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, and created by G.CMay Animation & Film. 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 Mo Dao, which is why this series is often unofficially translated by fan communities as Grandmaster of Demonic Path/Cultivation, or The Founder of Diabolism.
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, 2019 to August 31, 2019 with 8 episodes. A third season has been confirmed in the post credit scene of the final episode of second season. A chibi series started airing since July 31, 2020, and is set to run for 30 episodes.
Synopsis
As the grandmaster who founded the Demonic Sect, Wei Wuxian roamed the world in his wanton ways, hated by millions for the crimes he was accused. In the end, he was stabbed in the back by his sworn brother Jiang Cheng and killed by the vicious ghosts he controlled when the cultivation clans attacked his stronghold to kill him. After 13 years, he is summoned into the body of a lunatic called Mo Xuanyu （莫玄羽）, who was rejected by his clan and bullied by his family, therefore sacrificing his own body to Wei Wuxian so he could avenge him. He'll soon meet a famous cultivator from his past, Lan Wangji （蓝忘机）.They will soon face a series of events that will take them to discover the truth behind the tragic events that led to the death of many people and Wei Wuxian himself.
Episodes
Characters
Main characters
Wei Ying, courtesy name Wuxian, thus also known as Wei Wuxian.Lan Zhan, courtesy name Wangji, thus also known as Lan Wangji.
Gusu Lan Sect
The Gusu Lan Sect is a cultivational sect based in the Cloud Recesses, a residence on a remote mountain outside the city of Gusu. The current leader is Lan Xichen. The real-life counterpart to the sect's location is Gusu in Jiangsu province.Lan Huan, courtesy name Xichen, thus also known as Lan Xichen.
Lan Qiren
Lan Yuan, courtesy name Sizhui, thus also known as Lan Sizhui.
Lan Jingyi
Lanling Jin Sect
The Lanling Jin Sect is a cultivational sect based in Carp Tower, Lanling. The real-life counterpart to the sect's location is Lanling in Shandong province.Meng Yao, renamed as Jin Guangyao
Jin Guangshan
Jin Ling, courtesy name Rulan, thus also known as Jin Rulan
Jin Zixuan
Qin Su
Mo Xuanyu
Qinghe Nie Sect
The Qinghe Nie Sect is a cultivational sect that resides in the Unclean Realm. Its current leader is Nie Huaisang. The real-life counterpart to the sect's location is Qinghe in Hebei province.Nie Mingjue
Nie Huaisang
Qishan Wen Sect
The Qishan Wen Sect is a cultivational sect based in the Nightless City. The real-life counterpart to the sect's location is Qishan in Shaanxi province.Wen Ruohan
Wen Xu
Wen Chao
Wen Qing
Wen Ning, courtesy name Qionglin, thus also known as Wen Qionglin
Zhao Zhuliu, renamed as Wen Zhuliu
Wang Lingjiao
Yunmeng Jiang Sect
The Yunmeng Jiang Sect is a cultivational sect located in Yunmeng's Lotus Pier. The current leader is Jiang Cheng. The real-life counterpart to the sect's location is Yunmeng in Hubei province.Jiang Fengmian
Jiang Cheng, courtesy name Wanyin, thus also known as Jiang Wanyin
Jiang Yanli
Yu Ziyuan
Yi City Arc
During Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji's mission, they arrived at Yi City and bumped into Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, Jin Ling and some other disciples from different sects during their night hunt. From there, they uncover the truth of Xiao Xingchen's death and found the missing right arm for the mission.Xiao Xingchen
Song Lan, courtesy name 子琛, thus also known as Song Zichen
A-Qing
Xue Yang, courtesy name 成美, thus also known as Xue Chengmei
Soundtrack
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. Upon its release in China, the series became an instant hit, ultimately generating 1.74 billion views on Tencent's streaming platform, as of December 2018. On Douban, Mo Dao Zu Shi holds a rating of 8.9 out of 10, making it one of the best received donghua series of 2018 in China.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.
Awards and nominations
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.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, and subsequently changed to every Monday.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.
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 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, months after they ended. As of June 2020, the series has garnered 400 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 Ma Dou So Shi, 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. The first season started airing on January 24, 2020.