Not Just Monkey Business: Upcoming Chinese Animated Films of 2026

Although not every Chinese animated film makes it to international distribution, they are worth seeking out for the die hard donghua fan.

Chinese Animated Films Three Kingdoms Part One: Struggle for LuoyangChina’s animation scene is quietly doing something interesting. Not everything has to preach Confucianism or Daoism from the mountaintop. Some challenge it, and others interpret it. As for what’s upcoming, the more interesting Chinese animated films of 2026 are leaning into practical adventures. They fold history, folklore, comedy, and mystery into stories aimed either with or beyond the usual mythological spectacle.

That matters because this industry still mostly focuses on younger audiences. Certain familiar IPs still need to be mentioned, but studios are also stretching into historical storytelling. Light Chaser Animation, in particular, looks ready to make history its next big playground. And while fans are still waiting for the final instalment of Ne Zha, here’s an update on what came out this month and what’s still ahead for the remainder of 2026.

Three Kingdoms Part One:
Struggle for Luoyang
(三国第一部：争洛阳)

Release Date: 10 July 2026

Light Chaser Animation’s next major historical epic is now dated for July 10. The studio’s official channel identifies the film as Three Kingdoms: The Beginning. Earlier reports connect the project to Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and the larger collapse of the Eastern Han order, which makes this less of a simple battlefield retelling and more of a political origin story. Early trailers suggest a style similar to Chang An, where the focus is on certain players before the big fight. If that approach holds, this could become one of 2026’s major Chinese animation events.

Master Zhong
(钟馗)

Release Date: 16 June 2023 Festival, 30 May 2026 Wide

This one has now firmed up for a May 30, 2026 theatrical release in China. Reports describe it as a family-friendly mythological animated feature built around Zhong Kui, the demon-quelling figure from Chinese folklore. Production credits vary slightly by outlet, so I’d avoid overloading the paragraph with names unless using the film’s official materials. The widely reported core is that iQIYI Pictures is involved, and the story follows a human girl, Chujiu, after she enters the underworld and becomes tangled in Zhong Kui’s fight against demonic forces.

The Great Sage Rises
(大圣崛起)

Release Date: 10 July 2026

Sun Wukong returns to the summer animation race with The Great Sage Rises, now dated for July 10, 2026. This is not being positioned as Tian Xiaopeng’s direct sequel to : Hero Is Back, so that distinction is worth making clear. Reports identify October Sky Pictures, one of the key companies behind Hero Is Back, as part of this project, with Wang Chuan of Kuiba attached as producer and/or screenwriter depending on the source. The story reportedly digs into hidden conflicts behind the Journey to the West legend, including Sun Wukong, Liu’er, and new figures such as Bifang and Bo Xun.

A Story About Fire
(燃比娃)

Release Date: 28 April 2026

Shanghai Animation Film Studio’s A Story About Fire has already opened in China through the National Arthouse Alliance circuit. This is the studio’s first feature-length xuan paper hand-painted animated film, and reports note that the production used more than 50,000 hand-painted sheets. Its story draws from Qiang mythology, following a young hero and his dog on a journey tied to fire, warmth, growth, and origin. This one is less about franchise muscle and more about preserving a handmade Chinese animation tradition in a modern feature format.

Demon Agent
(大唐妖探)

Release Date: Summer 2026

Directed by Cheng Teng, co-director of Jiang Ziya / Legend of Deification, this 3D animated Tang dynasty detective fantasy is set in Chang’an, where humans and demons share the same streets. The film follows a wolf demon accused of murder who joins forces with a human trickster tied to the Di Renjie tradition. What makes this one stand out is the genre blend: part buddy comedy, part fantasy mystery, and part mechanical Tang dynasty spectacle. Chinese coverage has described it as the country’s first comedy-detective animated feature, with a summer 2026 release window.

GG Bond: Race Through Time

GG Bond: Race Through TimeRelease Date: May 1, 2026

The 11th theatrical instalment in the GG Bond franchise keeps pushing the series past its TV roots. Sometimes compared to Boonie Bears, which had its latest release over Chinese New Year, GG Bond is not tied to a celebration. The series often preaches more than it tells a story, but given the audience it’s designed for, friendship, integrity, and perseverance are woven in rather than tacked on. Alongside Phoebe, Super Q, Bobby, S-Daddy, and Dr. Mihoo, the little pig has built a steady audience over the years.

This time around, GG Bond befriends Star Navi, a fierce leopard racer with a complicated home situation. When Navi’s father suffers a career-ending injury, the two travel back in time to change the outcome. It’s a heavier emotional hook than the franchise usually reaches for, which suggests Winsing is testing whether the series can grow with its audience. The film has already opened in China and is now being positioned for international distribution.

Hong Kong

Another World

Another World Movie PosterRelease Date: June 2026
Read our movie review here.

Out of all the films slated for release this year, there are only two confirmed to have an international release. It’s a small world when GKIDS is involved with getting this gem out. The story follows Gudo, a Keeper who guides souls to the afterlife, as he bonds with a young girl whose unresolved rage keeps her stuck. Helping her move on means Gudo has to reckon with his own emotions, and the consequences of letting that anger loose.

Hong Kong produces far fewer animated features than the mainland, which makes this one stand out on its own. It also took home Best Animated Feature at the Golden Horse Awards, giving it real pedigree going into its wider release. And after its screening at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, word of mouth has been strong. This one lands emotionally, and apparently doesn’t let go.

Maaya Sakamoto, Fate/Grand Order Top Hits and 30 Years in the Business….

Celebrations continue for Jpop fans who adore Maaya Sakamoto’s music. Not only is there a new release for Fate/Grand Order fans but also they can hear her unplugged.

Maaya Sakamoto Fate_Grand OrderCurrently in the midst of her 30th anniversary as an artist, Maaya Sakamoto continues to shine. The concert held April 18 and 19 at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena ended to great acclaim. And for those who missed the show or want a greatest hits, this artist is releasing a greatest hits album of sorts, titled Yoin. This album collects all six theme songs she performed for the smartphone JRPG and there’s a lot more to be included!

From The Press Release

Disc one features all six theme songs from the smartphone role-playing game Fate/Grand Order, from “Shikisai,” which was released alongside the official game launch in 2015, to “Tokei,” the theme song for the final chapter released in 2025.

“Tokei” was released digitally last year and will be recorded on CD for the first time.

Continue reading “Maaya Sakamoto, Fate/Grand Order Top Hits and 30 Years in the Business….”

More Disney Gargoyles Than Meets The Eye! A Long-Awaited Ongoing Series Begins This Summer!

And we got a list on what’s been published in comicdom so far! After years of loose ends and unanswered threads, Disney Gargoyles returns with a new ongoing series that finally taps into Greg Weisman’s long-promised vision, picking up where the story truly left off.

Disney GargoylesDynamite Entertainment is fully invested in continuing the adventure of Disney Gargoyles, self-proclaimed protectors of Manhattan City and the new guardians of Avalon. After watching the animated series for the upteenth time, that’s one of Oberon’s decrees that still lingers. As for the fate of the robot clan, where the spirits of Othello, Desdemona, and Iago were finally separated from the Coldstone body and given their own robotic forms, we never got a proper continuation.

There’s also the Canmore clan, who have a deeper history with Demona than most, though the series never played favourites. That arc began with the City of Stone story arc, and every once in a while, surfaces in a future narrative. That’s where things were left (and yes, we’re ignoring the third season, since not many fans liked the direction when creator Greg Weisman wasn’t involved).

Followers of Gargoyles will be excited to learn that this comic book company will publish the story this creator has always wanted to tell. Whether that means exploring events before the previous comic runs or pushing beyond the cartoon’s timeline, those long-promised ideas are finally taking shape. He’s been sharing his ideas with fans for years, and now it seems this publisher is ready to go the extra mile.

From the Press Release:

“For me, this is a story thirty years in the making. One I’ve been longing to tell,” said Weisman. “So longtime fans are seriously not going to want to miss this. At the same time, it’s also a great place for new readers who know nothing about Gargoyles to jump aboard. We’re making sure that everything you need to know is right there on the page. Your Gargoyles addiction begins here and now!”

Continue reading “More Disney Gargoyles Than Meets The Eye! A Long-Awaited Ongoing Series Begins This Summer!”

Nobu Needs a Little Wasabi

A thoughtful look at Nobuyuki Matsuhisa reveals more than a culinary journey, it questions whether the global Nobu brand can still reflect the man behind it.

Nobu PosterNow Available on VOD through
Apple, Amazon & Google

Anyone heading into the documentary Nobu should eat first. This intimate look at Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, his restaurant empire, and his rise as a celebrity chef is filled with mouth-watering food cinematography. The visuals alone can make anyone hungry for Japanese food. For viewers unfamiliar with his past, the film offers a solid overview of how he navigated life in post-war Japan. He was born in 1949, a time when certain cultural sentiments still lingered beneath the surface. The film touches on this, though digging deeper might have distracted from its main focus, his life, both the highs and the hardships.

I won’t go into every detail, but one of the most important threads is who shaped him. Running alongside that is a quieter subplot involving his close friend Sakai. I’ll leave most of that unspoiled, but what matters is the unwavering support Sakai gave him, up until a tragedy changed everything.

The film also brushes against the philosophy behind the food. Precision matters. If the cut isn’t right or the aroma doesn’t draw you in, the dish falls flat. Sometimes it’s about freshness, other times restraint, like how much wasabi is used, if any at all. Even nigiri depends on balance; the exact mix of vinegar, salt, and sugar in the rice, and how long it’s been sitting after being cooked, can make or break the experience. Even the crispiness of the nori matters. I’ve experimented with recrisping it in a smoker, and it changes the texture. Continue reading “Nobu Needs a Little Wasabi”

When Steampunk Rules Applies No More, Can Sparks of Tomorrow Be The Next Coming Thing?

Netflix promises to bring some of that Full Metal Alchemy with the release of Sparks of Tomorrow. It may well be one of 2026’s most fascinating anime projects.

Sparks of Tomorrow AnimeSparks of Tomorrow (aka 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku, 二十世紀電氣目録) looks like a promising animated series where steampunk rules the skies, and thankfully, the setting isn’t another Victorian London retread. Instead, this alternate-history version of Kyoto brims with strange machinery, airships, and the lure of adventure.

Based on the light novel 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku by Hiro Yūki and illustrated by Kazumi Ikeda, the adaptation already carries a sense of wonder. July isn’t far off for viewers eager to see where Kihachi Sakamoto’s search for his missing brother will lead. With Netflix handling international distribution, audiences both local and abroad will be able to follow the mystery beginning July 5, 2026.

At the centre of the story is a young inventor determined to obtain the mysterious “20th Century Electrical Catalog,” a book said to contain knowledge to deliver a future beyond this world’s steam-powered age. The title alone hints at upheaval.

Continue reading “When Steampunk Rules Applies No More, Can Sparks of Tomorrow Be The Next Coming Thing?”

Top Picks from Discotek Deep Dive July Schedule

Discotek’s July lineup brings classic anime fans plenty to celebrate, from Go Nagai’s Devilman to Osamu Tezuka’s daring Animerama work and the ever-charming Sherlock Hound.

Discotek Deep Dive May When looking at Discotek’s deep dive July schedule, I can’t help but smile. For those following Go Nagai’s Devilman saga, the next series release is coming, and there’s more Osamu Tezuka’s works being offered! The late 60s was a prime time for fans of this artist’s works. It is also worth noting his cinematic output didn’t get a wide release.

Honourable mentions go to Astro Boy: The Complete 1980 Series, along with City Hunter and its 1991 continuation, which together do a solid job of capturing what made 90s anime so memorable.

Devilman: The Complete TV Series (1972)

devilman_tv-800x1017Before Go Nagai went full dark with the manga, the original TV series told a more family-friendly version of the story. Teenager Akira Fudo merges with the demon Amon, inheriting his power while holding onto his human soul, and uses that strength to defend Earth from demonic invasions. It’s campy and colourful in all the best 70s ways, and it’s essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand why later adaptations like Devilman Crybaby landed so hard.

Continue reading “Top Picks from Discotek Deep Dive July Schedule”