The Chinese animation (donghua) of the acclaimed novel Lord of the Mysteries now has a release window: the studio has confirmed a premiere for summer 2025 (around July).
The adaptation is being produced by the renowned studio B.CMAY Pictures — known for titles like The King’s Avatar — with support from Tencent. Fans welcomed the news with great enthusiasm, fueled by impressive trailers showcasing high-quality visuals and strong faithfulness to the original material.
Premiere and broadcast date
After much speculation, it has been revealed that Lord of the Mysteries will hit screens in summer 2025. This points to a release between June and August, most likely in July, although the exact date has yet to be officially announced.
Distribution in China will be handled by Tencent Video, the streaming platform owned by the Tencent conglomerate. There is still no official confirmation regarding simultaneous international availability, but it is expected that global platforms — such as Tencent’s own WeTV or partners — will stream the donghua to reach its large international fanbase.
Responsible studio and production
The animated series is being produced by B.CMAY Pictures, a studio known for popular titles such as The King’s Avatar and A Will Eternal. Tencent Penguin Pictures and China Literature are serving as co-producers on the project, ensuring strong investment and the direct involvement of the original novel’s publisher.
Two previews have already been released: the first trailer (PV) was shown on August 8, 2023, during the Tencent Animation Conference, while the second PV was released on August 10, 2024, on the official social media channels. Both videos showcase breathtaking animation and the story’s dark, mysterious tone, exciting both novel readers and new viewers with high-quality supernatural action scenes.
So far, details such as the voice cast have not been widely disclosed, but it is known that the series is directed by Xiong Ke (known for Bureau of Paranormal Investigation), indicating that an experienced team is leading the project.
Origin of the original work
Lord of the Mysteries originates from a highly successful Chinese web novel. The work was written by the author known under the pen name Cuttlefish That Loves Diving and was originally published on QiDian, a major Chinese online literature platform. Launched in 2018, the novel amassed millions of reads and was completed in 2020, totaling eight published volumes.
The story is set in a world inspired by the Victorian era, blending steampunk technology with occultism and Lovecraftian horror. The protagonist is Klein Moretti, a young man who awakens to supernatural powers after a mysterious ritual.
The story follows his journey as a “Beyonder” — individuals with extraordinary abilities — as he delves into secret societies, ancient deities, and mysteries along the way..
This unique blend of fantasy, mystery, and horror earned the novel numerous awards and a dedicated international fanbase, setting the stage for the upcoming animated adaptation.
Public reception and expectations
Expectations surrounding the Lord of the Mysteries donghua are extremely high. The trailers released so far have been met with enthusiasm, with fans praising the visual fidelity to the settings described in the novel and the high-quality animation showcased.
In August 2024, a select group of viewers in China had the opportunity to watch the first episode in advance during a promotional event. This premiere episode adapted the first 14 chapters of the novel and had a runtime of approximately 30 minutes — longer than the typical format — allowing for a well-developed introduction to the story’s complex world. Initial impressions were positive: according to attendee feedback, the adaptation managed to stay faithful to the original material, addressing key plot details in a satisfying way, which helped ease concerns among the novel’s most devoted readers.
On social media and forums, many express confidence that Lord of the Mysteries has everything it takes to become one of the standout donghua titles in the coming years, thanks to the evident quality shown in the previews and the strong reputation of the original work.
Potential impact on gender (Opinion)
From a genre perspective, the adaptation of Lord of the Mysteries could mark a significant milestone for donghua. In recent years, the Chinese animation industry has been gaining global momentum, and bringing such an acclaimed and complex work like Lord of the Mysteries to life demonstrates an unprecedented level of ambition and investment. If successful, this series could raise the bar for Chinese productions, attracting new audiences who may not yet be familiar with donghua. Moreover, the success of Lord of the Mysteries could pave the way for more adaptations of popular web novels, further expanding the presence of Chinese narratives in the international animation scene. In short, this release is not only important for fans of the original work but also for solidifying donghua as a prominent genre in global animation — showing that stories from China can rival traditional Japanese or Western productions in both quality and creativity.
