In recent years, with the rise of Chinese animation, many well-received animated series have emerged, and "Fox Spirit Matchmaker" (狐妖小红娘) is one of them. As a highly praised domestic animation, it has captivated a large fanbase, but what exactly is its charm?

"Fox Spirit Matchmaker," created by Tuo Xiaoxin and colored by Pan Si Da Xian, began serialization in the "Manhua SHOW" magazine on May 4, 2012, before moving exclusively to Tencent Animation in 2013 due to the magazine's hiatus. The comic series was later published in single volumes by China Wen Shi Press starting in April 2016. The story revolves around the romantic relationships between humans and spirits, continuing bonds from past lives into the present, and resolving regrets through love in this life.

Beyond its animated adaptation, the web manhua serves as the source material, offering a medium for fans to explore the story in its original form. The creators have also explored various spin-offs and adaptations, extending the universe of Fox Spirit Matchmaker.

First Impression

Initially, my first impression of "Fox Spirit Matchmaker" was that it seemed a bit tacky, with a funny and absurd plot, discovered through Tencent Comics' promotion. I thought it was a decent comedy comic, with a somewhat weak plot development and forced jokes. However, as the story progressed, especially with the introduction of the "Wealth and Power" arc, my opinion, along with many others, drastically changed. This arc brought emotional depth, touching on themes of love and sacrifice, and transformed the series into a romantic drama.

Gradually, I concluded that "Fox Spirit Matchmaker" was a romance comic, but this changed again with the introduction of a charismatic character, Dongfang Yuechu. The story expanded into a massive world, intertwining past and present lives, and revealing a grand conspiracy. At this point, I realized that "Fox Spirit Matchmaker" is, in fact, a story-driven comic.

The Reason it is Popular

The series has successfully transitioned its style multiple times, smoothly integrating various plot elements and laying down numerous foreshadows. Now, halfway through the story, seemingly unrelated plots have interconnected, showcasing the author's impressive storytelling skills.

"Fox Spirit Matchmaker" is a flavorful Chinese production, with its unique charm becoming apparent as the story unfolds, especially after the initial less engaging arcs. However, there is still a long way to go before it can be considered perfect. Issues like insufficient frame rates make it challenging to appeal to international anime fans, and while the voice actors have given their best, there is still a significant gap compared to the idolized voice actors in Japan.

Despite these challenges, "Fox Spirit Matchmaker" and other domestic animations are moving in the right direction, with the third season already on the horizon. Let's wait and see what the future holds.

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