Hey! Have you watched The Legend of Princess Chang ge Donghua from last year. I don't see many people talk about it. Chang ge definitely is among my most favourite female characters. Saying this after reading the manhua of the same. The donghua can turn off many because of the 3DCG but it definitely has its strong points. Now I really want some similar recommendations but it's difficult to find one. Can you suggest some sharing the same historical setting?
Hi, thanks for sending in an ask!
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1.) The Legend of Princess Chang Ge
Unfortunately, I haven't seen the donghua of The Legend of Princess Chang Ge... This is actually the first one I've heard of it... I went to go read the synopsis on MAL and it sounds interesting...
Admittedly 3D CGI turns me off from many series as well... I tried watching the donghua for both SVSSS and Thousand Autumns last year but the uncanny valley feelings it evoked were too strong... Another historical romance donghua I liked released its season 2 last year but as the animation style shifted to 3D CGI, I also couldn't bring myself to finish it. I'll probably try the series in order to attempt to work past this issue when I have timeâbut I'm pretty swamped at the moment.
From what I can tell this donghua is set in historical China, unfortunately most of the recommendations I have seem to be romance-centric and lighter in tone and are pretty popular so chances that you've seen them are high.
2.) Recommendations for anime/donghua set in historical Asian-inspired settings
It's a bit difficult to recommend series similar to one I haven't seen myself, so these might not have the same sub-genres, themes and tone, but I tried my best to match the series' aesthetic and setting. Also, I'm sorry if you've seen most of these already...
-> 2.1.) Akatsuki no Yona | Yona of the Dawn
Although Akatsuki no Yona's setting is mostly derived from Korea's Three Kingdoms period, it incorporates some elements from ancient China. This series follows Yona, a sheltered princess who is forced to flee after her father's murder and a subsequent coup d'ĂŠtat. As she journeys across her kingdom with her bodyguard to find four legendary dragon warriors, she seeks to educate herself about the plight faced by her people and lend a helping hand. This series is a compelling blend of drama, fantasy, romance, comedy and actionâin addition to being a masterpiece in terms of its character development and character dynamics.
-> 2.2.) Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai | Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Maste
This anime follows a succession struggle in a world ruled by shape-shifting raven creatures called Yatagarasu. I don't want to delve too deeply into the series' plot and setting because it's pretty difficult to do so without spoiling some key plot points... But trust me, it's definitely worth watching for it's clever plot twists. Although this series' setting is more so inspired by Japan's Heian period than ancient China, it has that darker historical-drama element that I think you're looking for. Overall, this series does a phenomenal job at blending political intrigue, action and mystery with its fantastical setting. Although this series came out in 2024 but was surprisingly underrated and unfortunately slipped past most people...
-> 2.3.) Koukyuu no Karasu | Raven of The Inner Palace
Koukyuu no Karasu is set in a fantastical version of Ancient China's imperial court and blends elements of drama, mystery and fantasy. This anime centres around the Raven Consort, Liu Shouxue whose role in the inner palace is solve supernatural mysteries while retaining her distance from others, including the emperor himself. As she gradually begins to forge connections with those around her, she unravels the secrets behind her powers and position. The series' strong points are its complex characters, compelling narrative, and the inherent chemistry between its cast. Also, this series is quite light in terms of romance if that's what you're looking for.
-> 2.4.) Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries
This anime is set in a fictional country based of Imperial China and follows Maomao, an apothecary obsessed with poison, after she is sold into servitude at the Imperial Palace. As she uses her expertise and intellect to solve mysteries and conspiracies, she catches the eye of several important figures and thus gets increasingly embroiled in various political conflicts despite her attempts to remain inconspicuous. If you're looking for a multidimensional series with high production values and compelling charactersâthen look no further.
-> 2.7.) Mo Dao Zu Shi | Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation
If you're a fan of BL series, then MDZS is a great option as its fantastical setting blends various ancient Chinese dynasties and lightly references actual locations. This series centres around Wei Wuxian's descent from a talented youth to the cultivation world's greatest pariah and the aftermath of his downfall. Thirteen years after his death, he is resurrected and forced to partner with his former rival Lan Wangjiâwith who he shares a complex pastâto solve a string of mysteries that will ultimately uncover the cultivation world's dark secrets but also the truth behind his downfall and rebirth. This series' strong points are its complex characters and worldbuilding in addition to its nuanced themes and social commentary. If you're looking for a series that blends mystery, fantasy, action and drama, then look no further. I however will note that the donghua heavily censors the romance compared to the novelâŚ
-> 2.5.) Saiunkoku Mongatari | The Story of Saiunkoku
This is another anime set in a fictional world inspired by Imperial China. Saiunoku Monogatari centres around Kou Shuurei, a noble woman from a poor family who chases after her dream of becoming a government officialâdespite woman being barred from civil service. In addition to navigating court politics, she also tasked with reforming the emperor into a responsible ruler. This series blends drama, romance with comedy and historical fantasy with its strong point being its compelling, capable and confident protagonist.
-> 2.6.) Shi Yi Chang An: Mingyue Jishi You | Memory of Chang'an
This donghua is set during China's Tang dynasty and centres around its grand capital city Chang'anâwhich is now known as Xi'an. This series follows Emela/Li Mingyue and Li Qiang as they balance navigating various political conflicts together alongside developing relationship after being forced into a political marriage to secure stability between their states. This series blends together historical-romance and slice-of-life comedy with elements of drama and political intrigue.
-> 2.8.) Tian Guan Ci Fu | Heaven Official's Blessing
This is another BL series, and it is written by the same author as MDZS. This donghua is set in a classic ancient Chinese xianxia world and centres around the supernatural interactions of the three realmsâthe mortal kingdoms, the heavenly capital and the ghost realm. This series begins with its protagonist Xie Lian's third ascension to godhood after 2 prior banishments. A fateful encounter with a ghost king, Hua Cheng, sets Xie Lian on a path that will not only uncover centuries of divine corruption but will also reveal the truth about his own past entanglements with the former. This series is a compelling blend of fantasy, mystery, drama and action and boasts both complex character dynamics and intricate plot points. This series is packed with plenty of detailed symbolism and well-incorporated multi-layered themes. However, just like with MDZS, the donghua heavily censors the romance element compared to the novelâŚ
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