Funimation recently announced it will be streaming its very first Chinese animation (also known as donghua): Heaven Official's Blessing, by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. Some people may recognize Mo Xiang Tong Xiu as the author of the web novel The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, which had two and a half seasons worth of an animated series and an audio drama. Heaven Official's Blessing is her third novel and is about a god who ascends to the heavens for the third time after being banished two times before.
The trailer for Heaven Official's Blessing shows off the animation's beautiful aesthetic, one that is sure to satisfy both new and existing fans of the books -- who been anticipating the donghua release for some time. With Funimation partnering up with Bilibili (a Chinese streaming platform) to stream the series, Heaven Official's Blessing will be made more accessible for international viewers than any Chinese animation before it. Here's why you should check the donghua series out.
An Intriguing Plot and Compelling Characters
The heavens, as depicted in the trailer, exude resplendence with some gorgeous detailing. The plot, meanwhile, has roots in fantasy and the supernatural but also has its moments of horror and gore. At the beginning of the story, Xie Lian solves mysteries and lives a pretty humble life, spending most of his time in the mortal realm, only to realize that there is a bigger plot at play when his past comes back to haunt him.
Xie Lian is ridiculed by the many gods since he seems to bring misfortune wherever he goes. Soon after, he sets off on his first task after his third ascension, he meets a demon king named Hua Cheng who, despite being the terrifying ruler of the demon and ghost realm, doesn't really do anything outright bad. In fact, despite having met him for the first time, there's a deep connection that Xie Lian can't quite comprehend; one that goes a long way back.
Heaven Official's Blessing Is a Story About Devotion
Yes, this is a BL (Boys' Love), but like most BL-adapted animation, the romance will probably not be explicit and will be conveyed through more subtle gestures, instead. Xie Lian as a prince and, later on when he's 17, as a god, has experienced no shortage of love and admiration from his followers. He doesn't flaunt the fact that he is in a place of privilege and of power; instead, focusing on helping the common people. But when he falls from the heavens, that loyalty falls with him.
The demon king Hua Cheng is shrouded in mystery. Charismatic and sincere, Hua Cheng makes it clear from the get-go that he doesn't care that Xie Lian is a god of bad luck. He does his utmost to protect and shield Xie Lian from harm and places his absolute trust and faith in him -- even when no one else will. Xie Lian and Hua Cheng's relationship is slow to develop but absolutely satisfying to watch, even more so when they do finally get together.
In Heaven Official's Blessing, Gods Are Immortal Humans
The series makes it clear that although the gods are powerful, they are most definitely not omnipotent. For someone like Xie Lian, who has always been in a position of power as a Crown Prince and eventually a god, this becomes a point of frustration for him. The only difference between being the epitome of a human god and an actual god is that he's now immortal, though his power is still limited to a certain degree.
As a god, Xie Lian isn't perfect. His experiences and all of the trials that he goes through have a tremendous impact on his personality and his values, leading him to make some bad decisions in spite of his good intentions. The consequences that result from those choices lead to him seeing and experiencing very human pain and suffering -- a concept that was foreign to him when he was still a Crown Prince.
It's All About Inner Strength
When you first meet Xie Lian, he has a lighthearted and humble way of approaching things. However, behind that gentle smile, Xie Lian has experienced more than his fair share of trauma--a trauma that gets buried deep down and hidden underneath self-deprecating humor.
As his backstory is unraveled, Xie Lian rises and falls many times. He falters as his resolve and his morals are tested time and time again. But even through tragedy, he never loses sight of his principles. He has seen humanity at its worst but remains compassionate and empathetic towards the common people's suffering -- and that takes true strength.
Heaven's Official Blessing aired its first episode on Funimation on Oct. 31.
