LayarHijau – The latest data released by Yunhe Data on March 3, 2026, highlights the overwhelming dominance of Chinese animated series in China’s animation market throughout February 2026. Most of the Top 10 titles are fantasy cultivation donghua, while the long-running Japanese anime Detective Conan continues to demonstrate remarkable staying power amid fierce competition.
The term xuanhuan refers to a distinctly Chinese fantasy genre that blends mythology, supernatural realms, powerful beings, and structured power progression systems. In these stories, protagonists typically begin as ordinary individuals and gradually strengthen themselves through training, battles, or the pursuit of rare artifacts, eventually reaching extraordinary levels of power. The genre is often associated with “cultivation” narratives, in which characters refine their internal energy and abilities step by step.
Dominance of the Fantasy Cultivation Genre
Out of the ten most popular titles in February 2026, eight belong to the fantasy cultivation category. Series such as Renegade Immortal (仙逆), Sword of Coming Season 2 (剑来第2季), Battle Through the Heavens Annual Series (斗破苍穹年番), Perfect World (完美世界), Swallowed Star (吞噬星空), Throne of Seal (神印王座), Shrouding the Heavens (遮天), and A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (凡人修仙传) clearly reflect the audience’s strong appetite for this genre.
These stories offer expansive worlds, tiered power systems, sect or clan rivalries, and large-scale battle sequences that captivate viewers. Most of these titles are adapted from highly popular Chinese web novels, giving them an established fanbase even before their animated versions premiered.
Detective Conan and the Enduring Strength of a Classic
Amid the dominance of domestic productions, Detective Conan (名侦探柯南) remains firmly in sixth place. Its presence underscores the lasting influence of classic Japanese anime intellectual properties in the Chinese market. With decades of established reputation, consistent storytelling quality, and iconic characters, the series continues to attract audiences across multiple generations.
The Web Novel Adaptation Trend
Another notable pattern from the rankings is the strong reliance on web novel adaptations as the primary source material for donghua. Nearly all the Chinese titles in the Top 10 originate from popular online literature, reinforcing the close integration between China’s web novel ecosystem and its animation industry.
This model not only ensures narrative depth and long-term story development but also secures loyal viewership from existing readers who follow the transition from page to screen.
Below is the complete Top 10 list of the most popular animated series in China’s February 2026 animation market, according to Yunhe Data:
- Renegade Immortal (仙逆)
- Sword of Coming Season 2 (剑来第2季)
- Battle Through the Heavens Annual Series (斗破苍穹年番)
- Perfect World (完美世界)
- Swallowed Star (吞噬星空)
- Detective Conan (名侦探柯南)
- Soul Land II: The Peerless Tang Sect (斗罗大陆Ⅱ绝世唐门)
- Throne of Seal (神印王座)
- Shrouding the Heavens (遮天)
- A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (凡人修仙传)
The February 2026 data confirms that fantasy cultivation remains the dominant force in China’s donghua industry, while long-established classics like Detective Conan continue to prove that enduring intellectual properties can compete strongly even amid a surge of new productions.
