Published on 2026-05-01
Anime vs Donghua: What's the Difference and Which Should You Watch?
If you're an anime fan, you've probably heard the term "donghua" popping up more and more. But what exactly is donghua, and how does it differ from the anime you know and love? Let's break it down.
What Is Donghua?
Donghua (动画) is simply the Chinese word for animation. In the global fan community, it specifically refers to Chinese animated series — just as "anime" specifically refers to Japanese animation.
Key Differences
### Art Style Traditional anime uses 2D hand-drawn or digitally painted animation. Donghua increasingly uses high-quality 3D CGI animation, especially for action and cultivation (xianxia) series. Some donghua, like the popular Renegade Immortal, feature stunning 3D environments that rival video game graphics.
### Story Genres Anime covers everything from romance to mecha. Donghua has a strong focus on cultivation stories (xianxia/xuanhuan) — tales of martial artists and immortals seeking power through training. Think of it as a distinct genre that's central to Chinese pop culture, similar to how mecha is central to Japanese pop culture.
### Episode Format Anime typically runs 12-24 episodes per season. Many popular donghua run as "year-round" series with ongoing episodes (sometimes 50-100+ per run), more similar to long-running shonen anime.
### Source Material Anime adapts manga, light novels, and visual novels. Donghua primarily adapts Chinese web novels (网络小说), which can span thousands of chapters and millions of words.
Top Donghua to Get Started
Based on our community rankings, here are the most popular donghua right now:
1. Renegade Immortal — A cultivation epic following Wang Lin's journey 2. Battle Through The Heavens — One of the longest-running and most popular donghua 3. Throne of Seal — A fantasy adventure with great world-building
Check our donghua rankings for the full current top 10.
Top Anime Right Now
And for those new to anime, here's what's trending:
1. Witch Hat Atelier — A magical fantasy with beautiful art 2. Re:ZERO Season 4 — The beloved isekai continues 3. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 — Fantasy fun at its best
See the full list on our anime rankings.
Why Not Watch Both?
At TopAni, we track both anime and donghua because we believe great animation knows no borders. Whether you prefer the artistic traditions of Japanese anime or the epic scale of Chinese donghua, there's never been a better time to explore both worlds.