Founded in 2016 by Lin Hun, Samsara Animation Studio (六道无鱼) is the small team behind Fog Hill of Five Elements, famous for its Chinese-ink fights.
History
The studio was born on 11 November 2016 in Quzhou, Zhejiang, as a small workshop. It is led by Lin Jiaqi, known as Lin Hun, and set out to develop original stories rather than do outsourcing work.
Before Fog Hill, the team worked on Sui Cheng (岁城). In July 2020, Fog Hill of Five Elements (雾山五行) premiered on Bilibili: only three episodes, but a visual shock that went around the world.
The sequel, Xichuan Huanzi Lin (犀川幻紫林), came out in July 2023. In 2022 the workshop became a company, Quzhou Liudao Wuyu Film & Culture, and is preparing the rest of the saga as well as a new project, Qingcheng Kuangma (青城狂马).
Signature
Samsara is known for its hand-drawn 2D inspired by Chinese ink painting and for exceptionally fluid fights. The studio puts quality before quantity: few episodes, but each one worked out down to the smallest detail.
Its donghua on Donghua Fan
The series and films in the catalogue that Samsara Animation Studio worked on.
Other productions
- Sui Cheng (岁城)
- Fog Hill of Five Elements: Xichuan Huanzi Lin (犀川幻紫林, 2023)
- Qingcheng Kuangma (青城狂马), in production
Trivia
- Its Chinese name, 六道无鱼, means "six paths, no fish"; its English name refers to the cycle of reincarnation.
- The first season of Fog Hill has only three episodes, yet it was one of the highest-rated series on Bilibili.
- The team has stayed very small, which explains the long wait between seasons.
Donghua Fan's take
Samsara is the most handcrafted studio in donghua, and its fights are among the most beautiful in all of Asian animation. We only wish it released more often.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan