The Legend of Hei: A Guide to the Swamp

(Last updated January 2, 2026... Added information regarding future developments)

This is a summary of information for those who have finished watching the work "The Legend of Hei: The Future I Choose".Contains many spoilers for the theatrical film (the first installment).

*Regarding the citation of articles, tweets, etc., if you would like them removed, I would appreciate it if you could contact me.

There are mainly three types of content in the "The Legend of Hei" series.
The origin, the Web Anime, the prequel Theatrical Film, and the spin-off manga titled "Lanxi Town (Lan Xi Zhen)." The simplified Chinese notation is "罗小黑战记", and the English title is "The Legend of Hei." It is also often abbreviated as "LXH," taken from the notation "Luo Xiaohei."

Web Anime

The origin of the series, the first episode of the web anime was released in 2011. They are short animations of about 5 to 10 minutes per episode, and the story takes place four years after the first movie. By the way, although it is written as "TV version" in Chinese, it is not broadcast on TV. The new series distributed from April to July 2021 after the movie release is called
"Gate of All Living Things Arc" (12 episodes in total). *There is a link to YouTube in the tweet above, but it has been made private as of July 2025.

With its loose art style, you might think it's a laid-back slice-of-life series, but you will definitely be drawn in by its unexpected fun and depth of story! In addition to action animation that is as intense as the movie (the staff members are screaming, haha), the Gate of All Living Things Arc also has generous fan service for movie fans.

Japanese dubbed version to be broadcast on TV in the fall of 2025!
The dubbing cast includes a gorgeous lineup: Ayane Sakura, Megumi Han, Cho, Akari Kito, Koichi Yamadera, and Koki Uchiyama. The theme song will be performed by Aimer.
https://luoxiaohei-movie.com/tv/

New chapter release decided for 2026!

[Sites where you can watch]
①bilibili Video: https://www.bilibili.com/bangumi/media/md1733 It is a site like the Chinese version of Nico Nico Douga. *There is an app for iOS, and you can also pay through the App Store. -> A Japanese version of the app has been created!

Link*When viewed from a smartphone browser, playback may only be possible up to 6 minutes, so in that case, please switch to PC display. *Episodes 1-28 can be played if you know the URL without registering as a member. *To watch the new chapter episodes 29-40, you need to register as a member and become a premium member (paid member/about 300 yen per month).
-> Due to geo-blocking (regional restrictions), it can no longer be played from Japan.

②YouTube:


https://www.youtube.com/user/luoxiaohei*Japanese subtitles (unofficial) can be turned on for some episodes. *Some episodes are blocked due to copyright issues, so they can only be watched on bilibili video (a Chinese video site). -> As of August 11, 2022, all are available for viewing. *The new series is not currently on YouTube. -> With the decision to broadcast the anime in Japan, it seems that the release on YouTube has ended. ★
Translation will be described later.

Theatrical Film The Legend of Hei

The first film is a prequel depicting the four years prior to the web animation. In Japan, the
subtitled version was released in September 2019, and the Japanese dubbed version "The Legend of Hei" was released in November 2020. Additionally, starting October 7, 2022, the
TV broadcast version aired on TOKYO MX and other channels. It was split into five episodes and includes newly drawn illustrations.https://luoxiaohei-movie.com/news/?id=61372

By the way, there are three types of subtitled versions*: the initial subtitles, the standard subtitles (also called new or late-stage subtitles), and the latest subtitles created after the dub release. The initial subtitles have a unique flavor, such as Wuxian using the first-person pronoun "ware" and Luo Zhu using "oira." (Past article about subtitles: https://note.com/amjoersarid/n/na097ce448720) *In addition to multiple revised versions of each, there are also

Japanese barrier-free subtitles (subtitles for the dubbed version) and the "Japan Media Arts Festival screening version" which was screened only once. Xu Huai used "ore" as his first-person pronoun, and so on... The Blu-ray & DVD was released on July 9, 2021

...! The completely limited production edition includes four types of subtitles
including barrier-free ones, and also comes with a soundtrack CD...! https://luoxiaohei-movie.com/bddvd/

The second theatrical film

Released in its home country on July 18, 2025! It reportedly surpassed 150 million yuan in box office revenue in just 6 days. In Japan,


the dubbed and subtitled versions will be released simultaneously on November 7, 2025! Kana Hanazawa and Mamoru Miyano will continue to voice Xiao Hei and Wuxian, and a gorgeous new cast including Aoi Yuki, Akira Ishida, and Junichi Suwabe has been announced. Aimer will also be in charge of the theme song for this one.

◎ Japanese version teaser trailer

◎ Main trailer

According to the studio announcement at the end of 2025, the third theatrical film is scheduled for release around 2030. It also seems that the fourth film and beyond will follow!

Manga "Lanxi Zhen"

A spin-off manga that begins 400 years ago from the web anime.
It is currently being serialized for free.
It is scheduled to conclude in February 2026.

The main characters are Lao Jun, Xuan Li, and our heroine, Qing Ning, who were also mentioned by name in the movie. 23-year-old (at the time of his first appearance) Wuxian also appears.
Although it is considered a side story, it is by no means just a "bonus" or "fan service," but rather a pillar of the "The Legend of Hei" work itself.
Recently, the timeline has been getting closer and closer to the web anime and the theatrical film, and many familiar characters are appearing.

【Where to read】
① Bilibili Manga... easy to read
https://manga.bilibili.com/m/detail/mc26551
② Weibo... easy to browse & easy to save
https://m.weibo.cn/u/2019071187

The update frequency depends on the period, but as of July 2024, it is updated on the 18th of every month.
There are apps for each, and on Bilibili, you can pay (around 10 yen per chapter) to read 3 chapters ahead.
※ Regarding Bilibili Manga, it seems that sometimes you can only read chapters other than the first one through the app (might be a bug?).

Volumes 1-5 of the Japanese translated version of Lanxi Town have been released by KADOKAWA.
The covers were newly drawn by the author, MTJJ, specifically for the Japanese version.
\Wuxian also appears!/

Movie spin-off manga

Between July and September 2022, a spin-off manga for the movie was released once a month.
The featured character changed every time, and the content varied from behind-the-scenes of the movie, to what happened immediately after, to past episodes. Every time, it caused a stir among fans.
It is drawn by Chiyo-sensei.
It is also included in the setting material collection mentioned later.

1st: Da Shuang
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4796145261612947

2nd: Director
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4807379280988555

3rd: Ju Ling
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4819338085009255

4th: Luo Zhu
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4819338085009255

5th: Jia Zhao (Wuxian Arc)
https://weibo.com/2019071187/MB0gNolDi

About translation

There is no official Japanese translation for the web anime.
However, on YouTube, you can display subtitles provided by fans for some episodes of the web anime.
※ Since the feature that allows users to provide subtitles on YouTube has been discontinued, there will be no more user-provided subtitles in the future.
→ As of October 5, 2025, the YouTube channel is private.

The "Luo Xiaohei Subtitle Group" has obtained official permission to publish Japanese translations of Lanxi Town, etc..
https://sites.google.com/site/lxhzmz/
※ The range that has been commercialized (Lanxi Town volumes 1-5) and the web anime are not publicly available.

★ Translation apps
"Baidu Translate" and "LINE" are convenient apps that extract text from images and translate it. By the way, sometimes it is easier to understand if you translate to English rather than Japanese.

Tweet about how to use it: https://twitter.com/ism_lxh/status/1325647791138328578

Recommended sites

● Luo Xiaohei Subtitle Group
They distribute subtitle files for the original anime and related videos, and post translations of Lanxi Town.
https://sites.google.com/site/lxhzmz/

● The Legend of Hei FAN WIKI (Unofficial)
https://lxh-fan-wiki.site
In addition to having comprehensive links to official content, they also have a well-developed database of characters and terminology.

Twenty-four Solar Terms

These are original seasonal illustrations released 24 times a year (twice a month) on Weibo and Twitter.
On Twitter, they are uploaded to “Luo Xiaohei CAT”” and the movie account “The Legend of Hei”.

2025: Journey Series

Artist: Jiangse Youyu-laoshi (@yuine_paint)

2024: Flowers and Poetry Series

Artist: Zao Shu-laoshi

2023: Magazine Parody Series

Artist: Misade Lanbai-laoshi

Designed in a magazine style as a Magazine for 24 Solar Terms.
It seems the characters are selected from all series.

2022: Xiaobai's Picture Diary Series

Artist: Kiel-laoshi

A series depicting daily life after the 'Gate of All Living Things' arc from Xiaobai's perspective.
It also shows Hei attending school.

2021: All-Stars Series Spanning Over 400 Years

Artist: Xiao Eyu-laoshi (Crocodile-laoshi)

While it is described as 'All-Stars spanning over 400 years,' it was not yet revealed whether it would feature characters from all series, from Lanxi Town to the web anime, or only from Lanxi Town.
→ Both web anime characters and movie characters appeared...!

2020: The Days of Wuxian and Xiaohei

Artist: Xiuyu Liujian-laoshi

*Since Japanese translations were only provided starting in June, I have compiled them with simple Japanese translations in the thread below. Please note these are just atmospheric translations based on app tools, so use them for reference only...

2019: Fuxi Park

The 'Dahan' (Major Cold) mentioned above is the final update of the 24 Solar Terms for 2019. In fact, the theme was not revealed when the series began, and it caused quite a stir when it was discovered that they formed Fuxi Park when combined.
(Reference: https://twitter.com/ingen_sousaku/status/1202956110597984257)

Incidentally, Fuxi Park is also mentioned by name in the web anime.

Illustrations from 2018 (Hei's Solo Journey) and 2017 are not on Twitter. Also, illustrations are posted for various milestones outside of the 24 Solar Terms.
The summary by FANWIKI covers almost everything, so please check it out!
https://lxh-fan-wiki.site/?curid=197

There is also an account dedicated to Bi-Diu illustrations!
This year (2024), incredibly high-quality embroidery art is being updated irregularly.

Weibo

Weibo is the Chinese version of Twitter. The official accounts post a lot of content, including GIFs, setting materials, and a large amount of fan art by the staff.

Official series account (for the Lanxi Town serialization):
https://m.weibo.cn/u/2019071187
Official movie account (often introduces works by staff and fans):
https://m.weibo.cn/u/3175924975
Director MTJJ:
https://m.weibo.cn/u/1260555362
*By the way, it seems that all the people behind the scenes, including the Japanese Twitter account (Luo Xiaohei CAT @lxh_cat), are Director MTJJ himself.

Among them, I highly recommend reading the post where the director talks about Fu Xi!

This phrase "stop wandering" is also the catchphrase for the work.

In addition, information such as the fact that Wuxian once had a child and that his former disciple is still alive has been revealed in the director's Q&A, with a lot of information being released on social media (and at stage greetings). However, since this is just fan service, it's hard to know how much is true, and the settings often change. I think it's best to take it with a grain of salt and enjoy it!

Music Videos

There are many music videos and theme songs for The Legend of Hei.

“Good Night Meow”
A legendary, super cute bedtime song. It also plays during the banquet scene with the Enforcers. Many people are completely won over by the Master's version of “meow meow” and “Good night, Xiaohei.”

① Voice actor for Heixiu version (original):

② Voice actor for Xiaohei version

Currently private

③ Voice actor for Wuxian version (unofficial):

The Japanese translation of the lyrics is posted on the blog below. It is incredibly cute!!!!

“Lies”
This is the song that played as the ending theme for the movie. It is sung by the voice actor for Heixiu. It's a gentle singing voice that really sinks into your body after the movie, isn't it?

By the way, the MV above is also the source material for the movie's end credits. Both depict the web anime characters during the movie's timeline, but I think the MV focuses on their “meeting” (meanwhile, Lougun is shedding tears all by himself...).
The official account has uploaded the full end credits video to Weibo, so please take a look and compare them!
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4426529180642865

The Japanese translation of the lyrics is posted on the blog below.“Because my happiness is in your hands, don't go anywhere else, stay by my side” I couldn't help but tear up when I saw that translation.

“A Place to Belong”
It has a different atmosphere from the other songs, with a sense of speed. The PV below is also very cool, with the action scenes highlighted by the music!

The Japanese translation of the lyrics is posted on the blog below.

“Stop Wandering”
I was surprised to learn that the singer was a man. As mentioned above, the phrase “stop wandering” is also the movie's catchphrase in China.

Not only for this song, but the subtitle team has distributed subtitle files for all the songs in the original language, Japanese translation, kana, and pinyin!
https://sites.google.com/site/lxhzmz/subtitles

“Walking Through Every Corner of the World”
A very beautiful and sad song. This has also been covered by Wuxian's voice actor.

Cover by Liu Mingyue

The Japanese translation of the lyrics is provided on the blog below.

“Luo Xiaohei Movie Song”
This is a video celebrating the completion of the movie by the animation studio staff!

“Xia Shan” (Coming Down the Mountain)
This is a cover of an existing song with new lyrics.
“Xia Shan” refers to finishing one's training and leaving one's master. Thinking about the day Xiaohei stands on his own (though I suppose he already is by the time of the web anime), I can't listen to it without tearing up...
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4480165461631650

The Japanese translation of the lyrics is provided in the tweet below.

“No Baby No Cry”
This is also sung by the voice actor for Heixiu. It is a very warm and gentle music video where Xiaohei brings an umbrella to Xiaobai, who is in trouble after forgetting hers.

Books

Full-color comics for The Legend of Hei and Lanxizhen have been released.
★Volumes 1-5 of the Japanese version of Lanxizhen are now on sale from KADOKAWA!

★The original language version is also available via mail order from official distributors.

Fan Art Collection

This is a super beautiful art book that compiles fan art (including work by official staff). It is extremely large and heavy, almost like a blunt weapon.

▼Official Online Store

Additionally, the fan art collection comes with a bonus manga booklet, and surprisingly, a Japanese version PDF has been released for free! Anyone can download it.
The school parody manga and the collection of illustrations featuring reactions to the movie are must-sees!

Setting Material Collection

The movie's setting material collection has been released, four years after the teaser!
It is a massive volume with over 270 pages and a large size!
It also comes with a small booklet containing the side-story manga by Chiyo-sensei introduced above.

★How to obtain the setting material collection
① Available on Taobao
It is sold on the general mail-order site called Taobao
https://m.tb.cn/h.gRReeUxMWtlnqPk?tk=BaKW31XH2Ei
You can import it personally by using an official forwarding service (4PX) or an agency/forwarding service. Please be aware that shipping costs may be high and customs duties may apply.

② Official Online Store
COMICUP, which handled the official mail order for the fan art collection, also handles this.

In addition, it can be purchased through unofficial mail-order services via import agencies or at import bookstores that handle overseas books.

Merchandise

The animation studio that creates The Legend of Hei, HMCH (Hanmu Chunhua), produces merchandise in-house.

In Japan, Team Joy (https://teamjoy.official.ec) and Omoshiro Eiga (https://facewhite.stores.jp/) sell them officially, and some merchandise is also available at Animate and other hobby shops. Since not all merchandise is covered, many fans import them personally via Taobao or use import agencies.

[Luo Xiaohei Flagship Store] https://m.tb.cn/h.4W8Jv09?sm=032ec0
[Luo Xiaohei's Little Black Store] https://m.tb.cn/h.42Bpwsi?sm=33614d

Since the release of the dubbed version, there has been an increase in Japan-exclusive merchandise, and collaboration cafes have been held multiple times.

Fan Works

The official Legend of Hei team has issued regulations regarding fan works.
Doujinshi is okay, but selling merchandise is not. Many people exchange merchandise or give it away for free.

Regulations

Furthermore, the director has personally expressed his views on fan works, encouraging free creative expression. While cultures differ by country, I have quoted him here in the hope that his thoughts will reach Japan.
*This is an amateur translation, provided for reference only.
Original post: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4489668110173229

Since the above is not very accurate, I will quote a translation by a volunteer.

By the way, the first Petit Only event 'Black Cat Advance' was held in Japan on February 28, 2021. Since then, work-only and pairing-only events have been held regularly.

Also, The Legend of Hei is a work where the distance between the official team and the fans is very close. If you post fan art of The Legend of Hei on Weibo, not only will it reach the official team, but the director may even comment on it with a quote retweet. A few years ago, Ms. Sun Gua, who is in charge of the art for 'The Legend of Blue Stream,' would open a Twitter Space on the night of the manga update to listen to fans' excitement and answer questions within the scope of not spoiling the story.

The production staff also draw a lot of fan art, so I will pick out a few.

・7-year-old Wuxian (Original art staff: Jian Ni Huang_Pai Si Zhan Shi)
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4415787823429447
Director's comment: 'At the age of seven, Wuxian realizes he has spiritual power, but he remains calm.'

・Wuxian as a school nurse (Character design: Niu Nai Zhong)
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4547554082298812

・Twin Xiaoheis "Double Black" (Animation director: Da Shuang)
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4548105464463053

Some of the staff members also have Twitter accounts.
Note that some people also post pairing fan works or adult content. Please enjoy them strictly as fan works.

App Games

Bao Chao Jiang Hu

This is a cooking app that frequently collaborates with The Legend of Hei.
Missions and gacha events are also regularly re-released.
*It seems that identity verification with a passport or similar is now required to use it from Japan (details unconfirmed).

→ The Japanese version 'Da Hanjo! Momohana Hanten' was released and featured a Legend of Hei collaboration. Unfortunately, the service ended in March 2024.

*The following is the game screen of the Chinese version.

The Legend of Hei Spirit Book

※Service has ended

A mobile game for The Legend of Hei that has already ended. You can watch gameplay footage at the following site:
https://www.taptap.com/app/39207

Ensemble Stars

There were two past collaborations with the Chinese version of Ensemble Stars ("Ensemble Stars") (it cannot be downloaded from the Japanese App Store).

October 2021 Black Cat Rhapsody

PV:
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4686832471904820#&video

April 2017 Black Cat Strange Tale

Event details:
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4095663018998043
In addition, collaboration merchandise was produced and collaboration cafes were held!

Arknights

Collaboration with the mainland version in September '22 -> Collaboration held in the Japanese version in April '23

Includes new voice lines by Kana Hanazawa!

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So, that is all. I also tweet about various things on Twitter using the tag #羅小黒戦記沼への手引き (A Guide to The Legend of Hei Fandom), so I hope you find it helpful. If you have any questions (or if there are any errors), please feel free to contact me.

Thank you for reading! Xie Xie Miao~