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Crunchyroll vs. Lord of Mysteries? Unpacking the controversies around the rising Chinese anime

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Although it was highly expected as a major summer adaption, the show “Lord of Mysteries” has stirred up debates, especially with Crunchyroll, raising some concerns.

Prior to its release, the Lord of Mysteries was frequently compared to Solo Leveling by critics. However, since it became accessible on Crunchyroll, the series has stirred up discussions, primarily because of the questionable quality of Crunchyroll’s translations.

What is the Lord of Mysteries?

Before delving into the debate surrounding Lord of Mysteries, let’s first set some context about this anime. Known as Guimi Zhi Zhu: Xiaochou Pian (诡秘之主) in its native language, Lord of Mysteries is an adaptation of a highly praised Chinese novel that has held audiences spellbound not just in China, but globally as well.

In 2023, the book took the top spot on Qidian’s most-read list for multiple months straight, drawing in more than ten million readers. The novel was also selected to be one of the 144 books kept at the National Library of China, an honor that emphasizes its enduring cultural importance and guarantees its survival for future generations to appreciate.

At the Tencent Animation Conference held in August 2023, it was officially unveiled that the popular series “Lord of Mysteries” would be transformed into an anime. The announcement was accompanied by a trailer displaying breathtaking graphics, igniting enthusiasm among fans. The show is scheduled to make its debut on June 28, 2025, with a unique double-episode premiere airing simultaneously across various domestic Asian platforms and globally on Crunchyroll. With such anticipation building around the anime, when did the debate or controversy arise?

In a world steeped in Victorian-era steam technology, naval battleships, and sinister occult forces, Zhou Mingrui finds himself reborn as Klein Moretti. He navigates a precarious path between good and evil, caught up in the strife of rival religious factions. This is the tale of boundless possibilities…and hidden perils beyond comprehension.

Lord of the Mysteries synopsis

Crunchyroll poor translations

A single day after the debut of Lord of the Mysteries on Crunchyroll, users expressed severe criticism on X, complaining about the platform’s subpar translation. They alleged that Crunchyroll had omitted crucial story elements like chants and character names, which remained untranslated in Chinese on-screen.

Fans were furious when the term “Spectator Pathway” was incorrectly translated as “Sequence 9 Audience.” This mistake added insult to injury because it overlooked vital aspects, like the significant luck boost that occurred throughout the series, causing even greater annoyance among viewers.

In addition, they emphasized that Crunchyroll disseminated false information by including details not found in the series itself. For instance, asserting that the character Melissa attends Backlund University, yet her age and attendance at the university are never depicted or consistent with the show.

It was noted that Crunchyroll’s promotional efforts for the show were subpar, leading some enthusiasts to suggest that potential viewers look up the episodes on pirate sites to fully appreciate the series.

Fast pacing and production constraints

Critics, particularly fans, have been quite vocal about Tencent Studio, well-known for its Chinese adaptations, allegedly hurrying the plot development and adjusting the series’ tempo solely to accommodate a memorable battle in episode three.

During a live broadcast alongside the book’s writer, the director openly acknowledged these statements, disclosing that the production encountered numerous challenges. To compensate for these issues, they chose to alter and restructure several significant scenes that enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating. They postponed these moments to later episodes, providing more scope for character growth. The director clarified that the present swift tempo is deliberate. As we progress through subsequent episodes, the show will decelerate and offer a more relaxed pace. It’s worth noting that the first three episodes encompass an average of 75 chapters.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Discussions about Artificial Intelligence have also surfaced among fans of the series, Lord of the Mysteries. For instance, in certain languages like French, there were allegations against Crunchyroll for employing AI to translate the already challenging English subtitles from the original series into French. A fan expressed their frustration by saying, “It’s already hard to follow the beginning, so if the translation is this bad, it won’t help at all,” on platform X.

Initially, Qidian unveiled a special additional chapter for Lord of the Mysteries, filled with personal diary entries from significant characters, unsent letters, confidential records, enigmatic artifacts, and much more intriguing content. However, just two days after this announcement, enthusiasts reported that Qidian had removed all eight of these side stories due to negative feedback.

A popular novel titled “Lord of the Mysteries” boasts a significant female fanbase who are avid fans of Boy Love (BL) and have immersed themselves in numerous fanfictions centered around Klein and Leonard’s romantic tale. Upon releasing side stories, Qidian discovered striking similarities between these supplementary narratives and certain pre-existing fanfictions. It appears that segments of the stories mirrored existing Lord of the Mysteries fanfictions. Consequently, Qidian took down all the side stories from the Webnovel app. However, neither Qidian nor the responsible party officially acknowledged or refuted this claim.

Lord of the Mysteries: Where to watch?

Regardless of what you might have heard or read online regarding the show, I recommend you watch it for yourself to form your own opinion. The mythology surrounding The Lord of the Mysteries is vast and intricate, and this detailed, spoiler-free thread on X offers a complete exploration of it. You may discover an interesting tale that supports all the various viewpoints!

You’ll find the Chinese anime you’re looking for on Crunchyroll, and it currently has a remarkable average rating of 9.0/10 on IMDb after receiving feedback from over 1,500 viewers. Similarly, it has garnered an 8.76 score on MyAnimeList based on the opinions of more than 5,000 users.

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2025-07-01 00:11

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