Is anime Chinese or Japanese? A deep dive history into donghua vs anime
Anime and donghua – these terms may seem interchangeable for outsiders, but they actually refer to two distinct animation styles born from different cultures. As an animation fanatic, I appreciate both for their artistry, storytelling and reflection of cultural identity. In this article, I‘ll unravel the histories of anime and donghua, how they‘ve evolved and influenced global pop culture.
Defining the terms
First, let‘s clarify the terminology. Anime refers specifically to hand-drawn and computer animation originating from Japan. The word comes directly from the Japanese pronunciation of the English word "animation".
In contrast, donghua (动画) is the term used for Chinese animation. Despite some visual similarities, anime and donghua have distinct backgrounds and influences.
As an American 90s kid, I was raised on a steady diet of anime like Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon and Pokémon before Dynasty Warriors and The King‘s Avatar opened my eyes to the world of donghua. Let‘s dive into the origins of these unique art forms.
Birth of an industry: Japan‘s early animation experiments
Animation first arrived in Japan in the early 1900s. The short films of Shimokawa Oten, Jun‘ichi Kouchi and Kitayama Seitaro from around 1917 are considered the beginnings of anime. These "fathers of anime" were inspired by animated shorts from the West, especially Disney cartoons and comic strips from the USA.
In the 1930s, Japanese animators began experimenting with manga-style big eyes. Osamu Tezuka, the "godfather of manga", further developed stylized expressions and limited animation. His hit Astro Boy TV series which premiered in 1963 on Fuji TV cemented the anime aesthetic.
The late 60s boomed with anime about robots, space travel and sci-fi as Japan rapidly advanced technologically. The 70s brought classics like Lupin III, Space Battleship Yamato and Mobile Suit Gundam.
The 80s and 90s saw anime explode in global popularity with Akira, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z and Pokémon. By 2000, anime had become a multi-billion dollar industry and major pop culture force worldwide.
China‘s animation journey begins
In contrast, donghua‘s origins trace back to China‘s bustling city of Shanghai in the 1920s. The Wan brothers – Wan Laiming, Wan Guchan, Wan Chaochen and Wan Dihuan – pioneered animation inspired by European and American shorts.
Their first major work was Tie Shan Gong Zhu (Princess Iron Fan) in 1941 under brutal conditions during World War II. But it was their 1961 donghua Havoc in Heaven based on the Chinese legend Journey to the West that brought them international acclaim.
As the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, the Wan brothers laid the foundations for China‘s animation industry. Their distinctive watercolor style influenced donghua for decades.
Donghua production continued through the 60s-80s with classics like Where is Mama? (1960), The Monkey King (1964), and Nezha Conquers the Dragon King (1979). The industry regressed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution when traditional arts were suppressed.
Since the 1990s, donghua has seen a revival with prominent studios like Shanghai Animation Film Studio and rising web-based animation.
Anime‘s stylistic evolution
Now that we‘ve traced the broad histories, let‘s dive deeper into how anime and donghua‘s visual styles evolved over time.
Early anime borrowed from manga with limited animation, speed lines, large expressive eyes and exaggerated facial emotions. This allowed animators to focus budgets on high-impact moments.
Osamu Tezuka introduced an early anime trope – the large watery "bambi eyes". He simplified faces down to core elements like dot eyes and little noses.
Table: Common visual elements in anime
| Visual element | Description |
|---|---|
| Bambi/doe eyes | Large, expressive, watery eyes with highlights to show emotion |
| Speed lines | Lines drawn around a moving object to show motion |
| Sweat drops | Large droplets to depict embarrassment |
| Crazy hair | Spiky, brightly-colored, uniquely styled hair |
| Chibi | Super-deformed, small versions of characters |
This table summarizes some typical anime stylistic elements that evolved over decades and remain commonly used today.
Over time, anime incorporated more visual variety like delicate shojo styles, brushstroke textures, and avant-garde framing. But simplified expressive faces and dynamic motion remain core to its appeal. There‘s incredible diversity within unified anime aesthetics.
Donghua‘s distinct visual legacy
In contrast, donghua‘s visual language derives from traditional Chinese watercolor and brush painting. The Wan brothers pioneered a color powder animation technique using bold strokes and muted palettes.
Their watercolor style influenced Chinese animation for decades. Donghua palettes are often subdued, with greens, blues and earthy tones. Backgrounds contain calligraphic textures.
The proportions and features are more realistic compared to anime‘s exaggerated eyes and hair. Costumes reflect historical Chinese clothing and armor.
Modern donghua has more variety – some with vibrant digital palettes, a few with anime-influenced eyes. But traditional watercolor elements and Chinese design persist in most donghua.
The diversity comes through in the subject matter and scenery. Chinese legends, historical settings, Poetry and nature imagery feature heavily.
Storytelling styles and genres
Beyond visuals, anime and donghua differ substantially in their narratives too.
Anime covers an incredibly diverse range of genres and settings. Some common examples:
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Shounen – Focusing on action, adventures and friendships. E.g. Naruto, One Piece
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Shoujo – Centered on girls and romantic relationships. E.g. Sailor Moon, Fruits Basket
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Mecha – Featuring giant robots and machines. E.g. Gundam, Evangelion
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Isekai – Characters transported to fantastical alternate worlds. E.g. Sword Art Online, Re:Zero
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Slice of life – Lighthearted comedies about everyday life. E.g. My Hero Academia, Your Name
Donghua stories tend to draw from classic Chinese literature and history:
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Wuxia – Ancient martial arts masters and heroic journeys. E.g. The Legend of Condor Heroes, Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre
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Xianxia – Cultivators traversing celestial realms and seeking immortality. E.g. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Battle Through The Heavens
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Mythology – Adaptations of legends and folklore. E.g. Nezha Conquers the Dragon King, Heroes of the East: The Legend of the Oriental Heroes
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Historical – Set in Dynastic China with court intrigues. E.g. White Cat Legend, The Legend of Qin
Both offer incredible diversity within their respective spheres. Anime has expanded to cover almost every conceivable genre, while donghua draws from China‘s literary canon.
Comparing global influence and industry scale
By the 1990s, anime had become a global phenomenon, while awareness of donghua was still minimal outside China. But the industries have seen their positions change in recent decades.
The anime industry saw meteoric growth through the 80s to 2000s, becoming a multimedia juggernaut. Based on data from the Association of Japanese Animations, the size of the anime market grew over 8 times from 2000 to 2020:
Table: Anime market size by year
| Year | Industry Revenue (JPY billion) |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 529.3 |
| 2005 | 1,258.7 |
| 2010 | 1,667.0 |
| 2015 | 1,830.5 |
| 2020 | 4,500.0 |
Anime has reached almost every global market from North America to Europe, South America and beyond. Distributors like Crunchyroll stream anime worldwide. Anime visual tropes and references permeate global pop culture.
In contrast, donghua has been mostly domestically focused, though is starting to reach overseas audiences. China‘s total animation industry revenue grew from 95 billion RMB in 2010 to 260 billion RMB in 2020, per Statista.
Streaming services like Netflix, Tencent Video and Funimation have acquired donghua for global streaming. As China exports culture through its "soft power", donghua is also reaching new heights.
Both nations invest heavily in their domestic animation industries for economic and cultural influence. Anime has benefited from decades of global exposure, but donghua is poised for its own international breakthrough.
My personal journey: From anime obsession to donghua discovery
As a 90s American kid, I was literally raised on anime before I even knew the term. The Toonami programming block on Cartoon Network introduced me to favorites like Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Gundam Wing and Yu Yu Hakusho.
Later in college, I really dove deep into all kinds of anime from artsy Ghibli movies to action-packed shounen adventures. Anime had it all – mind-blowing imaginative worlds, philosophies for living, adrenaline-pumping battles, and profound insights into the human condition.
Over the years, I must have completed at least 300 different anime across genres and eras. I learned Japanese to better appreciate the nuances. Anime had a profound impact in getting me into animation and digital art.
But a few years ago, a Chinese friend introduced me to donghua starting with the esports epic The King‘s Avatar. At first, the style seemed similar to anime. But the more donghua I watched, the more enamored I became by the unique visual aesthetics, wuxia storylines, and window into Chinese culture.
Some of my favorite donghua so far include:
- Mo Dao Zu Shi – Stylish tale of two cultivators with stunning aesthetics
- Scissor Seven – Hilarious parody of wuxia tropes
- Rakshasa Street – Supernatural comedy-drama with heart
- Heaven Official‘s Blessing – Mythical drama with beautiful shoujo-style art
While I‘ve only scratched the surface of donghua‘s possibilities, I‘m excited to keep exploring for series with engaging characters and animated spectacles.
Both mediums have strengths – for anime, the infinite creative freedom, and for donghua, preserving cultural traditions. Anime will always be my first love, but my world is richer for having donghua in it too. They exist in harmony in the global animation pantheon.
Bridging cultures worldwide
While anime and donghua have distinct histories and styles, they share the power of animation – to inspire, entertain and connect across cultures. In recent decades, we‘ve seen anime and Asian media recognized worldwide for their artistry and storytelling.
As media globalization accelerates, there is tremendous potential for collaboration between Japanese, Chinese and international animators. Joint productions can blend the best of both worlds.
For viewers, broadening your horizons beyond your own cultural pond allows you to appreciate incredible new worlds. Great stories are universal across languages and cultures. Keep exploring, and animation will continue bridging east and west in mutual understanding.