The home video release of Light Chaser Animation’s White Snake Afloat is now available in China and select surrounding regions. When I saw a limited edition box set released back in December, I wanted to buy it—but I didn’t have the funds saved.
Fast forward to now: it’s still attainable through eBay, albeit at nearly double its original retail price. Unfortunately, it’s not listed on official English-language retailers like YesAsia or Amazon, and Light Chaser hasn’t made it available on international streaming platforms either. For those willing to pay a premium, the set is a visual treat. It features beautifully illustrated packaging and includes a bonus booklet. While I hoped for additional extras, it appears that beyond the artwork, there’s little else included. Still, I’m relieved the Blu-ray comes with English subtitles.
As for whether Bianca’s (White Snake’s) journey concludes in this final chapter, I’d say yes. Her arc comes full circle. However, I hope the Fox Demon’s story continues. Her subplot remains unresolved and full of potential. She’s a manipulator, often acting as a mysterious merchant of souls across all three films. But just who she’s serving—and why—remains unanswered.
The North American release remains uncertain. I’m still hoping that Netflix’s license to the second film expires soon. Their ongoing rights might be preventing a U.S. distributor from securing all three films. Without a proper trilogy box set, understanding the full story is difficult. This third installment reflects heavily on the first, with emotional and spiritual threads woven throughout.
When she crosses paths with Xian;s reincarnation, a successful doctor named Xu Xuan, trouble fills her heart. Faced with the choice to open her heart or guard it, she struggles with the deeply rooted fear of losing him all over again. Xuan reminds her so much of Xian—but she knows the pain of loss too well. With the monk still hunting her, she’s hesitant. And because Xuan’s memories haven’t fully returned, she senses that rushing their connection would only cheapen it. If love is to rekindle, it must happen naturally.
In true Moulin Rouge! fashion, once romance is rekindled—with a villain thrown into the mix—things spiral. No one is safe when Xu Xian’s soul is placed in danger again. While the movie treads familiar ground by introducing a new incarnation of the male lead, it still delivers on the emotional beats. The film’s heartfelt moments recall classic Chinese soap operas—it’s hard not to sympathize with Blanca and Xian.
While I longed for a bolder narrative leap, this chapter still delivers a satisfying emotional crescendo. Even though the Fox Demon’s role is minor, her presence hints at unfinished business. Directors Jianxi Chen and Jiakai Li skillfully balance fairy tale romance with Disney-like whimsy. Light Chaser once again delivers visual spectacle. The action sequences explode like fireworks on screen, and the bursts of magic—particularly from Fahei—look powered by the tormented souls he’s somehow drawing energy from.
When Fahei slips into hypocrisy, he loses sight of compassion, prioritizing dogma over empathy. It’s a trope that’s becoming more common in modern Chinese animation. Ne Zha 2 is a standout example. I examined how priests sometimes abandon true teachings in my review here.
In a nutshell: Daoism, like many belief systems, is imperfect. These monks aren’t portrayed as wise spiritual guides—they reject the idea that spirits should dwell among mortals. In contrast, other cultures embrace spirits as part of the natural cycle. Even a rock, according to some traditions, can carry a soul.
In this world, romance between Yaojing (spirit creatures like Bianca) and mortals is taboo, and Fahei is determined to enforce that divide through brute force. He’s no hero. Instead, the love between these characters highlights how connection can transcend species. They embody yin and yang—perfect complements. Fahei’s inability to grasp the spiritual depth of love reveals his limitations. His obsession with purging spirit beings, especially snake women, turns him into a one-dimensional antagonist.
Even when his disciples argue that he’s gone too far, he ignores them. I chuckled at one line—“That’s not what Buddha wants”—because it’s true. In this mythos, death simply leads to reincarnation, and the karmic wheel turns endlessly. These monks may not want to trap themselves in that cycle, but their actions suggest otherwise.
I plan to rewatch all three films in their revised timeline to evaluate which of the monks truly act as heroes—and perhaps uncover more about the Fox Demon’s mysterious intentions. In the third entry, she shows up with another spirit’s tail and hints at revenge. That’s a clear setup for a sequel.
Whether that continuation happens is unclear. There’s no mid-credits scene teasing the future. Instead, the film ends on a thematic note, channeling the spirit of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. Based on some sources, Light Chaser plans to premiere this entry globally later this year—and I can’t wait.
4 Stars out of 5
White Snake: Afloat Trailer
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