The 20 Best Donghua Right Now

Why #1: The strongest cross-cultural mythology fusion in donghua history. Cuttlefish That Loves Diving rewrote Cthulhu mythos through the lens of Chinese web-novel craftsmanship, and the donghua adaptation does the source justice. The 22 Sequences map directly to the 22 Major Arcana — a layer Western viewers often miss but is the structural backbone of the entire system.

The animation quality alone wouldn't put it at #1. What earns the top spot is the rare combination of Western-recognizable mythology presented through unfamiliar narrative pacing. Anime fans who liked Bungo Stray Dogs or Steins;Gate will find their bridge into donghua here.

For anime fans who like: Bungo Stray Dogs, Steins;Gate, The Promised Neverland · Source: 1,432-chapter web novel

Why #2: Director Li Haoling's bilibili/Aniplex co-production uses 3D-to-2D transitions not as gimmickry but as load-bearing storytelling. When the protagonist activates his power, the world literally collapses from 3D space to 2D plane. This isn't an effect — it's the narrative architecture.

The reason it's #2 and not #1: emotional pacing in the middle arc loses steam. But the animation innovation alone would make this a defining donghua of the decade.

For anime fans who like: Spider-Verse, Mob Psycho 100, Re:Cyborg

Why #3: Five years and counting as donghua's international trailblazer. Time Photo Studio's grip on its fanbase comes from craft, not gimmicks. The slight drop to #3 reflects Season 3 not yet airing — once it drops Fall 2026, expect this to climb.

For anime fans who like: Erased, Steins;Gate, 91 Days