Is The All-devouring Whale anime worth watching?

The All-devouring Whale is the latest addition to the new wave of Chinese anime, also called donghua, that has gained global recognition. The adaptation is based on an ongoing manhua that has been serialized on Bilibili since 2019 and currently has 274 chapters. The anime, titled The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming, began airing on May 1, 2025 and is scheduled for 12 episodes.

The series has recently gone viral for its similarities to the Pokémon franchise, but curious onlookers may still be wondering whether it lives up to the hype. The All-devouring Whale is a stunning anime with a fascinating world that presents a clever twist on classic Chinese storytelling tropes. This makes it well worth a watch and will appeal to fans who are yet to try donghua.

Created by Mo, the series currently has two episodes out. It is animated by Big Firebird Culture, a studio that is rapidly gaining fame for projects such as The Super Cube and Spare Me, Great Lord! They have knocked it out of the park yet again with this latest project.

As mentioned, The All-devouring Whale is a story that draws clear inspiration from Pokémon. It introduces Fan Lingxiao, an underdog protagonist and talented spirit pet master. As the leader of his sect, Lingxiao aims to raise their status by taking part in a promotion competition against formidable masters.

Unfortunately, despite showing early promise, things soon go awry when his spirit pet whale kills him. Lingxiao’s story merely begins there, as he is reincarnated a year later as another person called Liu Fengmang.

Making matters worse, he is imprisoned for the lecherous ways of his body’s previous owner. While aiming to clear his name, the protagonist strives to reach the pinnacle as a spirit pet master yet again and save his declining sect.

The All-devouring Whale is a highly imaginative story that pays homage to Chinese power systems. The spirit pets, in particular, are creatures that can be procured by masters and evolved through cultivation. They have distinct personalities and powers of their own, and there are also dedicated centers for their recovery.

The excitement surrounding the anime is undoubtedly deserved, as the series is a spectacle to the eyes. The two episodes released so far have featured a blend of creative techniques ranging from 2D animation and hand-drawn illustrations to CGI. The color palette is bold and exquisite, truly highlighting the world and all its fantastical elements.

While several recent anime have faced criticism from fans for unimpressive fight scenes, The All-devouring Whale avoids that pitfall and features exhilarating battles between spiritual creatures. Complemented by its fresh musical score, the combination of high-octane action, inter-clan drama, and a touch of mystery surrounding the protagonist’s death makes this a show you don’t want to miss.

Is The All-devouring Whale manhua worth reading?

The praise received by The All-devouring Whale anime is warranted primarily because it entirely elevates the source material. The manhua, though having gorgeous art and bright colors, is much less impactful than the anime.

While the show takes a more serious approach to its storytelling, the tone of the manhua chooses to be comedic. At its core, it is the same story, but the anime delivers it in a manner where the stakes are much more apparent.

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The manhua’s fights are also much shorter compared to its adaptation, and the world-building is rushed. Hence, while the anime seeks to appeal to a global audience, the manhua panders to the Chinese comic readership that is already familiar with its themes.

Therefore, unless you wish to read ahead and catch up with the source material, we would recommend sticking with the remarkable anime.

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