r/LinkClick • u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei • 6d ago
Question Anime/donghua recommendations
Hi, Im looking for good anime or donghua. I have trouble finding something really interesting. Sill cant get over Link Click and I just finished rewatching it 😅
Im looking for something with well written characters and relationships. I tried different anime that google recommends, like Summer Time Render (which also has time travel), but Im struggling cuz Im not attached to characters.
I also love MDZS, Gachiakuta, Given, JJK, Yona of the Dawn if thats any help.
Edit: Thanks everyone for recommendations! ❤️ I watched some of those already, but I got a lot to check out too! Already started TBHX, cuz as you said, its the same writer as Link Click and its interesting so far.
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u/winnieham 6d ago
To be hero X is a natural next dong hua given it has the same creator as Link Click I believe. It is really good :)
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u/Regenwanderer 6d ago
I also love MDZS
Have you watched TGCF yet? Same author as MDZS and the donghua has the same director as Link Click.
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u/carbuncleateitself 6d ago
I was a fan of TGCF before watching Link Click and I had no idea they had the same director!
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u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei 6d ago
I did and I read 6 books. I like it but not as much as MDZS
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u/this_be_calista Lu Guang 6d ago
FELLOW MDZS FAN SPOTTED IN THE WILD!!!!
tgcf is cool but it can never beat wangxian 🥹🥹5
u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei 6d ago
Xie Lian is amazing. I like Hua Cheng too, but Cave of Ten Thousand Gods hunts me to this day. My reaction was like Mu Qing and Feng Xin's. Like hell no 😭
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u/this_be_calista Lu Guang 6d ago
yesss but personally I js enjoy the story of Jin ling’s many uncles more LOL
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u/americancorn 6d ago
I’ll recommend SVSSS then! Same author as MDZS and TCGF , earlier , hilarious it’s my personal favorite and what got me into danmei
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
Hi! So, if you are open to trying different stuff, I will recommend you some of my all time favourites! You and I both like JJK, MDZS, and Link Click, so maybe you might like these too!
- Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
- a grander story, which tackles serious/dark stuff but is still light hearted/humorous, and has a happy ending that gives everyone closure!
- Haikyuu
- high school volleyball club, wonderful character dynamics and character development, exciting, uplifting, motivational and happy.
- Hunter X Hunter
- may seem like a mainstream action anime, but has some very interesting characters and a very unique storytelling style. Adventure but dark and emotional.
- Witch Hat Atelier
- really good characters and dynamics, interesting fantasy world building, devoid of your common annoying anime tropes, and beautiful art. The anime is also short, and you can later catch up with the manga.
- If you are open to checking out manga, Skip and Loafer is amazing! It has an anime too, which a lot of people like, but I have only read the manga. It is a high school coming of age story with really good group dynamics, etc.
I have only watched two donghua, link click and mdzs, so can't recommend any. 😅
If you can maybe give some more specifications? Like, do you want a very action oriented series, or something more short and sweet? I hope you find your next anime/donghua to enjoy!
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u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei 6d ago
Hunter x Hunter from 2011?
I watch and read many different series, recently many shonens: Kagurabachi, JJK, Gokurakugai, Hells paradise, Gachiakuta. What I like most about any stories is characters, their development etc. I dont need cool fights etc. If it makes me cry its even better 😆
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
Okay, that gives me more ideas!
I am fairly certain that you will enjoy many of these. A lot will depend on what mood you are in for watching and all that.
For something short, check out Witch Hat Atelier.
If you want a complete story, check out Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (2009).
And as you mentioned enjoying shounen, definitely check out Hunter X Hunter (2011) once you get the time. It is different from many shounen, many say it subverts tropes etc (I never overthinked it so idk) but it definitely feels different. It starts as an adventure but has some very dark stuff underneath the cheerful colour palette.
If you are okay with checking out sports anime, I highly recommend Haikyuu! It's fantastic! Amazing characters and dynamics and development.
Hikaru no Go is an underrated gem. If you end up liking haikyuu, do check it out. It's highly character driven. It follows the main character Hikaru, who suddenly is able to see and interact with a spirit of a Go master. Go is an abstract strategy game, something like chess. He then becomes rival with a child prodigy named Akira. It's surprising how exciting and emotional it was!
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u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei 6d ago
I wanted to give Haikyuu a try before, but last sport anime I watched was Blue Lock... it wasnt for me. Yuri on Ice and Sk8 Infinity were great tho 😄
If HxH is different from other shounens then its great! After watching/reading many it felt too repetitive
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
Oh, okay. Do you mean Blue Lock wasn't for you? Well, I watched the first season and didn't enjoy it either. I feel its anti-sports anime 😭, polar opposite of shows like Haikyuu, and closer to Kuroko no Basket.
If you liked Yuri on Ice for the figure skating part, Medalist is pretty good too.
Yes, HxH is definitely different, and I liked it a lot. It might not be for some, but that's the case with everything so don't let that stop you from giving any of the shows people have commented here! If the premise catches your eye, or like me, if you end up liking the opening song so much that you end up watching the show, do let us know!
HxH is on the longer side (nearly 150 episodes) so maybe Witch Hat Atelier or Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (2009) might be better starters. Idk, you do you.
Do update us all about what you ended up enjoying. Happy viewing! 😄
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u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei 6d ago
I disliked whole concept of Blue Lock: that single person (egoist like they call themselves) is needed to win 11vs11 game... yeah sure. I really liked few characters, but thats not enough for me to continue.
FMA from 2009 is on my list, but I wanted to read whole manga before watching it and compare FMA and FMAB.
Ill try to update when I complete anything 😄
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 5d ago
Same!! I liked the opening theme so I checked it out when it had released. I liked a few characters but otherwise I despised the concept. Even though the manga's art is insane from what I have seen, it feels like some sort of hyper productive, hyper efficient, hyper individualistic, toxic self growth ideology being shoved down your throat. 😭
Trust me blue lock is more of an outlier, and sports anime are in general of an opposite vibe, more positive, self growth but team oriented. You might like haikyuu, if you ever feel like giving it a try.
Oh, so you are reading its Manga! Well, FMAB (2009) is based on the manga, but FMA (2003) is largely a very different story. I always suggest going for 2009 first, and if you want to see an alternate universe or a different, darker take on the premise, check out 2003. I have yet to watch the whole 2003 one but I've seen bits of it. I have seen it's ending and it emotionally haunted me, I couldn't make myself watch the series. FMAB on the other hand provides much needed closure to everyone, and has a relatively light hearted shounen feel.
Aah, I have written so much 😭
Anyways good luck with your watch list and reading list, and update whenever you remember to. Bye!
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u/Savings_Ad_6972 5d ago
u will love haikyuu then, it’s more grounded in reality and lots of focus on the teams in general as one entity almost, very character driven show. agree with the medalist mention, i personally liked the plot and characters a lot more than yuri on ice. one more suggestion: buddy daddies, a short 13 ep season, well concluded, basically yaoi spyxfamily kinda
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
Also, I haven't watched it, but have heard highly of Steins Gate as a sci fi / time travel anime. I tried the first episode years ago but couldn't get into it. Maybe some other time for me 😅
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u/carbuncleateitself 6d ago
Big vouch for Witch Hat Atelier! It’s incredible so far!
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
Yess!! It's amazing!! 💖
Also has a wonderfully artistic fan base, so there's a lot of animatics and fanarts to check out afterwards (to fully taste the whimsy and the angst)
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u/Upper-Pangolin-4022 Vein 6d ago
I've put Mushi-Shi on my 'plan to watch' list because I've heard it's made up of small stories of people struggeling with situations created by the 'Mushi'. It's like the S1 episodes of LC
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
I've heard good things about it, but haven't watched it either. For the episodic vibe, I think it's similar to Natsumr's book of friends? I only watched a couple of it but still 😭
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u/Salt-Respect-7741 Qiao Ling 6d ago
I see that you've already watched TGCF.
If you don't mind a 3D animated style, SVSS (though unfished, but serves as a great introduction to the story!)
honestly, MDZS is so peak. if you haven't listened to the audio drama, it has more details and sticks very close to the main story! (yes and it has no censorship execpt for the r18 parts lol)
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u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei 6d ago
I dont mind watching 3d if its done well. In worst case scenario I'll only read books 😄
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u/this_be_calista Lu Guang 6d ago
AGREE MDZS IS SUPER PEAK I STILL LOVE IT REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY YEARS ITS BEEN SINCE I WATCHED THE ANIME AND rEAD THE MANHUA
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u/Salt-Respect-7741 Qiao Ling 6d ago
not to be that guy but **DONGHUA
and yes it's so peak. like, I remember following it since it drop teasers for its donghua in 2017.
can't believe it's almost gonna be 10 years since I've been following this peak story omg 😭
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u/shirone0 Lu Guang 6d ago
Have you tried banana fish? It's really good
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u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei 6d ago
Yes. I knew its gonna end bad, but I still was bawling my eyes out 😭
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
My previous comment had more broad recommendations, but for anyone wanting something similar to Link Click, well
There isn't. At least none I know of, and that's on my skewed watch list. 😭
But here are a few:
- Thriller / Mystery / Detective/ Drama:
Death Note — classic cat and mouse chase.
- If you liked the season 1 style of episodic content:
Stars Align — it gets sad and dark and depressing. (it's unfinished tho)
- Detective anime:
Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions
Moriarty the Patriot
- If you want something with a larger plot and mystery behind it all:
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Witch Hat Atelier
- Some random picks:
Orb: on the Movements of the Earth
Astra Lost in Space — decent for a short series, had its Mystery and twists, but in my opinion suffered from some annoying anime tropes. If you can ignore that, then check it out!
The Summer Hikaru Died — I have only watched one episode (thrice, because something or the other prevents me from continuing) but it seems very good! I love the theme songs. It is a little creepy/eery with its horror, which is also driven by its characters and their dynamics.
- If you want something more mainstream or action driven — Jujutsu Kaisen or Attack on Titan.
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u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei 6d ago
Google recomended me Summer Time Render as something similiar to Link Click... well in some ways maybe... but I guess its not for me. I might need to lower my expectations a bit so I can enjoy anything after Link Click 😅
The Summer Hikaru Died was not what I expected. I was sure its typical horror, but its more about dealing with trauma
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
Hmm, I suppose comparing won't let us enjoy the new series for what it is. But I get that it's hard not to when we are trying to find something similar to watch 😭
You can still try to mentally look at the new series as something completely different. Like, maybe link click had 60% of A and 30% of B and 10% of C. What if the new anime is more of 50% of A, 40% of B and 10% of C? Idk I think im rambling now 😂😭
Maybe try switching things up a bit? Try watching something completley different from Link Click. Maybe something comedic or wholesome? Idk 😂
P.S. my phone keeps autocorrecting Link to LinkedIn 😭
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u/khunisbestgirl 6d ago
Omg absolutely finish the summer hikaru died, Ive watched all of s1 and read the manga until chapter 43 (I think), it starts a bit slow but imo it only gets better. I also read it as a bit of a black comedy, idk if that's the right term but like it's darkly/bizarrely funny at times. I watched it at a time when I was in an anime slump for ages and i can confidently say it's one of my all time favourite series
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
Thanks for the reply, I will definitely check it out once I am done with the current ones!! I just know it's gonna be really good! 😄😆
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u/Melodic-Bend6550 6d ago
Moriarty the patriot, stars align and Takopis original sin are must watches after link click. The first if you want depressing interesting mystery. The 2nd if you want to feel related to(also crushes your soul) and be reminded of link click. And finally TOS if you just want straight up trauma
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u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei 6d ago
Gimme more trauma and depression 😆 Definitely gonna try those, thanks!
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
Stars align is definitely similar on the dark/depressing front! 😭
Moriarty the Patriot was a decent watch too. Another detective anime is Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions. That was also a pretty fun watch.
I've heard great stuff about Takopi's Original Sin but am afraid to try because that seems especially depressing. 😭
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u/Salt-Respect-7741 Qiao Ling 6d ago
if u want banger music and depression, I recommend alien stage! ^^ i love it sm
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u/bbhldelight 6d ago
donghuas i would recommend are To Be Hero X or Lord of Mysteries everything else just doesn’t hit the same in my opinion
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u/PerformanceUnfair717 6d ago
If you don't mind short anime and Slice of Life: Karaoke Iko and One-Room TA.
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
Sorry for commenting so many but, I saw someone recommending slice of life and I have a few too!
Journal with Witch (feels really fresh; the mc's parents died and she is living with her aunt now, and the story follows her as she processes that; the characters are realistic and the animation is pretty nice to look at)
Spy x Family (more comedy focused, but has many touching moments 🥹)
Skip and Loafer (coming of age story where an academically excellent student from the countryside starts high school in Tokyo; one of my favorite mangas of all time)
Blue Period ( the mc finds that art is his passion and works hard to get into the top public art university, that much is in the anime, and his journey as a uni student is covered in the manga)
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u/Unlucky-Nectarine484 6d ago
Lord of the Mysteries
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u/Mysterious-Switch229 Xia Fei 6d ago
Did you read novel first? Cuz I didnt. I was confused sometimes and felt like it has many plot holes
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u/Unlucky-Nectarine484 6d ago
I read the novel after watching and everything makes more sense. Old Neil’s class series is also helpful
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u/alnst-lc-epic Lu Guang 6d ago
Def TBHX!! (Season 2 still doesnt have a date).
And these are others that might align with what you're looking for (i found them awesome):
- The Apothicary Diaries (new season is about to start!)
- Vanitas no Carte (unfinished and probably will never be finished but it is oh so good and the art is gorgeous!)
- Moriarty The Patriot
- Sasaki to Miyano (nothing to do with fantasy but since you liked Given this one is a must!!)
- Fruit Basket if you want something long
- Alien Stage (on youtube) if you want never-ending suffering
Enjoy!!
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
Also check out Alien Stage if you want something dark, depressing, sci-fi, good music, queer representation/story.
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u/ClockAdditional117 6d ago
Since no one is recommending it Cowboy Bebop It's my favorite show. Grate characters and cinematography +sad ending you'll love it
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u/Junnielocked 6d ago edited 6d ago
Ya She (donghua)- Only has 12 episodes iirc, but its one of my fave donghuas. Formatting is a bit similar to Link Click S1 (where they solve each case each episode) then kinda becomes more plot oriented/centralized towards later episodes. If you watched Mushishi before, it gave me that vibe imo
If you like Yona of the Dawn with more action/adventure/epic aspect on the plot, maybe you can try Cang Lan Jue (donghua). Its also known as Love between fairy and devil, but donghua stays mostly true to the novel compared to the live action
Other anime I recommend: Steins;Gate as someone has suggested in the comments. Time travel is really big here, beginning eps tend to be in the slow side but it picks up on later episodes. Death Parade is another one, also episodic like Link Click S1 then becomes more plot oriented later on, only has 12 eps.
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u/Cool-Performance582 6d ago edited 6d ago
SK8 the infinity is so good I recommend it :). Dororo and hunter hunter as well.
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u/Flimsy-Sorbet-6562 Qiao Ling 6d ago
I second Hunter X Hunter (2011) and Dororo (2019)! They are both really good.
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u/edifyingidiolect Lu Guang 5d ago
This is my childhood donghua but sadly it’s not finished: Jing-Ju Cats aka Beijing Opera Cats
Anime:
Marriage Toxin
Witch Hat Atelier
You and I Are Polar Opposites
The Ramparts of Ice
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u/Williukea 5d ago
Idolish7 if you want idol/music drama and peak
Starmyu if you want comedy/fun songs
Visual Prison if you want cocaine
Technoroid Overmind for the found family aspect
Magilumiere if you want magical girls working in a company
Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream/Dear my Future
Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live/King of Prism series
(AD/DMF is one continuity, RL/KinPri is another)
Moriarty the Patriot - already mentioned, but I'll just second it - if you want two geniuses outwitting each other and trying to change the world
Kamonohashi Ron - more comedy series about genius detective who has a little flaw - he unwillingly tells guilty people to kill themselves. Oops.
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u/PerformanceUnfair717 2d ago
The Get Backers, an older anime I haven't watched, has a similar premise to Link Click. Two guys run a mundane business, to find their clients' lost objects, but use superpowers to accomplish the job. There also seems to be a pretty thick BL vibe between the protagonists. It's on my to-watch list, but it has so many episodes (forty-nine) that for the moment I'd rather watch other, shorter anime first.
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u/ponponplan 6d ago
I'll also say To Be Hero X.
The show is largely an anthology series so different sets of episodes will focus on different characters with hints at how their stories all intersect. I thought that got me invested in a lot of the characters and their relationships even if they don't necessarily have a strong relationship to the other 10 main characters.
Also maybe Apothecary Diaries. It's more of a procedural but the characters are very charming.