# Yao—Chinese Folktales (2023)

> A donghua anthology reimagining traditional Chinese folktales as standalone animated fantasies.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/114973

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 17
- Episode runtime: 19 min
- Status: Returning Series
- Genres: animation, fantasy
- Created by: Chen Liaoyu
- Network: bilibili
- Cast: Lin Qiang, Xing Yunjia, Zhang Yunming, Tang Xiaotang, Wang Yifei, Cai Zhuangzhuang, Zhao Yuteng, Lü Renzhong
- TMDB rating: 7.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26007176/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: whimsical, gentle, wistful, atmospheric, fable-like

## Synopsis

Yao-Chinese Folktales (2023-present) is a Chinese animated fantasy anthology series, a donghua created by Chen Liaoyu and broadcast on bilibili. Each episode stands alone, retelling or reinventing a different story rooted in traditional Chinese folklore and mythology, with its own characters, settings, and creatures. Voice cast includes Lin Qiang, Xing Yunjia as Lin Lin, and Zhang Yunming as Tang Monk in one of the tales, among other guest voices. The series is built from short standalone tales of roughly nineteen minutes, where ordinary people encounter spirits, beasts, and enchanted objects and must face the consequences of their choices. Two seasons have aired so far, with seventeen episodes in total, and the format stays consistent from one tale to the next. The tone is gentle and whimsical, with moments of wonder, quiet humor, and moral reflection that give the stories a warm, fable-like register. Visually it draws on traditional Chinese artistic motifs and folk imagery, combining playful character design with atmospheric backdrops. Fans of Mononoke, Nezha, and Kaiba will find resonance in its blend of mythic imagery, moral storytelling, and animated folklore. Viewers looking for an accessible, culturally rooted anthology that works equally well for families and adult fans of fantasy will find it rewarding.

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