This summer, Chinese animation has been swept by a surge of what fans are calling "her power" (a buzzword in Chinese internet slang that highlights stories centered on strong female characters).
The first 3D female-oriented animation from Youku, Eclipse of Illusion / Veiled Dreams (云深不知梦), made an explosive debut. Marketed as a "female-led revenge fantasy," it lit up the summer season the moment it dropped. Viewers were hooked by Yun Wangshu's wedding-day betrayal, which threw her straight into a "hell mode opening," then thrilled by her face-swapped rebirth and step-by-step revenge plan. Comments like "rebirth revenge is so addictive" and "this is the female lead we've been waiting for!" quickly flooded social platforms.
The buzz wasn't just hype—it was backed by hard numbers. Before launch, reservations had already crossed 2.25 million, signaling sky-high anticipation. After release, the show's popularity surged, peaking at 8,620 on the heat index. It held the #1 spot on Youku's animation chart for female viewers, and within just one month broke into the annual Youku animation sales Top 7. On Yunhe's "binge chart" (a ranking of most-watched new series across platforms), it also stayed at the top. These figures built a solid foundation for its breakout success.
But the significance of Eclipse of Illusion goes beyond numbers. As the first 3D female-led revenge series, it disrupts the long-standing male-centric pattern of the Chinese animation market. With a story framed through female perspective and tension driven by female characters, it injects the industry with a fresh force—what audiences are calling "her power."
That's why from day one, the show already carried the aura of a benchmark. Its unique theme and aesthetic choice are pushing Chinese animation toward greater variety in both content and style. The long-term impact is something worth watching closely.
Breaking the Mold: The Awakening of "Her Power"
For a long time, especially in the 3D sector, Chinese animation has been shaped by a default set of assumptions about narrative and audience. Look at recent summer seasons—male-oriented genres dominate. Whether it's upgrade-style "power fantasy," harem setups, or fantasy blockbusters adapted from classic male-focused web novels, they've had near-total control.
Some of these works are excellent, but when the same formulas repeat—overpowered protagonists, recycled romance arcs—audiences inevitably start to feel fatigue. And among them, the fastest-growing demographic, female viewers, have become increasingly vocal about their frustration with one-dimensional stories and limited perspectives.
The sudden rise of Eclipse of Illusion came at the right moment, breaking the mold and filling a long-standing gap in Chinese animation—the lack of stories told from a genuine female perspective.
This isn't just about attaching a "female-led" label. The shift is woven into the very fabric of the narrative. In this story, the analysis of power structures, the life-or-death decisions, and the core plans that can flip the balance of the world are no longer voiced by sidelined supporting characters or guiding male figures. Instead, they are led and articulated by Yun Wangshu herself and the circle of women around her.
The power structure is another major reversal. Those who hold real influence and make critical decisions are women, and they are not defined by their attachment to men. They display strategy and boldness on their own terms. This builds a rare "female-centered" narrative logic: women's intelligence, determination, and strength are the driving forces of the story, rather than background notes meant to support male character growth or romance arcs.
That precise response to audience demand explains why Eclipse of Illusion struck such a deep chord. Viewers have grown weary of formulaic male-oriented harem stories. Here, the show brings a sharp freshness and thrill by focusing purely on female revenge and growth. It directly taps into the longing many women feel for independent, powerful female characters—not the passive "princess waiting for rescue," but the "queen" who wields her own sword, rises from adversity, and seizes control of her fate. Yun Wangshu's revenge journey is not just the engine of the plot—it is also the vessel for female viewers' emotional projection. By committing fully to this female perspective, the show injected much-needed "her power" into the summer season.
In a summer lineup that rarely features female-led animation, the arrival and success of Eclipse of Illusion landed like a thunderclap. It boldly carved out a narrative path long ignored, proving that female-oriented stories are not niche at all but carry massive potential as a new growth engine for Chinese animation. It has opened the door for future works that center women and dig into the complexities of their inner worlds, signaling a profound shift toward diversity in the creative landscape.
Yun Wangshu as a Fully Realized Character
The reason Eclipse of Illusion has become a benchmark for "female-led revenge fantasy" isn't only about its subject matter. Its success is rooted in the production team's almost painstaking commitment to crafting its lead character.
The creative team has admitted that carrying the label of "the first female-oriented 3D Chinese animation" came with heavy pressure. To meet expectations, they placed strong emphasis on market research and feedback from their target audience. This careful groundwork shaped the portrayal of Yun Wangshu: every emotional turn—her despair at betrayal, her rebirth through a new face, and her relentless march toward revenge—was built to be internally consistent and believable. That solid foundation makes the satisfaction of her revenge feel earned, rooted in her lived pain and steady resilience, so that viewers truly feel it alongside her.
Yun Wangshu's appeal is a blend of both outer style and inner depth. Visually, the art team created a kind of "couture-inspired" aesthetic feast. In just the first seven episodes, Yun Wangshu appears in over ten different outfits that merge traditional fantasy elegance with modern design sensibilities. Each look feels like a tailored battle robe, perfectly matching her shifting identity and state of mind—from a youthful look, to ornate wedding attire, to understated disguises, and finally sharp, commanding gear. What's more, the production didn't just lavish attention on the lead. Supporting characters are modeled with equal care, building a cohesive yet visually distinctive universe.
Still, what makes Yun Wangshu unforgettable is her unwavering inner strength. Eclipse of Illusion does not reduce her to a one-note revenge machine consumed by hatred. Even after rebirth, she remains clear-headed, in control of her path and timing. The show also gives her meaningful emotional bonds. Take her connection with Chi Yang Huaming, for example—their relationship is built on mutual recognition between equals. They fight on different fronts but for shared goals, resonating as strong individuals who value each other's worth. This highlights Yun Wangshu's scope and charisma beyond revenge. Her sharp insight, strategic use of power, and natural ability to attract allies add layers to her iron will.
The depth of characterization also extends to relationships and human complexity. The "career squad" (fans jokingly call it, meaning a team united by ambition and action) surrounding Yun Wangshu is made up of distinctive figures whose interactions drive the story and emphasize her leadership. Villains are also thoughtfully crafted. Take Yun Luoxuan, for instance—her betrayal doesn't stem from cliché romantic entanglements. Instead, it's rooted in ambition for power and a cold calculation about her clan's survival. These motives, grounded in realism and human complexity, elevate the script's credibility and give the clashes between good and evil more bite.
At its heart, Eclipse of Illusion captivates because it stays centered on Yun Wangshu's growth and her journey of emotional rebirth. Audiences are watching not just a revenge story but a soul forged in adversity, carrying out a form of self-salvation. That emotional core is what triggers empathy and makes the show's "her power" resonate so strongly.
Technology and Visual Aesthetics
The visual and auditory quality of Eclipse of Illusion is the cornerstone of its claim as a new benchmark for female-oriented Chinese animation. Behind it lies the production team's almost obsessive pursuit of technical excellence and aesthetic precision.
At a time when most Chinese animation studios are shifting toward game-engine real-time rendering to cut costs and speed up production, Eclipse of Illusion took what might be called the "luxury route." The team stuck with an "offline rendering + manual refinement" process. The choice was made in service of visual perfection—offline rendering calculates lighting and shadow effects for each frame individually, ensuring that jade gleams with a natural luster, silk reveals subtle textures, and even the fine strands of hair catch light with lifelike realism.
But that was only the starting point. To reach a "wallpaper-level polish," every single frame underwent manual fine-tuning by the post-production team. This was especially evident in complex sequences—like flowing dresses or elaborate magical effects—where countless hours were spent adjusting lighting, color balance, and micro-details. The result is a unique visual style, as refined as a film poster, instantly setting the show apart from ordinary productions.
That same devotion to quality is clear in Yun Wangshu's character modeling and wardrobe. She appears in dozens of meticulously crafted outfits, each blending the flowing elegance of traditional xianxia aesthetics with modern tailoring. Every design feels like a custom-made piece of art, aligned precisely with her shifting identities and states of mind.
Yet turning those designs into dynamic 3D reality was anything but easy. Imagine a gown composed of several sheer layers, sashes, and flowing sleeves—all of which need to move naturally with the character's actions, without clipping or tangling. Wide sleeves must fold and gleam like real silk. Embroidered patterns must stay sharp and beautiful even in motion.
Overcoming those challenges allowed Yun Wangshu to appear as a living visual spectacle each time she enters the frame. Every design choice serves not only her personal allure but also the lush atmosphere of the world around her.
The show's appeal isn't limited to static beauty. Its battle sequences carry layered emotion and meaning. Signature moves like Xiyun Sword Art and Flowing Cloud Lifeweave impress not only with dazzling special effects but also because their design draws directly from the characters' past experiences and inner struggles.
The Xiyun Sword Art reflects Yun Wangshu's sixty years of grueling training in the Yunmeng River Valley. It fuses the fluid resilience of water with the unpredictable transformations of clouds, making her attacks flow like drifting clouds yet strike with the force of a thunderclap. As for Flowing Cloud Lifeweave, the very name is a declaration of defiance against an unjust fate. "Flowing Cloud" evokes both gentleness and overwhelming force, hinting at the unpredictable nature of destiny; "Lifeweave" is the core—she refuses to be controlled by fate and vows to actively weave and rewrite the course of her own life. The dazzling light effects of these techniques visually manifest her indomitable will and her determination to master her destiny, turning abstract insight into a breathtaking spectacle.
Solid dramatic writing is equally key to emotional resonance. The creative team delved deeply into each character's past and inner world, ensuring dialogue and reactions feel natural and heartfelt, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the story.
Attention to quality extends beyond animation and narrative. For example, the song Zi was chosen as an insert track; its melody and lyrical imagery strike at the emotional core during critical moments, amplifying the series' impact. Extensive promotion both online and offline helped the show reach a wider audience, cementing its position as a new benchmark for female-oriented Chinese animation.
In short, Eclipse of Illusion, as the first 3D female-led revenge series, already transcends the scope of a single show. By breaking long-standing narrative barriers in Chinese animation, delivering stunning audiovisuals, crafting deep and believable characters, and pioneering female-centered storytelling, it has firmly established a new standard for female-oriented Chinese animation. Its popularity and acclaim send a clear message to the market: there is a strong and urgent demand for female-focused anime and diverse narratives about women.
This breakthrough builds on Youku Animation's ongoing dedication to the "New Chinese Style" (新国风) domain. The platform has successfully fused the core of traditional Eastern aesthetics with youthful, innovative expression—whether it's Cang Yuan Tu blending ink painting with 3D battles to set a "national style visual benchmark," or Shi Xiong Ah Shi Xiong using humorous "scientific cultivation" to deconstruct the Fengshen universe, both demonstrating the platform's ability to revitalize traditional culture. Innovative offline events combining intangible cultural heritage with tech interactions have also brought audiences closer to the beauty of the Chinese style.
Building on these successes, Youku Animation is accelerating its future plans. With Eclipse of Illusion marking a milestone in female-focused storytelling, the platform has other diverse Chinese-style projects in the pipeline, including Shan Hai Jing Mima, Mang Huang Ji, and Beyond Time. It continues to expand full-chain IP development, integrate animation and comics, and promote international dissemination of Chinese-style animation. This strategy will not only enrich the domestic animation ecosystem but also meet the diverse aesthetic and emotional needs of audiences, painting a vibrant future for Chinese animation.
To all viewers: stay tuned for more exciting updates from Youku Animation's Eclipse of Illusion, and immerse yourself in this visual and emotional feast of female revenge, inner rebirth, and awakening power. For the new Chinese style, come to Youku Animation!
