Starting in October 2024, the Chinese video platform Bilibili began to release short film projects as a supplement to their main animated adaptation of Heaven Official’s Blessing, based on the hit danmei novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX). The Heaven Official’s Blessing short films are each 5-10 minute vignettes that feature specific fan-favorite scenes from the original novels. The short films depict events that have not yet been covered in either of the main donghua’s two seasons, and can be watched in any order. If and when future donghua seasons come to pass, the scenes depicted in the short films may receive a more lengthy treatment upon revisit.
In July 2025, Bilibili announced they intend to create more Heaven Official’s Blessing short films, though did not share specifics on what scenes will be animated or when the shorts will air. With Season 3 of the Heaven Official’s Blessing donghua still yet to be announced, this focus on short films may serve as a way to maintain fan interest in the series.
A Note on Official Availability
Short Film 1, Short Film 2, and Short Film 3 are available with English captions on Bilibili’s official YouTube channel, and Short Films 4 and 5 will likely be made available with English captions on Bilibili’s YouTube after their online release. This article will exclusively focus on official uploads of the shorts, which means that all videos not uploaded to Bilibili’s official YouTube channel will have Chinese audio/subtitles only.
Crunchyroll has the distribution rights to both seasons of the Heaven Official’s Blessing donghua in a number of regions (includ. the Americas, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and the CIS), but the company has not indicated any plans to officially sub or dub the short films.
The first two seasons of the main Heaven Official’s Blessing donghua are available to watch on a variety of platforms; please reference our pages on Season One & Season Two respectively.
Heaven Official’s Blessing Short Film 1: “The God-Pleasing Crown Prince: A Fleeting Glimpse”
Per the official series accounts, the title of Heaven Official’s Blessing: Short Film 1 is 太子悦神·惊鸿一瞥, which can be read as “The God-Pleasing Crown Prince: A Fleeting Glimpse.”
Heaven Official’s Blessing: Short Film 1 covers two major moments from the second arc of the original novel (covered in Vols. 2 & 3 of the English release from Seven Seas Entertainment). It shows both the Shangyuan Parade at which Xie Lian saved the young Hua Cheng (then known as Honghong-er) from falling to his death, and also a tender moment at a Crown Prince Temple where Xie Lian, now a god, appears to Honghong-er to encourage him to keep living.
The short originally premiered in October 2024 at an event in China celebrating the donghua’s fourth anniversary. It was later released online in February 2025, which was its first public availability outside of the anniversary event. During leadup to the short’s release, the series Weibo posted a series showcasing new designs for its featured characters (Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, Mu Qing, and Qi Rong) and also revealed the long-awaited donghua design for the Xianle state preceptor, Mei Nianqing.
Where to Watch Heaven Official’s Blessing Short Film 1:
Originally, Bilibili uploaded the full short to their YouTube channel, the official series channel on Bilibili’s site, and the official series Weibo, RedNote, and Douyin. However, within 24 hours of posting, the videos posted to YouTube and Bilibili were privated. A version of the short with only the second half (Xie Lian meeting Honghong-er in the rain at a temple) was uploaded to YouTube and Bilibili in the original video’s place, but this version seems to also have since been privated on Bilibili’s own site.
Currently, the full version of Short Film 1 is still available on the official series Weibo, RedNote, and Douyin. Bilibili’s YouTube channel and the official series channel on Bilibili’s site only has the second half of the short available to watch. (Though the full upload can be seen in the account’s video listing on Bilibili, clicking the link results in a “missing video” error message.)
Update, 3/2/2026: Bilibili re-uploaded Short Film 1 in full to their YouTube channel, and included official English closed captions.
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Weibo Account
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Douyin Account
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official RedNote Account
- Bilibili Official YouTube Channel [1]
- Missing first half [Shangyuan Parade], includes second half [Meeting in Rain].
- Bilibili Official YouTube Channel [2]
- Full version of the short, with English closed captions.
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Bilibili Channel
- Missing first half [Shangyuan Parade], includes second half [Meeting in Rain].
Heaven Official’s Blessing Short Film 2: “Guessing Riddles in Ghost City: Enjoying Yuanxiao Together”
Per the official series accounts, the title of Heaven Official’s Blessing: Short Film 2 is 鬼市猜谜·共品元宵, which can be read as “Guessing Riddles in Ghost City: Enjoying Yuanxiao Together.”
Heaven Official’s Blessing: Short Film 2 is an adaptation of the “Lantern Riddles on Yuanxiao Night” Extra Chapter from the original novel (included in Vol. 8 of the English release from Seven Seas Entertainment). This particular chapter takes place after the main story’s conclusion, and thus after Xie Lian and Hua Cheng have confessed their mutual romantic feelings. In it, the two lovebirds tour Ghost City during the Shangyuan/Yuanxiao Festival and answer lantern riddles as part of holiday tradition.
The short originally premiered during Bilibili’s panel at AnimeExpo 2025, as part of the Heaven Official’s Blessing World Tour event that commemorated Hua Cheng’s and Xie Lian’s back-to-back birthday months. It was uploaded online to the official series Weibo, Douyin, and RedNote after the panel’s conclusion. Short Film 3 was also first announced during this event.
During leadup to the short’s release, the official series accounts posted a series of progress sketches of key animation frames and a series of adorable gifs for fans to use as reaction images. (Below, in order: “worshipping,” “listening intently,” “focusing,” and “I can do it!!!”.)
Where to Watch Heaven Official’s Blessing Short Film 2:
When uploading Short Film 2 online, Bilibili chose to split the work into roughly 30-second chunks and uploaded it in seven (7) parts on both their own official YouTube channel and the series’ official Bilibili channel.
The official series Weibo, Douyin, and RedNote have Short Film 2 available as a single 8-minute video.
Update, 3/3/2026: Bilibili uploaded Short Film 2 as a single 8-minute video to their YouTube channel, and included official English closed captions.
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Weibo Account
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Douyin Account
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official RedNote Account
- Bilibili Official YouTube Channel [1]
- Bilibili Official YouTube Channel [2]
- Full version of the short as a single video, with English closed captions.
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Bilibili Channel
Heaven Official’s Blessing Short Film 3: “Meeting in the Water: A Pair in Red”
Per the official series accounts, the title of Heaven Official’s Blessing: Short Film 3 is 水中相逢·红衣成双, which can be read as “Meeting in the Water: A Pair in Red.”
Heaven Official’s Blessing: Short Film 3 covers a scene from the third arc of the original novel (covered in Vol. 3 of the English release from Seven Seas Entertainment): Xie Lian, after falling in a lake in pursuit of an evil spirit and inadvertently locking lips with Hua Cheng in the process, is whisked away to be fussed over by Hua Cheng in his Ghost City mansion. This involves Hua Cheng tenderly treating Xie Lian’s injuries, as well as Xie Lian wearing an outfit in Hua Cheng’s signature red.
The short was originally announced during Bilibili’s panel at AnimeExpo 2025 (see above section), and premiered shortly afterward at an exhibition in China in later July 2025. The exhibition would later go on international tour to Japan. The short remained an exclusive to visitors of this exhibition until February 2026, when Bilibili finally announced they would be releasing it online for public viewing.
During leadup to the short’s release, the official series accounts posted a series of progress sketches of key animation frames.
Where to Watch Heaven Official’s Blessing Short Film 3:
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Weibo Account
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Douyin Account
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official RedNote Account
- Bilibili Official YouTube Channel
- Available with English closed captions.
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Bilibili Channel
Heaven Official’s Blessing Short Film 4: “A Thousand Gods, a Love Engraved into Bones”
Per the official series accounts, the title of Heaven Official’s Blessing: Short Film 4 is 万神一面·刻骨の相思, which can be read as “A Thousand Gods, a Love Engraved into Bones.”
Heaven Official’s Blessing: Short Film 4 covers a scene from the fourth arc of the original novel (covered in Vol. 6 of the English release from Seven Seas Entertainment): Xie Lian and Hua Cheng, while fighting their way through Mount Tonglu’s gauntlet of trials, run into Mu Qing and Feng Xin and find themselves trapped in a mysterious cave filled with statues and murals: a Cave of Ten Thousand Gods, made to worship the object of the portrayals. In a shocking revelation and to Mu Qing and Feng Xin’s great dismay, the artist of these works is shown to be Hua Cheng himself. Also to Mu Qing and Feng Xin’s great dismay, this discovery gives Xie Lian the confidence to finally confess his now-confirmed mutual feelings for Hua Cheng.
The short was originally announced in 2026 on Xie Lian’s birthday, July 10, on which date the official series accounts posted a trailer (Weibo, Twitter/X).
On August 12, Bilibili announced on social media that their Anime NYC 2026 panel would feature, among other things, “An Exclusive screening of the Heaven Official’s Blessing OVA.” [Source: Twitter/X, Instagram] The Official TGCF Twitter/X account followed up on August 14 to confirm that Short Film 4 specifically will be shown at Bilibili’s panel at Anime NYC. [Source: Twitter/X]
The short will premiere in Japan at a Heaven Official’s Blessing exhibition event in Fukuoka on August 16, 2026. [Source: TGCF-Anime.com Official Site] The short will be screened with the Japanese dub only, and will be available for viewing between August 16 – 24. [Source: TGCF-Anime.com Official Site]
Much like Short Film 3 (see above), Short Film 4 will likely remain an exclusive to visitors of various real-life events and exhibitions until Bilibili releases it online for public viewing.
Where to Watch Heaven Official’s Blessing Short Film 4:
Trailer:
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Weibo Account
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official Douyin Account
- Tian Guan Ci Fu Official RedNote Account
- Bilibili Official YouTube Channel
- Available with English closed captions.
Full Short Film:
Short Film 4 will premiere at a Heaven Official’s Blessing exhibition event in Fukuoka, Japan on August 16, 2026, and will likely remain an exclusive to visitors of the exhibition until Bilibili releases it online for public viewing.
Heaven Official’s Blessing Short Film 5: “Leader of the Moon Banquet: Three Thousand Everlasting Lanterns”
Per the official series accounts, the title of Heaven Official’s Blessing: Short Film 5 is 月宴の魁首·三千の長明灯, which can be read as “Leader of the Moon Banquet: Three Thousand Everlasting Lanterns.”
Heaven Official’s Blessing: Short Film 5 covers a scene from the third arc of the original novel (covered in Vol. 3 of the English release from Seven Seas Entertainment): Xie Lian attends the Mid-Autumn Banquet in the Heavens, and at the banquet’s finale, a contest is held to determine which of the gods received the most Blessings Lanterns of Everlasting Light from their worshipers. Xie Lian does not expect to receive any lanterns, given his impoverished status and lack of a following in comparison to popular gods: such as the siblings Wind Master Shi Qingxuan and Water Master Shi Wudu, the roguish casanova Pei Ming, or Heavenly Emperor Jun Wu. However, one Hua Cheng is enough to bankroll an overwhelming victory for Xie Lian that puts all the other gods to shame.
The short was originally announced by the official TGCF-Anime Japanese team (Twitter/X), and will premiere at a Heaven Official’s Blessing exhibition event in Tokyo, Japan on September 25, 2026. [Source: TGCF-Anime.com Official Site] The short will be screened with the Japanese dub only, and will be available for viewing at the event between September 25 – 29. [Source: TGCF-Anime.com Official Site]
Much like Short Film 3 (see above), Short Film 5 will likely remain an exclusive to visitors of various real-life events and exhibitions until Bilibili releases it online for public viewing.
Where to Watch Heaven Official’s Blessing Short Film 5:
Trailer:
To be released…
Full Short Film:
Short Film 5 will premiere at a Heaven Official’s Blessing exhibition event in Tokyo, Japan on September 25, 2026, and will likely remain an exclusive to visitors of the exhibition until Bilibili releases it online for public viewing.
Heaven Official’s Blessing
天官赐福
[Synopsis Provided by Seven Seas Entertainment:]
Born the crown prince of a prosperous kingdom, Xie Lian was renowned for his beauty, strength, and purity. His years of dedication and noble deeds allowed him to ascend to godhood. But those who rise, can also fall…and fall he does, cast from the Heavens again and again and banished to the mortal realm.
Eight hundred years after his mortal life, Xie Lian has ascended to godhood for the third time. Now only a lowly scrap collector, he is dispatched to wander the earthly realm to take on tasks appointed by the heavens to pay back debts and maintain his divinity. Aided by old friends and foes alike, and graced with the company of a mysterious young man with whom he feels an instant connection, Xie Lian must confront the horrors of his past in order to dispel the curse of his present.
Heaven Official’s Blessing (天官赐福) is a danmei novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, also known as MXTX. It began serialization in 2017 and ran for 244 chapters (plus 8 Extras), and is available to read in Chinese on JJWXC.
The series has received numerous adaptations, including a donghua adaptation, an unreleased live-action adaptation, an ongoing audio drama adaptation, and a manhua adaptation. The manhua adaptation is available to read in English online through Lezhin Comics, and is physically available in English through publisher Inklore.
Heaven Official’s Blessing was picked up for English release in 2021 by Seven Seas Entertainment, and saw staggering success on sales charts; netting multiple New York Times Best Seller placements across its eight-volume run. Mo Xiang Tong Xiu has also written two other hit danmei series that are available in English: The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (人渣反派自救系统) and Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (魔道祖师).
You can learn more about Heaven Official’s Blessing in the DanmeiNews catalog.
