Upcoming Donghua 2025: The Demon Hunter and Painting Rivers and Lakes New Seasons

With both The Demon Hunter (Cang Yuan Tu, 沧元图动画) and Painting Rivers and Lakes (The Degenerate-Drawing Jianghu, Bad Guys, Hua Jianghu Zhi Bu Liang Ren, 画江湖之不良人) returning for new seasons, the donghua community is buzzing with anticipation and heated debates These series have built loyal fanbases thanks to their compelling narratives, memorable characters, and striking animation styles. Both shows, however, have had their fair share of controversies, especially concerning recent character redesigns and postponed release dates. This comprehensive analysis delves into key announcements, character transformations, plot developments, and fan reactions to these highly anticipated seasons.

Overview of The Demon Hunter Season 2: The Journey to Yuanchu Mountain
Overview of Painting Rivers and Lakes Season 7: A Journey Through Desert North
Fan Reactions and Industry Implications: Consistency, Authenticity, and Audience Trust
Prospects for The Demon Hunter and Painting Rivers and Lakes in 2025
Conclusion: Balancing Hype and Expectations for a Satisfying Fan Experience

Overview of The Demon Hunter Season 2: The Journey to Yuanchu Mountain

After a long wait since the end of its first season, The Demon Hunter’s second season is finally set to debut in December. Fans have eagerly awaited the next chapter, particularly after a short special episode titled The Dongning Mansion Side Story only temporarily sated the audience’s desire for more of the main storyline. Given the epic fantasy adventure of the first season, the stakes for Season 2 are incredibly high, with both storyline and character expectations reaching new peaks.

“Meng Chuan 1V499” and the Yuanchu Mountain Trials

The season’s key plot hinted at through teasers, revolves around a fierce competition in which protagonist Meng Chuan must face off against 499 other competitors. This epic showdown is set at Yuanchu Mountain, a legendary location where warriors battle for supremacy. Meng Chuan’s struggle to defeat such many opponents isn’t just about survival; it’s also a journey of personal growth, resilience, and determination.

This “1V499” scenario promises high-octane action and intense martial arts sequences, allowing viewers to experience Meng Chuan’s skills in a way that will likely deepen his character development. Fans anticipate that the show will balance thrilling battle scenes with a storyline that explores Meng Chuan’s motivations, emotional struggles, and evolving relationships with other characters. Although official sources have yet to confirm the number of episodes, it’s widely believed that Season 2 will be relatively short, likely around 15-30 episodes, focusing more on pacing and quality than sheer quantity.

The Controversial Redesign of Liu Qiyue

In tandem with the season’s storyline, the character design updates for the lead characters, especially Liu Qiyue, have sparked significant online debates. Fans were surprised to see a more polished, mature, and refined look for Liu Qiyue. Her new model boasts an elevated aesthetic, with enhanced facial features and refined makeup details, especially around her eyes and lips. However, the reaction to this redesign was mixed; while some fans appreciated her more sophisticated appearance, others felt that it bordered on “photo trickery.”

This backlash stems from a common grievance within the donghua community about overly polished promotional images that don’t always match the animation quality in the actual episodes. Fans fear that Liu Qiyue’s in-show appearance might not retain the same elegance, creating a jarring disconnect between her promo art and her animated form. This tension between promotional material and actual animation is not a new issue in the industry, but for The Demon Hunter, it has been particularly divisive, as many fans feel that consistency in character design is essential to maintaining the immersive experience.

The donghua’s creators must strike a delicate balance here—retaining Liu Qiyue’s new design quality in the actual episodes could appease fans and prevent similar criticisms in the future. On the other hand, failing to do so may lead to disappointment and further fuel the perception that the show relies on idealized promotional art to generate excitement.

Overview of Painting Rivers and Lakes Season 7: A Journey Through Desert North

Another eagerly anticipated return, Painting Rivers and Lakes’s seventh season is expected to bring fans back into the world of martial arts, politics, and supernatural intrigue. Since the fourth season, each installment has seen escalating success, with fans particularly lauding the developments in Season 6, where Li Xingyun became the new leader of the Drawing Jianghu and Zhang Zifan rose to emperorship. However, the seventh season has encountered an unforeseen delay, with its release now pushed to early 2025.

Exploring the “Desert North Arc” and Li Xingyun’s Role

The central storyline for Painting Rivers and Lakes Season 7 will be the “Desert North Arc,” a setting that introduces a dark and mysterious atmosphere filled with unexplained deaths and sinister forces. Early teasers suggest that the “Ancestor of Corpses” (尸祖降臣), a powerful and malevolent figure, plays a major role in the disturbances plaguing Desert North. As death follows her every step, the situation escalates into infighting among the corpse clans, all while the local ruler, the Desert North Princess, suspects foul play by the Drawing Jianghu, casting Li Xingyun in a dangerous light.

Forced to investigate these deaths while avoiding the wrath of the Desert North forces, Li Xingyun faces a delicate and dangerous task. This arc promises intense battles, deep moral questions, and a setting that amplifies the supernatural elements of the series. Given the character’s past experiences and growth, this arc is likely to offer new opportunities for him to solidify his role as a leader, highlighting his tactical prowess and martial arts skills.

Li Xingyun’s New Weapon and Its Implications

A significant twist in Season 7 is the introduction of a new weapon for Li Xingyun. Known for wielding the Longquan Sword, he finds himself in need of a different weapon due to technical issues with his original sword. While the specifics of the new weapon remain under wraps, fans are eager to see whether this change will affect his fighting style and perhaps even his identity as a warrior.

Switching weapons can symbolize growth and adaptation, themes that resonate strongly with the Drawing Jianghu storyline. For a character like Li Xingyun, who has faced numerous trials and evolved across the seasons, adopting a new weapon may be both a strategic and narrative choice that reflects his continued development as a leader and fighter.

Ji Ruxue’s New Look: Building Hype with a Mystery Reveal

Perhaps the most tantalizing news about Season 7 is the rumor of a drastic new look for Ji Ruxue, Li Xingyun’s love interest and an integral character in the series. Despite her absence from initial teasers and previews, it was recently confirmed by series creator Lao Yang that she will indeed appear, complete with a “groundbreaking” new appearance. This news has sparked intense speculation among fans, especially since Ji Ruxue has typically maintained a consistent appearance over the seasons.

The transformation may signal a more hardened, battle-ready version of Ji Ruxue, aligning with the ominous atmosphere of the Desert North Arc. Given her established character, a new look could also represent a significant evolution in her narrative role, potentially revealing new aspects of her personality or background. The deliberate withholding of details has only increased fan anticipation, setting Ji Ruxue up as a central figure in the upcoming storyline.

Fan Reactions and Industry Implications: Consistency, Authenticity, and Audience Trust

The mixed reactions to both The Demon Hunter and Painting Rivers and Lakes’s character redesign and release delays highlight a significant trend in the donghua industry: the importance of audience trust. While both shows have built substantial fanbases, their recent promotional strategies—particularly in character aesthetics—underscore the risks associated with overly polished promotional materials that may not match the final animated product.

For instance, the dissatisfaction over Liu Qiyue’s design isn’t just about aesthetics; it reflects fans’ growing demand for authenticity in character portrayal. In an era where donghua and animation technology continue to advance, audiences expect a level of consistency that honors their emotional investment. For series with established characters, any drastic or incongruent changes can disrupt the viewer’s immersion and lead to feelings of betrayal, especially for fans who have closely followed the characters’ journeys.

Delays, while often frustrating, are generally met with more understanding from fans, as they recognize the importance of production quality over rushed content. Both The Demon Hunter and Drawing Jianghu have previously demonstrated strong storytelling and animation quality, factors that have helped maintain their audiences’ loyalty. Nevertheless, the studios must handle these delays carefully, offering consistent updates to keep fans engaged and informed.

Prospects for The Demon Hunter and Painting Rivers and Lakes in 2025

Looking forward, both The Demon Hunter and Painting Rivers and Lakes have the potential to deliver landmark seasons. The Demon Hunter’s 1V499 storyline promises an intense blend of action and character development, especially if Liu Qiyue’s model remains faithful to the promo art. For Painting Rivers and Lakes, the Desert North Arc provides a darker, grittier setting that aligns with the series’ supernatural and martial arts roots. Introducing new weapons and redesigned character appearances only adds to the narrative potential, setting the stage for intense showdowns and emotionally charged moments.

By addressing fans’ concerns around character representation and upholding consistency between promotional materials and in-show animations, both series could strengthen their reputations and deepen fan loyalty. If Painting Rivers and Lakes sticks to its first-quarter 2025 release without further delays, and if The Demon Hunter delivers a consistent visual experience, both shows could set a new standard for quality and fan engagement in the donghua world.

Conclusion: Balancing Hype and Expectations for a Satisfying Fan Experience

The combined anticipation and anxiety around The Demon Hunter and Painting Rivers and Lakes demonstrate the delicate balancing act required to maintain a successful donghua series. Both shows have captivated fans through intricate storytelling, compelling characters, and memorable action sequences. However, in an industry that increasingly relies on polished promotional art to generate excitement, maintaining authenticity and consistency in character portrayal is more important than ever.

As fans await the December premiere of The Demon Hunter and the early 2025 release of Drawing Jianghu they are looking for both series to honor the established character designs and maintain narrative coherence. By meeting these expectations, The Demon Hunter and Painting Rivers and Lakes could reinforce their positions as standout series in the martial arts and fantasy genres, delivering unforgettable experiences for both their loyal audiences and new viewers alike.