Mo Dao Zu Shi
Mo Dao Zu Shi () is a donghua series based on the novel of the same name written by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (). It is produced by Tencent Penguin Pictures and B.C May Pictures. The series depicts a fictional Xianxia world where humans attempt to cultivate to a state of immortality, known as Xian (). The protagonist of the series, Wei Wuxian, due to certain circumstances, deviated from the conventional cultivation path to Xian, and eventually created Modao (the Demonic Path). The first season, titled "Qian Chen Pian" (), aired from July 9 to October 6, 2018 on Tencent  Video for 15 episodes. The second season, titled "Xian Yun Pian" (), aired from August 3 to August 31, 2019 for 8 episodes. A chibi series, titled "Mo Dao Zu Shi Q", aired from July 31, 2020 to January 29, 2021 and ran for 30 episodes. The third and final season, titled "Wán Jié Piān" (), aired from August 7 to October 16, 2021 for 12 episodes. Synopsis. Despite his efforts during the Sunshot Campaign to bring down the tyrannical Wen Clan, Wei Wuxian (魏无羡) was feared by the world for the unorthodox cultivation path he created. Thirteen years after he was  killed, he is summoned into the body of a man called Mo Xuanyu (莫玄羽), who was rejected by his clan and despised by his family, therefore sacrificing his own body to Wei Wuxian so he would be avenged. It is in the Mo house where Wei Wuxian comes across a dismembered left arm causing death and havoc. His attempts to uncover the identity of the left arm's owner will guide him to a familiar face from the past, and with him, on a mystery that will lead them to unravel what lies behind the tragic events that caused the  deaths of so many - including Wei Wuxian himself. Characters. Main characters. Wei Ying (魏婴), courtesy name Wuxian (无羡) Voiced by: Lu Zhixing (audio drama), Zhang Jie (donghua), Shim Gyuhyuk (Korean dub), Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Japanese drama cd), Kimura Ryohei (Japanese dub) Lan Zhan (蓝湛), courtesy name Wangji (忘机). Voiced by: Wei Chao (audio drama), Bian Jiang (donghua), Ryu Seunggon (Korean dub), Satoshi Hino (Japanese drama cd), Shinnosuke Tachibana (Japanese dub) Gusu Lan Clan. Lan Clan of Gusu (姑苏蓝氏) is a cultivation clan based in the Cloud Recesses (云深不知处), a residence on a remote mountain outside the city of Gusu. All disciples  wear a white band across their foreheads. Additional embroidery of the clan emblem adorns the headbands of inner disciples, who are also part of the Lan family. Clan Motto: Upright; Righteous (雅正) Clan Emblem: Rolling Clouds (卷云纹) Lan Huan (蓝涣), courtesy name Xichen (曦臣). Voiced by: Wang Kai (audio drama), Jin Xian (donghua), Kim Youngsun (Korean dub), Morikawa Toshiyuki (Japanese dub, drama cd) Lan Xichen is the leader of the Lan Clan. Titled Zewu Jun (泽芜君), he is one of the Three Zun (三尊) alongside his sworn brothers Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangyao, the latter of with whom he shares  an especially close relationship. He has a warm and trusting personality. Lan Qiren (蓝启仁) Voiced by: Song Ming (audio drama), Liu Cong (donghua), Lee Changmin (Korean dub), Shingaki Tarusuke (Japanese drama cd), Sakamaki Mitsuhiro (Japanese dub) Lan Yuan (蓝愿), courtesy name Sizhui (思追) Voiced by: Qian Wenqing (audio drama), Chengzhang Taikang (donghua), Nam Doh-hyeong (Korean dub), Yūsuke Kobayashi (Japanese drama cd), Shimba Tsuchiya (Japanese dub) Lan Jingyi (蓝景仪) Voiced by: Cao Xupeng (audio drama), Wang Chenguang (donghua), Jeong Joo-won (Korean dub), Hiro Shimono (Japanese drama cd), Saito Soma (Japanese dub) Lanling Jin Clan. Jin Clan of Lanling (兰陵金氏 ) is a cultivation clan based in Golden Carp Tower, Lanling. Meng Yao (孟瑶), legitimized as Jin Guangyao (金光瑶) Voiced by: Jiang Guangtao (audio drama), Yang Tianxiang (donghua), Lee Hosan (Korean dub), Ishida Akira (Japanese dub, drama cd) Jin Ling (金凌), courtesy name Rulan (如兰) Voiced by: Li Lanling (audio drama), Su Shangqing (donghua), Lee Kyungtae (Korean dub), Murase Ayumu (Japanese drama cd), Kaji Yuki (Japanese dub) Jin Guangshan (金光善) Voiced by: Xiao Tan (audio drama), Li Longbin (donghua), Park Sanghoon (Korean dub), Hayami Sho (Japanese dub, drama cd) Jin Zixuan (金子轩) Voiced by: Liu Mingyue (audio drama), Gu Jiangshan (donghua ), Kim Hyunwook (Korean dub), Hiroki Takahashi (Japanese drama cd), Kenji Akabane (Japanese dub) An outstanding talent, Jin Zixuan initially disdained the betrothal he had to Jiang Yanli, whom he viewed as unremarkable, but he gradually grew to love her after understanding her true character. He died when Jin Ling was still a toddler. Qin Su (秦愫) Mo Xuanyu (莫玄羽) Voiced by: Tong Xin (audio drama), Zhang Jie (donghua), Shim Gyu Hyuk (Korean dub), Nakayama Kazuhisa (Japanese drama cd), Kimura Ryohei (Japanese dub) Qinghe Nie Clan. Nie Clan of Qinghe (清河聂氏) is a cultivation clan that resides in the Unclean Realm . Nie Huaisang (聂怀桑) Voiced by: Qi Sijia (audio drama), Liu Sanmu (donghua), Kim Myungjoon (Korean dub), Matsuoka Yoshitsugu (Japanese drama cd), Natsuki Hanae (Japanese dub) Nie Mingjue (聂明玦) Voiced by: Feng Sheng (audio drama), Guan Shu'ai (donghua), Lee Hyeon (Korean dub), Tsuda Kenjiro (Japanese drama cd), Hiroshi Shirokuma (Japanese dub) Qishan Wen Clan. Wen Clan of Qishan (岐山温氏) is a cultivation clan based in the Nightless City (不夜天城). The clan was destroyed during the Sunshot Campaign, where some survivors, specifically Wen Ning and Wen Qing's family branch, were taken under the wing of Wuxian. Clan Emblem: the Sun, meaning  to compete with the sun and to live as long as the sun (与日争辉，与日同寿) Wen Ning (温宁), courtesy name Qionglin (琼林). Voiced by: Teng Xin (audio drama), Shao Tong (donghua), Kim Jiyul (Korean dub), Hoshi Soichiro (Japanese drama cd), Nobunaga Shimazaki (Japanese dub) Wen Qing (温情) Voiced by: Shan Xin (audio drama), Qiao Shiyu (donghua), Kim Yul (Korean dub), Ayako Kawasumi (Japanese dub) Wen Ruohan (温若寒) Voiced by: Chen Siyu (audio drama), Yan Ming (donghua), Kim Jinhong (Korean dub), Miyake Kenta (Japanese dub) Wen Xu (温旭) Wen Chao (温晁) Voiced by: Hao Xianghai (audio drama), Liang Xiaoqiang (donghua), Kim Jinhong  (Korean dub), Hiroyuki Yoshino (Japanese dub) Zhao Zhuliu (赵逐流), renamed as Wen Zhuliu (温逐流) Voiced by: Wang Minna (audio drama), Hu Yajie (donghua), Keikō Sakai (Japanese dub) Wang Lingjiao (王灵娇) Voiced by: Yan Mengmeng (audio drama), Qiu Qiu (donghua), Gang Sihyeon (Korean dub), Asumi Kana (Japanese dub) Yunmeng Jiang Clan. Jiang Clan of Yunmeng (云梦江氏) is a cultivation clan located in Yunmeng's Lotus Pier (莲花坞). Clan Motto: Knowing it's impossible, attempt to achieve it (明知不可为而为之) Clan Emblem: Nine petal lotus (九瓣莲） Jiang Cheng (江澄), courtesy name Wanyin (晚吟), Voiced by: Peng Yao (audio drama), Guo Haoran (donghua), Jang  Min-hyeok (Korean dub), Midorikawa Hikaru (Japanese dub, drama cd) Jiang Yanli (江厌离) Voiced by: Qiao Shiyu (audio drama), Li Shimeng (donghua), Kang Eun-ae (Korean dub), Taketatsu Ayana (Japanese drama cd), Saori Hayami (Japanese dub) Jiang Fengmian (江枫眠) Voiced by: Zhang Zhen (audio drama), Tang Shuiyu (donghua), Seo Wonseok (Korean dub), Kenji Hamada (Japanese dub) Yu Ziyuan (虞紫鸢) Voiced by: Zhang Kai (audio drama), Ji Guanlin (donghua), Jeon Suk-kyeong (Korean dub), Tanaka Atsuko (Japanese drama cd), Takako Honda (Japanese dub) Yi City Arc. During Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji's mission, they arrived at Yi City (义城) and  bumped into Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, Jin Ling and some other disciples from different clans during their night hunt. From there, they uncover the truth of Xiao Xingchen's death. Xue Yang (薛洋), courtesy name Chengmei (成美). Voiced by: Hui Long (audio drama), Kondo Takashi (Japanese drama cd) Xiao Xingchen (晓星尘) Voiced by: Chen Hao (audio drama), Shinnosuke Tachibana (Japanese drama cd) Song Lan (宋岚), courtesy name Zichen (子琛). Voiced by: Wu Lei (audio drama), Miki Shinichiro (Japanese drama cd) A-Qing (阿箐) Voiced by: Yang Neng (audio drama), Shitaya Noriko (Japanese drama cd) Reception. The series received overwhelmingly positive  reviews for its high production quality and storyline, and amassed a notable Internet fandom both in China and overseas. On Douban, "Mo Dao Zu Shi" rated 8.9 out of 10, making it one of the best received donghua series in China in 2018. Outside China, "Mo Dao Zu Shi" was officially released by Tencent on its official YouTube channel on August 27, 2019. It was also released by WeTV, a streaming platform for overseas users created by Tencent, under the title of "The Founder of Diabolism". The series has become a worldwide hit, ultimately generating 4.47 billion views on Tencent 's streaming platform, as of November 2021. The series holds a rating of 9.5 out of 10 on both Tencent and WeTV platforms, cementing its status as one of the most acclaimed donghua series in the world. Media. Novel. The original novel was written by its author "Mo Xiang Tong Xiu" () from 2015 until 2016, and published on the online platform "Jinjiang Wenxuecheng" (). The paper book was published by Pinsin Studio () in 2016 in Traditional Chinese, and then published by Sichuan Literature and Art Publishing House () in 2018 in Simplified Chinese. The English translation of the novel, titled "Grandmaster of  Demonic Cultivation", was published in 2021 by Seven Seas Entertainment. It was listed on "The New York Times" Best Seller list on Dec 22, 2021. Manhua. "Mo Dao Zu Shi" also has a manhua adaptation with the same name, officially published by KuaiKan Manhua (). The first chapter was published on December 8, 2017, with a new update releasing every Saturday (GMT +08:00), and subsequently changed to every Monday (GMT +08:00). The manhua was awarded the silver award for Best Web Popularity Comic Adaption at the 16th China Animation Golden Dragon Award. The manhua was awarded the Best Manhua award at  the China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival (1st Network Drama Awards). Audio drama. "Mo Dao Zu Shi" was adapted as an audio drama (), produced by Polar Penguin Studios and supervised by the original novel's author Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. It consists of three seasons and is broadcast on the Chinese audio streaming website MissEvan.com (). The first season aired from June 8 to August 24, 2018 with a total of 12 episodes along with some extras. The second season aired from October 5, 2018 to April 5, 2019 with a total of 16 episodes along with some extras . The theme song is "何以歌" (), and is performed by Aki阿杰. Starting from Season 2 Episode 11, the theme song changed to "忘羡" (). This is a duet between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, and is performed by Wu En and Zhu Qiang. The third and final season aired from June 17 to December 29, 2019 with a total of 17 episodes along with some extras. The theme song for Season 3 is "人间纵我" (), and is performed by Wu En and Zhu Qiang (also known as Yu Xia). The audio drama proved to be a critical and financial success, praised for its  storyline, high production value, and the voice actors' performances. It has amassed hundreds of million playbacks across all three seasons, with each episode placing on top of the weekly rankings during their original run. All three seasons still remain as the website's top 3 most listened to series in the overall ranking. As of June 2021, the series has garnered 500 million playbacks. The Chinese audio drama's massive popularity led to it being brought over to Japan for a localized adaptation, produced by Brave Hearts and in close collaboration with the original Chinese audio drama team. Known as  , it is simultaneously broadcast on the Japanese audio streaming app MiMiFM and the Chinese audio streaming website MissEvan.com every Friday at 6pm Japan Standard Time (GMT +09:00). The first season started airing on January 24, 2020. Web series. "Mo Dao Zu Shi" was adapted for a live action web series titled "The Untamed" (), produced by Tencent Penguin Pictures and New Style Media. It stars Xiao Zhan as Wei Wuxian and Wang Yibo as Lan Wangji. It aired in China on Tencent Video from June 27, 2019 to August 20, 2019 for 50 episodes; with two episodes every Thursday and  Friday (GMT +08:00), but was changed to every Monday and Wednesday (GMT +08:00) starting July 1, 2019. The theme song, sung by Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo, was titled "忘羡" () before being renamed to "无羁" ().