories, cuisine, and technology, is now aggressively positioning itself as the next big contender in global animation. Once dismissed as a minor player, its domestic animation industry has recently exploded with breakthroughs that have stunned fans and insiders alike. 

For those who are currently unaware, Chinese animation or anime is called  ‘Donghua (simplified Chinese: 动画; traditional Chinese: 動畫; pinyin: dònghuà)’ refers specifically to animation made in China, though it has roots all the way back to 1920s, it has since evolved into a global cultural force. 

( Top Chinese Animations: Link Click: Bridon Arc, Nezha 2, To Be Hero X, Credits to original studios) 

This could be seen with the explosive film  NeZha 2, which has smashed box office records grossing a jaw-dropping $2.2 billion worldwide. That achievement not only makes it the highest-grossing animated film of all time, but also the highest-grossing non-English-language film in cinematic history and the highest-grossing film ever released in China, according to Forbes. 

Its performance has even eclipsed widely beloved Hollywood hits such as Lilo & Stitch and Avengers Infinity War. 

Though back in 2021, there had been breakthroughs as seen with the donghua Link Click stunned audiences with its excellent storytelling and unique time-travel narrative breaking into the top rankings of MyAnimeList and officially alerting global anime fandom that Chinese animation was a great secondary option to the usual Japanese anime list. 

Fast forward to 2025, Another Chinese original animation called To Be Hero X recently won “Best Original Anime of the Season” in Anime Corner’s Spring 2025 Anime of the Season Awards- an achievement that blew minds as it toppled traditional Japanese studios in their own turf. 

In the same year, the Lord of the Mysteries donghua (based on the wildly popular Chinese web novel of the same name) had already gone viral on international socials and forums even before the release of the first episode,  proving the hype is now global, not local.

Lord of the Mysteries poster with the main character ‘Klein Moretti’ upfront, (Credits to WeTV & B.CMAY PICTURES)

 As Chinese donghua continues its meteoric rise, even veteran figures in the Japanese anime industry have begun voicing serious concern;

Masao Maruyama - the legendary founder behind Madhouse and MAPPA has warned that Japan’s obsession with commercially “safe” genres is stifling creativity, and that if China were to loosen its strict content regulations, it could eclipse Japan with alarming speed.

Likewise, renowned filmmaker Makoto Shinkai (Your Name, Suzume) has openly acknowledged that the technical and storytelling advancements in Chinese animation are quickly closing the once-gaping quality gap. 

Echoing this sentiment, director Yutaka Yamamoto (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) has criticized Japan’s creative stagnation, bluntly stating that China’s bold and innovative approach may soon push Japan off its long-held throne in the global animation hierarchy.

This coupled with South Korea rapidly catching up through stylish aeni like K-Pop Demon Hunters, Japan’s crown is now under siege from both sides.