On April 6, 2025, the highly anticipated series To Be Hero X made an impressive entrance, marking the beginning of the season with an extraordinary blend of 2D and 3D animation that redefined visual storytelling. Its captivating and unpredictable storyline quickly distinguished it from the vast array of contemporary anime offerings.
While it serves as a fresh take on the superhero genre, To Be Hero X transcends typical expectations. With innovative plot twists and a visually dynamic animation style, the series promises an intriguing and invigorating viewing experience, setting a new standard within the anime landscape.
Chinese Donghua To Be Hero X: A Call for Innovation in Japanese Anime
Created by Li Haoling, famed for his work on Link Click and Heaven Official’s Blessing, the expectations for To Be Hero X were high before it even premiered. True to these expectations, its debut introduced viewers to a compelling hero society where power is not innate but is forged through public belief and faith.
This unique premise is further enriched by a complex societal structure that governs these heroes, featuring agencies that brand and control them. Although reminiscent of some Western narratives like The Boys, To Be Hero X offers a distinctive approach that is particularly refreshing in the realm of anime.
The first episode captivates with unexpected plot twists and an engaging storyline, creating suspense and excitement throughout. A standout feature is its groundbreaking animation style, blending 2D and 3D techniques to elevate visual storytelling to unprecedented levels.
Remarkably, the show employs various 2D styles, intertwining them with seamless 3D visuals to craft a coherent and mesmerizing viewing experience. This push for innovation is emblematic of the recent evolution within Chinese animation, or Donghua, exemplified by series such as Link Click, which successfully reimagined the time travel narrative with stunning artistry and thoughtful direction.
Upcoming releases, like Lord of the Mysteries, also promise high production quality and captivating visuals, further solidifying Donghua as a formidable player in the global animation arena. These recent series showcase high-budget animation alongside unique narratives, setting them apart from many contemporary Japanese anime productions, which often stick to established storytelling templates.
Despite the diversity of genres in the Japanese anime industry, it often recycles familiar themes and techniques, leading to an overabundance of content that lacks inventive variety. While there are noteworthy exceptions—such as Solo Leveling, adapted from a South Korean manhwa, and Sakamoto Days—the overall trend remains one of stagnation, with many shows adhering to well-trodden paths.
Prominent titles like Chainsaw Man, Oshi no Ko, and Dandadan offer stunning visuals but often do not break new ground artistically or narratively. While eye-catching, their artistic presentations still largely conform to conventional practices.
In this context, To Be Hero X emerges as a refreshing force, showcasing a unique narrative foundation along with its intricate animation techniques. Its mixture of diverse 2D styles blended with 3D animation represents a bold step forward, inviting viewers to engage with the medium in new and exciting ways.
The launch of To Be Hero X could serve as an important catalyst for the Japanese anime industry, urging it to explore innovative storylines and animation styles akin to those successful in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
As the global demand for diverse anime content grows, now is the perfect moment for creators to venture beyond the conventional and explore groundbreaking ideas.
Final Thoughts
As the Japanese anime landscape increasingly adheres to established patterns, the emergence of To Be Hero X highlights the growing prominence of the Chinese anime industry. This show has the potential to signal a transformative shift in the anime community, introducing innovative animation and storytelling standards that could reshape the medium.
While Japan continues to produce visually captivating and narratively engaging anime, the industry must adapt to changing dynamics and fresh creative expressions to stay relevant. As the global anime audience embraces a wider spectrum of styles and stories—evidenced by international productions like Arcane—Japan’s traditional methods may risk becoming obsolete.
To maintain its leading position, the Japanese anime industry should actively pursue avant-garde ideas and move towards a more dynamic artistic future.