Hey guys! August 2026 has been pretty generous with new Chinese animation drops, and I’ve been diving in. Between the long-awaited return of a fan-favorite and a couple of more experimental new series, there’s a nice mix of familiar comfort and fresh weirdness right now. Here’s my early take on three titles that caught my attention this month.
August 2026 Donghua First Impressions: Link Click Season 3, False Memory & More
Link Click Season 3 Part 1 – Premiered August 14
This is the big one for a lot of us. After the events of Season 2 and the Bridon Arc specials, the Time Photo Studio crew is back. The first two episodes dropped together on August 14 (Bilibili + Crunchyroll), and the series is continuing weekly from there. Part 1 is planned for 12 episodes, with Part 2 expected in 2027.
Early impressions:
The atmosphere feels heavier and more personal right from the start. The animation quality is still excellent — fluid, expressive, and full of that signature emotional weight the series is known for. Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang’s dynamic remains the heart of the show, and the story is already pulling on threads involving past connections and new mysteries. If you’ve been waiting for more of that time-photo investigation mix of heartfelt drama and escalating tension, Season 3 is delivering so far.I’m only a few episodes in, but it already feels like the series is shifting into a more consequential phase. Definitely the must-watch of the month if you’re already invested in this world.
False Memory (Memory Administration Bureau) – Premiered August 2
This one has a special place for me. False Memory started as an indie short back in 2020 that blew a lot of people away with its wild visual style and emotional core. Six years later, the full series finally arrived (first three episodes dropped around August 2). It’s produced by Flint Sugar and Studio Tumble, and the creators are still heavily involved.
Early impressions:
Visually, this is one of the most distinctive donghua I’ve seen in a while. The animation is energetic, surreal, and constantly inventive — think bold colors, fluid action, and a dreamlike quality that makes every memory layer feel unique. The story follows Guan Chao as he gets pulled into the Memory Administration Bureau and ends up working with memory collectors to deal with “BUGs” that corrupt human memories.It’s weird, emotional, and stylish in equal measure. Not every episode hits the same, but when it clicks, it really clicks. If you’re in the mood for something that doesn’t feel like standard cultivation or xianxia fare, this is a strong recommendation. I’m genuinely happy this passion project finally got the full treatment it deserved.
To Be Winner – Premiered August 3
A quieter release compared to the other two, but still worth noting. This one started around August 3 and comes from Colored Pencil Animation (known for Blades of the Guardians, and The King’s Avatar Season 2). It’s still early days, so I’m treating this as a very first-look mention rather than a full mini-review. The premise and production look promising so far, and I’m keeping an eye on it as more episodes come out. If it continues to improve, I’ll probably do a proper follow-up later.
Quick Watch Priority (as of late August 2026)
- Link Click Season 3 – Highest priority if you’ve watched the previous seasons.
- False Memory – Go in if you want something visually bold and different.
- To Be Winner – Worth sampling if you’re already catching up on the above.
August is turning out to be a solid month for original and continuing donghua that aren’t just another cultivation slugfest. I’m especially glad to see Link Click back and False Memory finally getting its moment after so many years. Have you started any of these yet? Which one are you most excited (or cautious) about? Drop your thoughts below — I always love hearing what the community is vibing with.
Last Updated on August 23, 2026 by Yu Alexius
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