Updated May 12, 2024 by testing

Welcome back to another blog where we talk about MCs being teleported into unrealistic worlds with too realistic situations and scenarios. Sometimes coming back with a vengeance, a bit of rejuvenation, and a continued craving to create delicious treats…okay, maybe not always the last part but you’ll see it in today’s listing.

While each protagonist is uniquely their own, I’d like to say that they do share quite a few similarities: their goal is to get back to their normal lives, they have an obsession with the number three and are always down for a wild ride on the other side…literally. We’re talking about transmigration. 

What a paradox, ya know? We’ve all got an idea of normal and while one character’s normal may look different from the next, we all know when the extreme has been crossed and when we need to go back. 

 

CHINESE ANIME WHERE THE MAIN CHARACTER IS REBORN

 

16. I Am A Great God

Recreation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
2 /10	3/10	3/10	4/10	12/40

Could you imagine being a third-grader and looking like you’re able to go to a nightclub? Pretty scary, no? Well, this MC can imagine where it’s like your body keeps ageing against the time frame you were born in. 

That’s the problem for good ole Shi Jiang, his body is growing three times faster than the average rate. As a result, he dies an early death? Could you believe it? The story doesn’t end there folks. 

Nope, Shi Jiang takes on the task of walking amongst the eternal world to uncover the secrets and riches needed to restore his mortal body, so that he can have a second shot at life living it out as a normal human. I hope he can do it. 

 

15. Soul Land

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
3/10	4/10	2/10	4/10	13/40

Here, we’re following Tang San, a young man who has dedicated his life to the creation and mastery of hidden weapons. He is also affiliated a school known as Tang Sect. The elders just know their prodigy child is the one who will fulfill the prophecy. 

If we leave it up to Tang he would say otherwise. While the elders may believe that this young cub’s future will burn bright, Tang risks it all in forsaking the elder’s better judgement and goes after the one thing that is punishable by death: the lore. 

This ancient artifact was said to teach him the core set of his founding school that only the Inner Sect could train in. As a result of such curiosity, the guilt of what he’d followed drove Tang to launch himself into the belly of Hell. 

There, he was reborn into what was known as Soul Land as an immortal god. 

 

14. Carp Reborn

 

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
2/10	4/10	2/10	6/10	14/40

Wang Sheng goes from being in the special forces to what is the equivalent of the people he either arrests or swore to protect. How depressing…could a reincarnation get any worse for someone like him? 

Wang is transported into a world of spirits where he is possessed by an infamous spirit known as carp because of how trashy it is in comparison to the others. Thankfully, he still has his intelligence in spite of the odds against him, as he is possessed by an unintelligent spirit and learning to maneuver in a world of experts too.

Evolution for this squirming carp will soon be underway as he transforms into something great and in turn, retains his old life back.  

 

13. Battle Through Heavens

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
3/10	4/10	4/10	4/10	15/40

This one’s pretty realistic where the guy who makes all the money and has the power to make the rules and enforce them is on top while those who are on the “Spare change?” sides follow those rules and do as they are told. 

Following the life of Xiao Yan, we once again experience the heart-tugging love of writers making men out of orphans. Xiao takes up martial arts and isn’t doing so hot at it thanks to his late mom’s sentiment, absorbing all his skill until one day, he stumbles upon a master. 

An older gentleman named Yao Chen breaks the curse of absorption and our young boy starts to outdo himself in martial arts like the town has never seen. It isn’t until he’s sparked the interest of some nasty people that he is falsely accused and narrowly escapes conviction. 

But oh, does this lead down a smooth rabbit hole of another good ole mystery, sauced with revenge and fighting as Xiao seeks out the one who seeks to destroy his family, as if taking his mother wasn’t enough.

 

12. My Holy Weapon

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
3/10	6/10	5/10	6/10	20/40

You’re chilling, going about your daily business but oh, a fight breaks out. Nothing you can’t handle, after all, being attacked every once in a while isn’t something you’re new to. Well, during this one particular fight something doesn’t necessarily go your way. 

It’s not that you lose, more like you…uncover something. Or at least that’s the case for our Chang Tian here who discovers a mysterious artifact that pretty much saves his life, sparing him from a drastic fate, to say the least. 

What if our hero is transported from the findings of his saving grace to a middle of an all-out battlefield where he fights along with comrades who, like him, have the ability to awaken weapons that will take down greater forces that are out for no good?

 

11. Adorable Food Goddess

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
5/10	4/10	5/10	7/10	21/40

Are you a fan of the latest foodie showings and their delicious treats? This is definitely for you then. This donghua is about more than ramen and a bento box. In this anime, our heroine once again finds herself thrust from her modern-day life into ancient China. 

Ye Jiaya’s life as a celebrity chef has been “reduced” to the wife of a handsome young lord who she’s either wanting to hurt or to be hurt by if you know what I mean there. Don’t worry it’s completely justified because Xia’s not so easy to get along with either, yet he’s still developing those pesky feelings for her. 

What can you say? The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach no matter the era and he is dealing with a renowned chef after all. Pop a squat and check out how these two lovers battle for dominance in their own lives, while continually falling head over heels for one another.

 

10. Scissor Seven

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
4/10	8/10	8/10	8/10	22/40

Yes, I know, another assassin’s tale. Don’t worry I promise this time we’re not facing anything weird or even battling for one’s love. Instead, you’re seeking out your memories, and if love happens to come along the way and is always trying to skin you alive when it does? Then so be it when it’s as beautiful as a lotus flower. 

And instead of chewing it up to your heart’s content, your joy is cutting hair and being with your best bud, a talking chicken with a smoking qualm. Also the chicken’s baby bird can mutate into a strong-bodied person capable of fighting and flying you away in moments of danger. 

With each new threat Seven takes on, he unlocks a piece of his past that awakens his not so horrible assassin-like abilities at sword-wielding for somewhere who sucks at committing murder. All the while, he finds himself in the middle of a battle between two clans, which side will he stand on?

 

9. Full-Time Magister

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
4/10	6/10	5/10	8/10	23/40

Living in a world where all things science-related (okay…so everything) turned magical? That would be awesome (for those of us who enjoy studying the power of the elements and experiencing what dark and light magic have to offer at least). 

Instead of going to school for normal studies; Math, English, History…Nah our protagonist, named Mo Fan, finds himself studying at academia around spells in order to fend off the large beasts that raise terror and havoc in the forest nearby. 

At first, our young doe-eyed character is still the son of a poor (ah yes poverty, every anime loves the smell of it in the morning) man with a disabled sister for whom he seeks to make peace. Due to his lack of affinity for magic and being impoverished, of course, school life becomes a nightmare. 

But oh, how their laughter turns to amazement when Mo Fan uncovers his talent for fire magic and even rarer, lightning! Now he’ll be able to slay any beast that crosses his paths and forge a better life for his family and in doing so, find his way back home, perhaps?

 

8. Heaven’s Official Blessing

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
4/10	7/10	7/10	6/10	24/40

Crown prince Xi Lian has been banished from Heaven not once, not twice, but three times! This final time he’s sent as a god to the mortal realm as a god to act as a mediator to those who choose to pray to them and occasionally dispel the world of unjust evils. 

Imagine being sentenced to a life of servitude in eternity? And just when you thought you were getting away from people. I guess that’s what happens when you owe a debt so massive it follows you to the grave. 

Ironically enough, dealing with other gods is more of a handful than dealing with the problems of mere mortals. That is until Xi Lian uncovers the dark secrets that lay between the mortal world, the heavens, and yes ghosts (ahh yes, ghosts again).

 

7. Are You Okay?

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
7/10	5/10	6/10	7/10	/40

You’re strolling about your day when all of a sudden you’re thrown back into the early ages of your current city before there was indoor plumbing, a Wally World, oh and there’s no internet. Zuo is one of the many people who have been thrust from modern-day China into the imperial era. 

Only this isn’t at random, the imperial court is those of transmigration and empowering them in relationship to their talents. And Zuo is playing his role as a spy on a hunt to find his father. It just so happens that he’s been duped as a spy and has been hired to catch impersonators like him. 

Thankfully, nothing more than a banter-full battle takes place and with Zuo’s new found friend, they discover that the traversals (like any good people would) have formed an alliance and plan to overthrow those who are singling them out into servitude. 

 

6. Tales of Demons and Gods

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
6/10	8/10	8/10	4/10	26/40

Life is full of second chances…imagine getting yours as a thirteen-year-old you, what would you do differently? Well, Nie Li decides to do the same thing only this time he plans to defeat the man who killed him, murdered his loved ones, and his city.

All by using his hundred years’ worth of knowledge from his previous life, paired with his supernatural ability to wield the strongest demon spirits. While training to reach the pinnacle of martial arts and reclaim his right as a man worthy of such power. 

While his current form may be weak and inexperienced as his spirit reincarnated into a boy, he’s able to enroll at the Academy of the Holy Orchid, the same academy he graduated top of his class from. 

It is there that he plans to do it all again and this time helps those who make sacrifices for him, snuff out the weight of this weak form and take the head of the Sage Emperor! 

 

5. Spiritpact

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
4/10	7/10	7/10	9/10	27/40

If we’re not dealing with ghosts in one anime, we’re dealing with them in another…kinda like how You Keika gets hit by a car while walking home one night from his day job and wakes up in a hospital as a ghost.

With his life as a poor part-time I.T tech and fortune teller gone, he’s now reduced to being Tanmoku Ki’s spiritual shadow (the same guy who’s his only acquaintance after the tragedy). 

We can hardly call this a reduction though as Keika goes from a gloomy twenty-three-year-old to his middle school youth…which is a good thing because I’m sure this is the last time he was happy before his parents’ passing. 

Aside from that, we get to track the journey of Keika & Ki, Ki is a renowned exorcist who deals out damage to every ghoul they encounter and Keika is there with him for the full ride.

 

4. Planting Manual

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
6/10	8/10	8/10	4/10	26/40

Then boom! You’re leaving any otaku’s sanctuary and you’re teleported into another realm where fairies (beautiful ones by the way), dragons, and the typical fay creatures are all the rave. In this world, magic is the norm and as a new wanderer, our main character, Yuan Ding has none. So it’s just another day in class, right? Everything is going fine, you’re in the middle of taking entrance exams to the school of your dreams or at least the one your parents pushed you into attending. Such a drag when all you want to do is stay home and browse the web, stream, and watch a little donghua.  

He begins his journey as an experienced tiler who has a fairy seed, our clueless protagonist ends up hatching the seed which nearly costs him his life had it not been for the grateful fairy who bestows him with (shall we say third shot at life) the life force of a succubus.

Can we guess who’s the fairiest man after a life exchange like that?

 

3. The Demon King Who Chases His Wife

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
8/10	6/10	9/10	6/10	29/40

Imagine going from a modern-day assassin to a bipolar prince’s good-for-nothing wife..fourth wife at that! Talk about messed up.One minute you’re a cold-blooded man who has the capability of disarming and silencing a man twice your size…then you’re not because your boyfriend (who’s also an assassin decides to rat you out). 

Our beloved prince charming has it bad in one instance, making smooth, romantic gestures towards the young maiden just to become cruel and cold again. Like most people, his issues stem from the emotional damage dealt with him as a child. 

Still, that’s no way to treat a lady as our Mrs. physically assaults him and continues to push him away as he tries to cycle her through his whirlwind of emotions. Thankfully, through it all, there are friends on both their sides rooting for them reminding them how lucky they are to have one another or….

For some that love isn’t as distant as our lives would have us believe.

 

2. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation 

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
7/10	8/10	9/10	9/10	33/40

A powerful conqueror, Wei Wuxian, is summoned into the body of a disowned outcast (talk about a 360 there), named Mo Xuanyu who subjects himself to the spirit’s will. That doesn’t go to say that one doesn’t rule over the other as the two do work together. 

What starts out as a tale of one seemingly disconnected mystery leads to the source of the tragic incidents that lead to the deaths of not only many people, but to Wei Wuxian himself as well.

Can things get any more trippy when you’re thrown into another man’s body, with who you’re sharing consciousness, and all the while solving your murder mystery of not just you, but your people too? 

 

1. The Scum Villain’s Self Saving System

Reincarnation	Fantasy	Plot	Animation	Total
9/10	8/10	10/10	7/10	33/40

So far we’ve seen every hero or heroine come back as someone less than themselves trying to achieve a goal whether it be the fulfillment of love, vengeance, or just their old life back. We haven’t seen one become a villain like Mo Xiang.

You know it starts off kind of wrong when you’re abandoned at birth for being a half-demon. After his adoptive mother’s passing, he was taken in by the Mountain Sect of fierce martial artists where he trained and grew popular with the ladies to the point he got a lot of girls. 

Enraged with Mo’s ability to attract attention from the female disciples. As a result of such, he torched and killed him. Filled with malice, Mo survives the bile of the demon realm and emerges as the new demon king thanks to newly awakened cursed powers. 

He then went and retrieved a league of beautiful women for the same reason he was torched and tried with death, to start a new group (although in his past life that was never his full intent). 

Only now he can rip apart his ex-tormentor to shreds to watch him conquer the world and create a group of 3,000 lovely women. What better reincarnation could you craft than this?

 

 

CONCLUSION

And that’s all the donghua we have for you today! If it’s one thing we know for sure, each of the anime has something for everyone to sink their teeth into, whether it’s romance, action, or just a downright good plot with nice pacing. 

And it’s pretty apparent that each anime gives way to paying the proper respect to their Chinese culture in it’s art, character design, and overall storytelling. How dedicated!

We hope you found one worth the risk of falling into, afterall it seems as though once you’re in it’s kinda hard to get back out of their newly found world. What Is your favorite donghua to watch? Let us know! 

Leave a comment down below if we covered yours in this review and if we didn’t let us know anyway! We’d love to hear your thoughts down in the comments below on what you think the number one donghua where the MC is Reincarnated should have been.