First impressions can deceive. In the world of Guoman (国漫), several series started with clunky animation, awkward character designs, and disappointing story pacing. Viewers walked away in droves. But then something unexpected happened. These same shows returned with stunning visual upgrades, tighter narratives, and emotional payoffs that crashed streaming servers. The following five Donghua (动画) series prove that a rough beginning doesn’t spell the end—sometimes, it’s just the setup for a legendary comeback. Each one turned its worst flaws into fuel for its finest moments.
1. The Degenerate-Drawing Jianghu (画江湖之不良人)
The Degenerate-Drawing Jianghu looked terrible in its early seasons. The character models were crude, and even children complained about the low-quality visuals. It felt like a student project, not a professional production. Viewers had every reason to click away.
But the studio reinvested its earnings. By season five, the animation had transformed completely. The fight choreography became fluid, the textures sharp, and the facial expressions nuanced. Season six and seven earned the label “god-tier” from fans. What remained consistent was the deep, layered plot and the unforgettable personalities of its characters. She grew from a bland side figure into a complex warrior. He shed his naive image to become a true leader.
Even the most debated season—seven—delivered solid world-building and visual ambition. The series didn’t just recover; it soared. Today, The Degenerate-Drawing Jianghu stands as a textbook example of low start, high finish.
2. Battle Through the Heavens (斗破苍穹)
Based on the hit web novel by Tiancan Tudou (天蚕土豆), Battle Through the Heavens pioneered the “wasted genius” subgenre of Xianxia (仙侠). The novel was a phenomenon for post-80s and post-90s readers. But the anime’s first season was a disaster. Character designs were ugly. Xun’er (熏儿), described as a goddess in the book, looked like a random passerby. Xiao Yan (萧炎), the hero, had zero screen presence.
Then came the “Three-Year Agreement” arc. The studio overhauled the models, tightened the pacing, and stuck faithfully to the source material. Fans erupted. Olympic athletes publicly asked for new episodes, and celebrities promoted the show. For a while, Battle Through the Heavens sat on top of the Guoman world.
Unfortunately, success went to the creators’ heads. They introduced excessive modifications and rushed storytelling. The hard-won reputation crumbled again. Still, for one brilliant period, it showed what a determined team could achieve. He became the underdog hero everyone rooted for.
3. Renegade Immortal (仙逆)
Renegade Immortal comes from author Er Gen (耳根). Unlike his other works, this novel wasn’t an instant hit. The Donghua also started quietly. Few people talked about it. But the visuals were always decent, and the production team respected the original plot. The fights were smooth, and the story never dragged.
Viewers have sharp eyes. When the protagonist Wang Lin built a tower of enemy heads and challenged the Heavenly Dao (道), the series exploded in popularity. That middle section turned casual watchers into devoted fans. The show made some adaptations, but nothing that broke the core narrative. Old-school readers accepted the changes.
Earlier episodes had been nearly invisible. But the revenge arc against Teng Huayuan, the “Mortal Enlightenment” phase, and the final battle with fate itself pushed Renegade Immortal to its true peak. He transformed from a forgettable lead into an icon of ruthless determination.
4. Swallowed Star (吞噬星空)
The hero Luo Feng (罗峰) starts as an ordinary high school student from a poor family. The early episodes of Swallowed Star moved at a snail’s pace. The art style failed to impress. Many dismissed it as another generic action show. They were wrong.
Produced by Xuanji (玄机) Technology, the series gradually expanded from Earth to an interstellar stage. It visualized the massive Kehuan (科幻) universe described in the original novel—a rare fusion of science fiction and cultivation. The later battles became breathtaking. Luo Feng, now a merciless cosmic overlord, won over viewers of all ages. His decisions were swift, his fights brutal, his rise unstoppable.
Today, Swallowed Star is called the “benchmark of Guoman sci-fi.” But it walked a low path to get there. The slow start almost killed it. The spectacular finish made it immortal.
5. A Mortal’s Journey (凡人修仙传)
The early modeling of A Mortal’s Journey was mocked as “amateurish” and “a lump of clay.” The hero Han Li had no talent, only paranoia. In the beginning, he was so selfish that he refused to attend his own sister’s wedding, leaving only money behind. He chose to cut all family ties for the sake of cultivation. Fans hated his guts.
But the show’s production team listened. They optimized the character models season by season. They slowly humanized Han Li, showing his inner struggles and hidden loyalties. The transformation wasn’t instant—it was earned. When he finally formed his Nascent Soul, the scene became an online earthquake. Streaming servers crashed from the traffic spike.
That moment turned everything around. Viewers who had left returned in waves. The once-reviled protagonist became a symbol of patient, gritty perseverance. A Mortal’s Journey proved that even the most unlikeable start can lead to a glorious ending—if the creators care enough to improve.