Blades of the Guardians
Watch if you are looking for quality Chinese animation with an adult storyline and stunning fight scenes. "Blades of the Guardians" is not a children's cartoon; it is a brutal, stylish epic about a mercenary protecting his son in a world where there is no place for the weak. Perfect for fans of wuxia and historical fantasy.
The premiere on Tencent Video took place on June 1, 2023. "Blades of the Guardians" (Blades of the Guardians / 镖人 / Biao Ren) is a Chinese animated series in the wuxia genre, adapted from the manhua of the same name by Xu Xian Zhe. The story unfolds in the year 607, during the Sui Dynasty. Experienced mercenary Dao Ma travels with his son, taking on any jobs—from escorting to contract killings. While carrying out what seems to be a routine escort mission, he finds himself at the center of palace intrigues and bloody conflicts between warrior clans, and now he must confront the spread of man-eating demons.
The tone is dark, dynamic, with elements of historical epic. The animation is done in a unique style that combines traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern dynamic fight scenes. Dao Ma is not a hero in the classical sense: he is cynical, brutal, but infinitely devoted to his son.
The format consists of 15 episodes of ~20 minutes (first season), with a second season announced for 2026. Production by Tencent Penguin Film, animation studio Color Pencil Animation. The series has received international recognition: Douban rating 9.0, Golden Dragon and Tencent Golden Goose awards.
If you enjoyed "Mo Dao Zu Shi" or "Battle Through the Heavens," "Blades of the Guardians" operates on the same wavelength but with a more mature, harsher tone. Fans of Chinese animation (donghua) and historical fantasy will appreciate the quality, and those looking for a grand animated epic will find this one of Tencent's best projects of 2023.