Cdrama & hanfu

The costume comedy drama "Hilarious Family" is currently airing and has gained popularity. It is a female-oriented family comedy that revolves around the daily lives and matchmaking adventures of a widowed mother and her four daughters. In the drama, Du Ru Yu, who lost her husband early on, single-handedly raises her four daughters, each with a distinct personality. In order to find suitable husbands for them, the family moves to the bustling city of Jiang Lin. Despite the challenges they face in the matchmaking process, the daughters' destined partners unexpectedly appear, leading to a series of comical and entertaining stories. From the main storyline and character development, "Hilarious Family" possesses a distinct comedic quality that appeals to a wide range of audiences. Since its premiere, the drama has maintained a good level of popularity, with its ratings even surpassing the legendary "Legend of the Undercover Chef" which was led by the renowned comedian Zhao Benshan. While there have been some controversies regarding certain aspects of the show's content and humor, "Hilarious Family" may not be considered an exceptionally outstanding comedy. However, its current achievements do indicate that it has successfully captured and retained the audience's attention to a certain extent,…

With the official start of the summer broadcast season, there is a flood of new drama information. On one hand, "Destined" has already become very popular upon its release, while on the other hand, "Snow Eagle Lord" is eager to compete with it. There are also several costume dramas that have not been aired yet but have already gained popularity. Among them is "Romance on the Farm," starring Zeng Shunxi and Tian Xiwei which recently obtained its distribution license. With its unique plotline, all-star cast with excellent looks and acting skills, and strong creative team leading the way behind-the-scenes, once this show airs it may just be another hit cdrama for viewers to enjoy. Unlike typical historical dramas that focus on imperial or wealthy households, "Romance on the Farm" takes place in ancient rural China with a time-travel element added into the mix. The story follows a modern girl named Lian Man'er who travels back in time where she meets her male protagonist counterpart and together they embark on an adventure of becoming elite farmers and achieving wealth as well as ultimately finding love. This fresh take on themes and storyline makes "Romance on the Farm" highly intriguing for audiences.…

Different traditional colors in China are all uniquely named. Why are traditional colors in China named in this way? Since the Tang Dynasty, ancient people used the term "Yan Se (颜色)" as a general term for the colors in nature, giving colors names based on natural phenomena. Unlike the Western classification of primary colors, China divides colors into five main colors: "Chi (赤, red), Huang (黄, yellow), Qing (青, green), Hei (黑, black), and Bai (白, white)". As the seasons change, colors also transform and blend in countless variations. The recently released documentary series "Amazing Chinese Colors" takes traditional Chinese colors as a starting point to showcase the world of colors. "Amazing Chinese Colors" selects five traditional Chinese colors, and as a point of reference, five artists, namely Zeng Li, Zhang Yifan, Xuan Lu, Jiang Mengjie and Zhang Li, as the recommenders, dig out the history and culture related to such colors, extend the use of such colors in modern oriental aesthetics, show the infinite charm of traditional Chinese colors in the trend, and take the story of each color as the source of inspiration, to create unique traditional Chinese colors in the program. With each color story as the…

Before "In Blossom" and after "Blossoms in Adversity," Youku released these two ancient-style dramas that achieved commendable success. However, before its premiere, "Blossoms in Adversity" was not favored by the market or the audience, lacking strong concepts and popular actors, and was considered just another assembly-line historical drama. Surprisingly, as the plot unfolded, "Blossoms in Adversity" managed to turn the tide against the odds. From initial widespread ridicule at its launch to its successful finale, "Blossoms in Adversity" can truly be considered an unexpected delight in this year’s market for ancient-style dramas. Recently, Pengxiaoxian spoke with Zhu Ruibin, the director of "Blossoms in Adversity," who shared the secret formula behind the drama's successful turnaround and his evolving creative philosophy over more than thirty years in the industry.   Targeting Cdrama Market Demands Produced by Youku and directed by Zhu Ruibin, with scriptwriting by He Fang, and starring Hu Yitian and Zhang Jingyi, with a special guest appearance by Myolie Wu, "Blossoms in Adversity" is a historical romance drama adapted from the novel of the same name by Kong Liu. The series narrates the story of Gu Yanxi (played by Hu Yitian), and the fallen noblewoman Hua Zhi (played by Zhang…

Novoland: Pearl Eclipse (斛珠夫人), the hottest Chinese drama at the end of 2021, once again proves that Chinese Xianxia dramas still have solid fundamentals in the drama market. This drama is a new way to open up fantasy drama with its extreme refinement in many aspects such as emotional arrangement, female characterization, and delicate deconstruction of traditional culture.   The Ultimate Beauty of Emotional Lines Drama is the art of narrative, and how to tell a good story has always been a difficult task in the creation of dramas. Under this, Novoland: Pearl Eclipse continues to work carefully on the expression of connotation and emotional arrangement, giving this drama a unique quality and extraordinary significance. The story of Novoland: Pearl Eclipse is well laid out and clearly structured, and the three emotional lines are intertwined and complement each other, so that the expression space and aesthetic tension of the drama are fully extended in the narrative. Fang Hai Shi and Fang Zhu In the drama, all three couples are heart-wrenching. Fang Hai Shi and Fang Zhu have experienced many life-and-death situations and have become attached to each other, but Fang Zhu is unable to respond to Hai Shi's love because…

"I Am Nobody" went through a wave of controversies and delays when it premiered in early August, leaving the audience uncertain about its overall quality. Furthermore, as an adaptation of the manga "Yi Ren Zhi Xia (一人之下)," with its association with ACG, and its edgy and passionate storyline, it seemed to inherently carry a sense of unreliability, causing some anxiety. However, after watching the first 20 episodes, the plot, visual effects, and essence of the drama have all proven to be successful. In fact, for some viewers, the drama version is even more enjoyable than the anime. Director by Xu Hongyu, who previously directed web dramas such as "Cross Fire" and the film "Coffee or Tea?" particularly excelling in the youth-oriented and hot-blooded genre. This time, he approached " I Am Nobody" from the perspective of a seasoned editor, skillfully capturing the compact storyline of the series, and has achieved an impressive 10.5% market share in terms of viewership. What deserves even greater recognition is that, following "Bureau of Transformer" in 2019, the cdrama market has finally seen the emergence of a high-quality, truly urban fantasy drama, bringing a gust of innovation to the audience.   01 Trimming and tightening,…

With more than 20+ Xianxia dramas to be broadcast in 2022, the "Xianxia Craze" will sweep the screen again, so if you are a big fan of romance Xianxia dramas, don't miss them! We have already updated some of them in our list of Wuxia & Xianxia dramas. In this article, we have added a new part. Till The End of The Moon · 长月烬明·月照千峰 (Aired) Aired: Apr 6, 2023 Also known as: Zhang Yue Jin Ming Genres: Historical, Xianxia, Romance Main Role: Luo Yunxi as Tan Tai Jin/ Cang Jiu Min/ Ming Ye, Bai Lu as Li Su Su / Ye Xi Wu/ Sang Jiu, Chen Duling as Ye Bing Chang/ Mei Nu/ Tian Huan In order to save the world from being tormented by the demon god Tan Tai Jin, the daughter of the head of the Hengyang clan, Li Su Su, takes a desperate step back in time to 500 years ago and disguises herself as Ye Xi Wu, the youngest daughter of the Ye family, to stop Tan Tai Jin, who had not yet been completely corrupted by evil thoughts, from becoming a demon god. What she didn't expect was that 500 years ago Tan Tai…

In 2023, China Central Television released a remarkable documentary about Su Shi titled "Ding Feng Bo (定风波)". Covering themes like poetry, art, cuisine, travel, and society, the series revisits the tumultuous life of Su Shi, also known as Su Dongpo, highlighting how his attitude toward life continues to inspire us today. Su Shi is portrayed by Nie Yuan, who, at 45, skillfully captures Su Shi's life from his 20s to his old age. Whether it's his youthful ambition as he begins his official career, his diligence in serving the people, his despair during the "Crow Terrace Poetry Case," or his optimism after being exiled, Nie brings each phase of Su Shi's life to vivid life, making this arguably the best on-screen portrayal of Su Shi to date. The five episodes of "Ding Feng Bo" are titled "Chu Chuan Ji," "Hu Shan Ji," "Mo Jie Ji," "Xuan Hu Ji," and "Jie Lu Ji." The cinematography greatly enhances the aesthetic quality of the series, perfectly aligning with the artistic ambiance of Su Shi's poetry. Every frame is stunning enough to be a wallpaper. Su Shi is often remembered as a literary giant who loved life, but in truth, he faced much hardship,…

The recently broadcasted drama "Story of Kunning Palace" has surpassed the popularity threshold of 9500 on iQiyi, with only 6 episodes. It is just a step away from reaching ten thousand. This is quite remarkable for a parachuted production. The story revolves around former empress Jiang Xuening (played by Bai Lu), who was forced to rebel by the imperial tutor Xie Wei (played by Zhang Linghe). As a result, the emperor died, and the loyal official Zhang Zhe (played by Wang Xingyue) was imprisoned because of her. Fortunately, Jiang Xuening is given a chance to start anew and is determined to make amends for her past regrets. On various social media platforms dedicated to period dramas, discussions about "Story of Kunning Palace" are endless. Besides positive searches related to the plot and actors, there are occasional criticisms regarding camera angles and flashbacks. The overwhelmingly positive reviews are abnormal, but they indicate that a large number of viewers are truly engrossed in the drama. With a recent market share of over 20%, how did "Story of Kunning Palace" achieve such popularity?   01 Not relying solely on quality, but embracing diversity The success and popularity of any work cannot be solely…

Directed by Wendeguang, adapted from the novel "Ceng Feng Liu," starring Jing Tian and Feng Shaofeng, with Wang Likun, Zhou Yiran, Xu Haiqiao, and others in leading roles, the historical inspirational & romance drama "The Legend of Zhuohua" is currently airing. The story revolves around Mu Zhuohua, an ambitious female aspiring for success and fame. She crosses paths with Liu Yan, a warrior determined to seek justice on the battlefield and protect their comrades-in-arms. Their journey intertwines redemption and love as they unite to defend their homeland. The show has received relatively positive feedback for several reasons. Firstly, the popularity of Feng Shaofeng and Jing Tian as lead actors generated considerable anticipation among viewers when they were cast as a couple in this production. Secondly, the drama centers around female inspirational topics which have always resonated well with female audiences. Particularly noteworthy is Jing Tian's portrayal of Mu Zhuohua's character that has gained a loyal following due to her memorable lines and strong personality traits. Although set against a historical backdrop, these characters express contemporary women's aspirations. Women's empowerment dramas have always been an essential genre in Chinese drama productions - whether featuring strong female leads or ensemble casts centered…

The phenomenon-level hit drama "Joy of Life" welcomed its second season, garnering immense attention. Upon its release, the drama immediately dominated the hot search lists and broke historical records on Tencent Video, earning the title of "Drama King" officially certified by Tencent itself. Currently, "Joy of Life Season 2" has set a new record for the highest heat value in Tencent Video's history, claiming the top spot in viewership ratings during its time slot, truly deserving the title of a "hit drama." Since the airing of "Joy of Life 1," it has been five years, leaving viewers with a cliffhanger: Fan Xian (played by Zhang Ruoyun) was sent on a mission to the Northern Qi, one of his tasks being to retrieve Yan Bingyun. However, during the negotiations, he was betrayed by Yan Bingyun and collapsed after being stabbed, coughing up blood. As the protagonist of the series, we all know Fan Xian won't easily die, but how he dies and how he survives are intriguing questions. The beginning of "Joy of Life Season 2" briefly callbacks to the past, quickly refreshing the memories of the audience. Afterwards, Yan Bingyun personally sets fire to the corpse in front of the…

As "Young White Horse in Spring Breeze 2" prepares to grace screens, it promises to continue the legacy of its predecessor, "Song of Youth," by delivering another thrilling chapter set in a vibrant world of martial arts and heroism. This season not only builds upon the established themes of courage and passion but also elevates its storytelling and visual prowess to new heights, offering audiences a grander and more spectacular journey into the realm of Jianghu. In the first season, our protagonist Bai Li Dongjun faced numerous challenges, from abduction attempts and encounters at the Nameless Sword Villa to the tragic loss of his master. Determined to forge his path in the martial world, he leaves the bustling Qian Dong City behind, heading towards Tianqi City in search of his destiny. "Young White Horse in Spring Breeze 2" continues to unravel the suspenseful tale of Bai Li Dongjun's growth and trials in Tianqi City. The series excels in character design, meticulously crafting hairstyles, facial expressions, and clothing textures that highlight the production team's dedication to detail. Moreover, the animation employs sophisticated lighting effects, enriching the vibrant colors and adding depth to every scene, ensuring a deeply immersive viewing experience for…

The Chinese civilization has a long and illustrious history spanning over five millennia. Within the river of time, there flow venerable heroes and legends that evoke admiration and awe. Many Chinese documentaries also focus on this rich tapestry of history, giving rise to top-notch masterpieces such as "Hexi Corridor," "The Journey of Xuanzang," and "Daming Palace." In this post, you will be introduced to a new documentary, "China Before China." This is the first documentary that stands from an archaeological perspective, exploring the origins of Chinese civilization through the lens of archaeology. Almost all China archaeological units participated in the filming, with over 100 top experts in the field leading the endeavor. The film's production team is also formidable, featuring the artistic teams behind "Wrath of Silence" and "Why Try to Change Me Now." Additionally, renowned musician Luo Dayou composed the theme song, and stars like Hu Ge, Wu Qian, and Cao Lei made cameo appearances without compensation. Of course, the most noteworthy aspect is the professional archaeological team, including esteemed figures like Professor Yan Wenming from the Chinese archaeological community, Professor Zhao Hui from Peking University, Professor Qin Ling, and Professor Li Xinwei from the Institute of Archaeology of…

"The Journey of Chong Zi" has come to its end as the tragic romance, which crossed two generations, between Chong Zi (Yang Chaoyue) and Luo Yinfan (Xu Zhengxi) ended. The sweet and beautiful love stories and the ups and downs in their relationship have created a sad but romantic atmosphere, allowing the audience to feel their eternal connections in the push and pull of love and human nature. No matter how the genre of the drama series has changed in recent years, fantasy drama has always been a necessity. The audience needs a carrier for their infinite imagination of romance and sentiments. The fantasy drama is the exact carrier that offers the audience to go on an adventure with the protagonists. They can be touched by the extreme aesthetic and magnificent feelings in a colorful but pure spiritual world. In addition to the traditional two-generation experience, the romantic relationship between tutor and apprentice, and the conflicts between immortals and devils, “The Journey of Chong Zi” has also included multiple elements, such as female growth, comedy, and suspense. This show has been adapted from the classic digital novel from decade ago. It is an integration of the past creative advantages of…

The unique space of costume dramas in the Chinese drama market is indeed impressive, as proven by several recent hits. "The Ingenious One," starring Chen Xiao and Mao Xiaotong, has maintained a good level of popularity since its premiere, presenting an incredibly brilliant tactics drama. "Till the End of the Moon," led by Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu, has achieved true success, constantly breaking viewership records. Although this drama has received mixed reviews, it does not affect the enthusiasm of its fans. With such outstanding viewership, the drama has successfully boosted the popularity of many actors, including the already popular Bai Lu, who has been the subject of continuous topics. Even though this drama has already ended, there are still lively discussions about its characters. In "Till the End of the Moon," Bai Lu portrays different characters with distinctive traits and highlights, she has shown progress and is suitable for the setting of costume dramas. Now, Bai Lu will star in another costume drama that fans have been eagerly anticipating, "Story of Kunning Palace." As the countdown to its premiere continues, the drama's popularity continues to rise.   Romantic Love & Intense Palace Fights The drama "Story of Kunning Palace,"…

As an important genre of drama, Chinese historical drama emerged in the 1980s and were one of the first Chinese dramas to mature and perform best in the market. China's long and storied history provides a large pool of material for such works, and the creative approach, which is far removed from the sensitive areas of reality, also gives it a wider and freer narrative space. "Nirvana In Fire", "The Qin Empire 1", and "Judge of the Song Dynasty" are three classic Chinese historical dramas that have been the subject of much debate among Internet users. All of them have been recognized by viewers in the TV era and have earned high scores on Douban (China's most popular movie & drama rating platform), which is mainly for young users. In recent years, traditional historical dramas have become increasingly rare, with a marked increase in idolized historical dramas driven by film and television platforms. The industry is placing more and more emphasis on costumes, makeup and props, which is what the market demands and there is no excuse, but classic works should not just be forgotten. A good costume historical drama can recreate the spiritual world of the ancients. The history…

Once again, the annual summer season has arrived, and multiple top-tier S+ drama projects are being released. The competition among these prominent historical costume dramas is intense, as they strive to break viewership records. On one hand, there's the attention-grabbing cast of "Destined" that has sparked discussions; on the other hand, "The Longest Promise" makes a sudden appearance in an attempt to capture audience interest and attention. Amidst this fierce battle between major productions, a low-budget self-produced drama called "An Ancient Love Song" manages to carve out its own space in the realm of public discourse. Upon exploring the series synopsis, it becomes clear that it neither relies on conventional online literature adaptations nor boasts renowned actors; however, it surprisingly gains audience traction during this highly competitive summer season. Distinct from grandiose productions vying for attention through lavish displays, "An Ancient Love Song" primarily relies on passionate recommendations from its audience.   A Nonconventional Time-Travel Drama In terms of genre,"An Ancient Love Song" falls into the category of time-travel dramas wherein a modern-day male protagonist encounters an ancient "demonic queen," leading to a captivating love story. Notably innovative within this time-travel framework is its utilization of dual reverse chronological travel.…

In the realm of captivating television dramas, "Longing Heart Season 2" emerges as a beacon of storytelling prowess and artistic depth. Recently announced to premiere exclusively on Jiangsu TV's Happiness Theater platform starting July 8th, the series is poised to continue its spellbinding narrative journey that began with its acclaimed first season. Adapted from Tong Hua's novel of the same name, "Longing Heart" transports viewers to a period of tripartite rivalry among the kingdoms of Xi Yan, Hao Ling, and Chen Rong. At its heart is the protagonist Wang Ji, also known as "Xiao Yao," who endures a century of tumultuous trials only to find solace in the tranquil town of Qingshui, where she becomes known as Wen Xiaoliu. Xiao Yao's cousin, Wang Sunjuan, traverses the vast wilderness in search of her, while Xiaoliu unwittingly saves the life of Tu Shanjing, a noble scion of Qing Qiu, forging a bond that blossoms into romance amid their daily interactions. Later, Xiaoliu becomes acquainted with Xiang Liu through a series of serendipitous encounters, eventually forming a deep bond of camaraderie. The path to reunion with Sunjuan proves fraught with challenges and twists before their eventual recognition. When "Longing Heart Season 1" aired…

"Joy of Life" stands as a representative work in the adaptation of online novel works, and with its performance over two seasons, it is poised to become the most successful TV series adapted from an online novel, provided the third season maintains its quality. The second season builds on and diverges from the first, with the latter emphasizing entertainment and playfulness, while the former embeds a stronger sense of serious drama and critical commentary. This season continues with episodic storytelling, resembling a transformed road movie with its myriad plot threads and diverse characters. To simplify the discussion, let's focus on the characters and their roles in the series.   Scrutinizing Imperial Power One memorable character is Lai Mingcheng (played by Bi Yanjun), the Censorate official whose brief appearance leaves a lasting impact. As a Censorate official, he has the authority to report on any official misconduct and to supervise all officials. Throughout history, Censorate officials have been known for their fearless criticisms of powerful ministers and even the emperor. They enjoy greater freedom of speech and immunity than other officials, and wise emperors are wary of being accused of silencing critics. Some Censorate officials treat their position as a regular…

If we were to identify some highlights in the 2023 Chinese film market, undoubtedly, the summer release of "Chang An" shone brightly among them. Following the success of the blockbuster "Chang An," the next eagerly anticipated work from Light Chaser Animation Studios is the third installment of the Bai She (White Snake) series, titled "Bai She 3: Fusheng." The film has already locked in the Qixi Festival (August 10, 2024) slot six months in advance. When it comes to the realm of adult-oriented animated films, Light Chaser stands alone as the only series to persist into its third installment, there is no doubt that "Bai She 3: Fusheng" is highly anticipated. Meticulously considered release date After undergoing the trials of the first two installments, the White Snake series from Light Chaser Animation Studios has firmly established its presence. Not only has it achieved excellent market performance, but it has also become a representative work of contemporary Eastern aesthetics. After a three-year hiatus, the third installment of the series has finally surfaced and become the first film this year to secure the coveted summer and Qixi Festival slots. The audacity to seize the prime time slot six months in advance speaks…

Recently, the historical biography cdrama "Ding Bao Zhen" concluded its airing. As a rare genre on the screen in recent years, "Ding Bao Zhen" has garnered attention from viewers since its premiere. Although historical biography dramas do not have the advantage in online popularity and topicality, viewers have a strong demand for dramas depicting upright officials. Especially for dramas like "Ding Bao Zhen," which solidly portrays the protagonist's life experiences, focuses on significant political governance, and delves deep into events affecting people's livelihoods.   01 The pristine style of the drama Ding Bao Zhen After watching all 27 episodes, the greatest impression that "Ding Bao Zhen" leaves is its simplicity. It does not casually incorporate other elements in pursuit of novelty and internet aesthetics, but rather adheres to the most genuine mindset of a biography drama, closely following the protagonist. In terms of time, the drama focuses on the life trajectory of the protagonist Ding Bao Zhen (played by Ma Shaohua) from middle age to old age. The story begins with his appointment as the governor of Shandong and continues until his final term as the governor of Sichuan, spanning nearly twenty years. The plot of the series unfolds in…

Youku's pending fantasy drama "Till The End of The Moon" returns to the online game style and moves towards a new design direction. Not wanting the confusion of costume shapes in period-specific costume dramas, these dramas that pursue traditional Chinese costume forms such as "The Longest Day In Chang'an" and "Royal Feast" were also well received by the audience. In the newly launched drama projects, even the emotional-based ancient costume idol dramas, have begun to try their best to choose a style in line with today's hanfu culture in the design of clothing. Till The End of The Moon Looking back on Chinese ancient costume dramas, in addition to the antique classic stylings in the audience's impression, such as "Journey to the West" and "Dream of the Red Chamber", there are also some pioneering, trendy, and bold ancient costume styles time. The stylings design of ancient costume dramas has great styles and aesthetic differences due to different themes and story backgrounds. This article will review the styling history of Chinese costume dramas from the two types of fairy chivalrous and realistic retro, combined with hairstyle, hair accessories, and clothing. Till The End of The Moon   01 Evolution of Xianxia hairstyle…

Have you ever heard of that trivia tidbit where it's like "the Chinese were so impressed by Kung Fu Panda that they held meetings to figure out why they couldn't produce something as good as it with their own culture"? Well, it's true. That did happen. And the answer is probably a combination of a lack of financial and cultural support for artists, government censorship of storytelling, and animation not being taken seriously as an artform. But what did Kung Fu Panda do that was so right? What influences did it take from Chinese culture? I'm gonna try and figure that out. I'll talk about my opinion on whether it matters that this movie was made by white people when Chinese audiences liked it so much. So let's start! Wuxia Jianghu Dream To begin with, these mountains in the opening immediately reminded me of Huangshan, or the Yellow Mountains. It's a pretty famous mountain range in China with a lot of these jagged stony peaks and clouds surrounding them. The Kung Fu Panda artbook confirms that the Valley of Peace is inspired by the Yellow Mountains and the Li River Valley, another place famous for being really, really pretty. And…

One of the questions or requests that I get most often lately is to write a video about why The Untamed cast is so popular. The Untamed is a 2019 fantasy Chinese costume drama starring Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo. It is based on the famous BL novel or Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. The drama ran from June 27th to August 20th and I believe it's safe to say that it's one of the biggest if not the biggest hit of the year. So I will start by getting into some of the cast and characters and then I'll talk about the synopsis and then why it's so popular. 1. The Untamed Characters Xiao Zhan plays Wei Wuxian, a disciple of the Jiang sect. He wields the Suibian sword and Chenqing flute, and his specialty is demonic cultivation and the invention of new spiritual techniques. Wang Yibo plays Lan Wangji of the Gusu Lan sect. He wields the Bichen sword and the Wangji zither. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji regard each other as soul mates. Zoey Meng plays Wen Qing, a doctor who belongs to the healing branch of the Wen sect. She is aloof but kind and is protective…