Slay the Gods: Mortal Divine Realm
Watch if you are looking for Chinese animation with a unique visual aesthetic and grand battles. "Slay the Gods" is not a standard xianxia; it is urban fantasy where gods invade reality, and the hero grows from protecting home to protecting the nation. Perfect for fans of quality donghua.
The premiere on Tencent Video took place on July 31, 2024 — two episodes on the first day, then on Wednesdays. "Slay the Gods" (斩神之凡尘神域 / Slay the Gods: Mortal Divine Realm) is a Chinese animated series (donghua) in the urban fantasy and action genre. It is adapted from the novel by Sanjiu Yinyu "Learning to Slay Gods in a Mental Hospital." Lin Qie is an ordinary high school student who suddenly loses his sight and finds himself drawn into a war between ancient deities and a mysterious organization called the "Night Watch," which protects humanity.
The tone is dark, stylish, with elements of "Acid Aesthetic." Shenman Culture's animation uses dark backgrounds with rich, high-contrast colors, gradients, and liquid metal effects, creating an atmosphere where retro and futurism coexist in chaos and order. The fight scenes are the main highlight: each character has a unique fighting style, and the visual effects are on par with AAA games.
The format consists of 15 episodes of ~20 minutes each. Production by Tencent Video, Tomato Anime, Angel Culture, Shenman Culture. The series won the "White Horse Award" for animation adaptation and the "Tencent Golden Goose" for best animation in 2024.
If you enjoyed "Journey to Immortality" or "Master of the Devil's Cult," "Slay the Gods" operates on the same wavelength but in an urban setting with a modern aesthetic. Fans of Chinese animation and fantasy about deities will appreciate the scale, and those looking for quality donghua with cinematic battles will find this one of Tencent's best projects of 2024.