Many monster-taming series were born in Japan, but China’s latest Chinese animation is known for encoming a variety of techniques, and its latest donghua does that by masterfully blending in traditional 2D elements to create beautifully fluid movements of its characters, but also utilizing 3D elements to build up the world setting and cityscape.

Created and illustrated by Mo, The All-devouring Whale follows the journey of Fan Lingxiao, who is an incredibly talented beast tamer among his own sect, Lingxiao Pavilion. He aims to lead them to the next level of reputation and prestige so that he can officially begin looking into the descent of his clan years prior. However, things take a drastic turn when his spirit pet, Kun, turns on the audience and devours him whole. One year later, he awakens in the body of Liu Fengmang, now once again at the mercy of an ever-growing mystery and climb to the top.

All-devouring Whale: Homecoming Donghua Premiered Its First Episode to Huge Success

Featuring Adorable and Fearsome Creatures in Incredible Cinematic Battles

The first episode of The All-devouring Whale was met with positive reception, thanks to its amazing animation, quirky humor, and stunning battle sequences that utilized dynamic movements to really amp up the energy presented in the fights. Fans are already heaping on the praise for the project, claiming that the “donghua animation works seamlessly with 3D background” and the soundboarding, as well as the “music for [The All-devouring Whale] is superb.” Thanks to the success of only one episode, it has led to a rush of people scrambling to read the webcomic in preparation for what the first season has in store.

The All-devouring Whale set up all of the right pieces to make it a huge success. It starts off with a huge battle that demonstrates the sheer power and calamity these spirit pets could muster with the right training, and yet later, likewise displays a more light-hearted nature with Liu Fengmang’s Infant beasts going up against a much tougher opponent. The story is taking itself seriously, introducing the fall of Lingxiao’s clan and how that continues to motivate him in a soft and moving depiction of oil paintings showcasing his memories in a dreamy eclipse after falling to Kun.

It’s a good change in pace for the donghua to not only attract new viewers but reinvent the story years after that first chapter was published online. Lingxiao’s journey is one of hardship, loss, and betrayal, which is made all the better thanks to the spirit beasts at his side and the companions he’ll make along the way. The gravitas of his quest is now equally balanced with his setback and determination to climb back up to the top, evolving Lingxiao into a much more intriguing protagonist.

China’s Donghua is Shaping Up to be Proper Competition for Japan’s Anime

Evoking New Stories in a Time Where Fresh Ideas Are in High Demand

The All-devouring Whale is just one of the latest installments by China to push its donghua into the mainstream, as anime has done before it. To Be Hero X became incredibly popular, seemingly overnight, thanks to its new-age animation that perfectly combined the qualities of anime and donghua through 3D and 2D animation. The series was a culmination of both cultures, celebrating each through the art style and writing.

While maybe not ready to sur anime, donghua is elevating itself to the next level to appeal to a wider audience by evolving its current style and greenlighting new projects. Lord of the Mysteries is set to debut later in June, with its first episode stated to have nearly 30,000 frames for its animation, and serves as further proof that the genre isn’t playing around with its newfound style and quality.

The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming has certainly cemented itself in the minds of its fans, delivering on the stellar animation it promised in its initial trailer. New episodes will continue to air every Saturday on Bilibili’s website and YouTube channel. The first season of the donghua has been confirmed to cover 12 episodes, so there’s still a lot to look forward to for this new series as it delves deeper into the mystery of Lingxiao’s death and his determination to once again ascend to the top as the world’s strongest spirit pet master.