One of the qualities that made To Be Hero X stand out among other donghua and anime series was its seamless blend of 2D and 3D animation. Fans enjoyed the 3D elements for seven episodes, but that’s about to change.
Director Li Haoling took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news. He first reflected on Yang Cheng’s complexity as his arc wrapped up in Episode 7, then confirmed that this episode also marked the end of the 3D animation, at least for now. From Episode 8 onward, the series will use 2D animation, with Pb Animation and Lan Studio taking over production. Li added that the remaining episodes are already complete and said he looks forward to fans continuing the journey with To Be Hero X.
The PV released earlier had already prompted speculation among fans about how the switch to 2D animation might affect upcoming episodes, especially those focused on X, whose power appears tied to the show’s dual animation styles.
To Be Hero X has built a reputation for clever, creative storytelling, leaving fans on the edge of their seats after each episode. The first four episodes followed Nice, the tenth-ranked hero, while the next three spotlighted E-Soul, the ninth-ranked hero. The donghua will feature 11 arcs, all eventually converging in the series finale.
Announced two years ago, To Be Hero X has been a long-anticipated project. A joint production between Bilibili (China) and Aniplex (Japan), the series is animated and produced by BeDream. Hiroyuki Sawano composed the main theme “Jeopardy.” SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Rei performs the opening theme “INERTIA,” while SennaRin performs the ending theme “KONTINUUM.”
Set in a world where anyone can become a hero—ranked by the public’s trust—To Be Hero X follows the top ten heroes, with the number one hero known only as “X.” Every two years, these heroes compete in a tournament that determines their global standing based on trust values. To Be Hero X marks the third entry in the To Be Hero anthology series.
The series premiered on April 5 and is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Source: X, formerly known as Twitter
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