For fans of the Pokémon franchise, especially the games, one’s very first partner Pokémon is unforgettable. Whether a fan began right at the start of the franchise with Pokémon Red and chose Bulbasaur, or was only recently introduced through the series by playing Pokémon Violet and picking Fuecoco, the event of picking a first starter Pokémon is a memory that lasts forever. Partner Pokémon are also known to be the most loyal companions of a Pokémon Trainer, the friend they can always rely on.
However, one must also wonder what a kindhearted Trainer would do if their beloved partner Pokémon one day betrayed them. This question, surprisingly enough, is explored not in the Pokémon franchise, but in a recent Chinese anime (also known as a donghua) called The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming. At the moment, this donghua has taken the internet by storm, becoming especially popular with Pokémon fans.
The Pokémon World Is Timeless
The Mechanics & Gameplay Presented in Pokémon Remain Beloved Today
In 1996, Pocket Monsters Green and Pocket Monsters Red (followed by Pocket Monsters Blue) were released in Japan. A couple of years afterward, the games were released internationally as Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. In these games, the original mechanics were introduced, setting the stage for the gameplay that would appear in future installments. At the beginning of each Pokémon game, the player character must first choose between three starter Pokémon (unless they are playing Pokémon Yellow or its Nintendo Switch remakes).
After selecting their starter and being given Poké Balls to catch wild Pokémon, the game officially starts, allowing the player to catch and train as many Pokémon as they would like. The player is instructed to battle with their Pokémon against friendly rivals and even criminals causing trouble in the region, all in hopes of one day becoming the Champion. By leveling up their team or using Evolution Stones, the player can also evolve their Pokémon, with their allies growing more powerful and even changing type at times. As generations passed and new regions and Pokémon were added to the overall roster, other mechanics were introduced, from Abilities to Mega Evolution.
Although Pokémon is generally geared toward younger audiences, fans of all ages continue to adore the fantastic world of Pokémon and the many marvelous creatures which inhabit it. Around the time the first games debuted, the original Pokémon anime also premiered, introducing the world to the spirited Ash Ketchum and his best friend Pikachu. In Pokémon: Indigo League, the very first season, Ash is like any newcomer to the world of Pokémon, as he too is learning about how to catch Pokémon and battle alongside them. Most of all, Ash learns how to become better friends with his Pokémon, forging friendships that last a lifetime.
Every aspect of the Pokémon media speaks highly about the core of the series, on treating others with kindness, whether they are a person or a Pokémon. The anime often showcases that Trainers who mistreat their Pokémon will often face the consequences in the end, while a person who treats their Pokémon with kindness will be rewarded greatly. Because of the sheer heart put into the anime, as well as the charming nostalgia especially prevalent in the earlier seasons, the original Pokémon anime has remained a favorite in the entire sphere of the medium.
What Is the All-devouring Whale: Homecoming About?
Spirit Pet Master Fan Lingxiao Finds Himself Suddenly Reborn
Debuting in May 2025, The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming is currently being produced by Bilibili and Big Firebird Culture. The donghua illustrates a world which contains several elements of the wuxia genre, a category of Chinese fiction which often relates to the adventures of martial artists and cultivators in a historical setting. At the heart of The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming are the spirit pets themselves, creatures which appear to battle alongside their masters like Pokémon. Just like a Pokémon would, every spirit pet appears to work with a certain skill, many of which appear to be based on the elements.
Some spirit pets, if they are able to, may evolve over time, and can even take on a new transformed state during battle. The protagonist of the donghua, Fan Lingxiao, has one such spirit pet, one which just so happens to be the very first one he ever trained. As he and his spirit pet, a powerful whale-like pet called Kun, have known each other since they were children, Fan Lingxiao and Kun are an especially extraordinary duo in the world they live in. Fan Lingxiao hopes to use his cultivation in order to have his sect become more recognized, even enough to be accepted by the more renowned sects in the spirit pet league.
Fan Lingxiao’s goal in becoming recognized for his craft is not for sheer pride, but for the sake of his family. Long ago, Fan Lingxiao’s entire clan was killed, leaving him as the sole survivor of the Lingxiao Pavilion. The spirit pet master learned all about the art of cultivating from his late parents, with this training helping Fan Lingxiao learn to better work with the elements of water in order to train alongside Kun, who was once a small catfish-like spirit pet. As the years have gone by, Fan Lingxiao has grown into a compassionate and thoughtful leader, recruiting even more cultivators and teaching them the art of working with their own spirit pets.
Everything changes one fateful day when Fan Lingxiao battles against another powerful cultivator and his own spirit pet, who appears to work with the element of fire. Kun and its master work together in tandem at first, until the whale suddenly transforms into a new, decaying state which horrifies Fan Lingxiao. Before he can even attempt to save Kun or stop it from its rampage, the spirit pet whale swallows Fan Lingxiao whole. However, this is not the end of the spirit pet master’s tale, as he is suddenly reincarnated a year after his death.
The All-Devouring Whale: Homecoming Has Quickly Grown Popular
The Animation & Narrative Presented in the Donghua Are One-of-a-Kind
Upon waking up after Kun devours him, Fan Lingxiao discovers he is now possessing the body of a recently deceased cultivator named Liu Fengmang, who is currently being held prisoner for reasons unknown to him. It also appears Liu Fengmang had two spirit pets, a dog-like one and a cactus-like one, on his roster for battling. Unfortunately for Fan Lingxiao, they are not as powerful as Kun was, leaving the cultivator to work with his intellect and cunning if he wants to escape. As he faces his captor and her own powerful snake-like spirit pet, Fan Lingxiao’s quick thinking helps him break free, though it is not the help of Liu Fengmang’s spirit pets that truly help him win the battle.
That spirit pet just so happens to be another catfish-like spirit pet, a species Kun was once before he evolved into a whale. Fan Lingxiao’s sudden demise caused these catfish-like spirit pets to be exterminated, all for one which was kept in a pond. With the help of this second catfish-like spirit pet, who is also called Kun, Fan Lingxiao races away from his prison and begins to seek out his old sect, who has been in dire need of his assistance since the leader supposedly passed away. Fan Lingxiao wishes to find out what exactly happened to the first Kun, and how his beloved spirit pet suddenly became corrupted.
Despite the fact that he was a renowned spirit pet master in his previous life, Fan Lingxiao finds he must start from the beginning if he wants to become a powerful cultivator again, especially as he trains his new spirit pets. The knowledge he still has from his past life is sure to come in handy, though Fan Lingxiao must also grapple with rebuilding his sect and learning more about the mysterious Liu Fengmang.
Aside from the intriguing storyline, the animation used in The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming is absolutely gorgeous. The Pokémon anime’s quality has certainly improved, yet there have been cases in which fans are unhappy with the art styles used in each arc. With The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming, the style remains the same, though it does depict its characters in comedic chibi styles for humorous moments. Every movement in the donghua is smooth and clear, and the colors and effects used in each scene, especially during battle, are sure to leave the audience in awe.
Right after the first episode premiered, the internet immediately began to speak highly of The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming, comparing it to Pokémon while also praising the animation. Fans of the beloved franchise continue to tune into The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming, making it one of the most talked-about donghua of the current season.
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Pokémon
TV-PG Action Adventure Animation 83
Cast
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Rica Matsumoto Pikachu (voice)
Mayumi Iizuka Satoshi (voice)
Ash Ketchum, his yellow pet Pikachu, and his human friends explore a world of powerful creatures.
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The All-devouring Whale: Homecoming
Animation Action & Adventure Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comedy
Cast
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Shujun Lv 樊凌霄
Zhang Pei 段烨
Chong Chong 白涟素
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