Fanpai Chushihua – Villain Initialization

What Is Fanpai Chushihua

Fanpai Chushihua (反派初始化) is a Chinese ONAs series (donghua) adapted from a webcomic / manga, known in English as Villain Initialization. It began airing on April 16, 2024 and concluded later in 2024. The series has 16 episodes, each episode running approximately 17-20 minutes. The production studio credited is CHOSEN, and it is officially distributed via platforms like Bilibili.

Plot Overview

The story follows Ling Chen, also known as Penrose, who is a supervillain with a long history of conflict and rivalry with the hero Ye Zimu. At some point during a fierce battle, Ling Chen is reset — transported back in time to when he is 17 years old, before he becomes the feared villain.

In this second chance, Ling Chen decides to change his fate. He aims to prevent the tragedies and wrongdoings he committed as Penrose, especially those that made Ye Zimu his archenemy. His goals also include protecting people around him and stopping Ye Zimu before the hero becomes too strong to counter.

Thus the story is built around time travel / age regression, redemption, moral dilemma, and how a character with villainous past can attempt to become something different when given a second chance.

Characters

• Ling Chen / Penrose — The protagonist. As Penrose, he is a supervillain. After resetting to age 17, he becomes Ling Chen again, intent on rewriting his destiny.
• Ye Zimu — The hero and Ling Chen’s rival. In the original timeline, Ye Zimu becomes strong and opposes Penrose. Ling Chen aims to prevent Ye Zimu’s rise or at least his own conflict with him.

There are also supporting characters from the webcomic/manga source, but details are less emphasized in the donghua version.

Themes & What Makes It Interesting

1. Redemption & Moral Complexity
   The core appeal is seeing a villain with a known past try to change. What defines “villainy” when someone tries to correct their wrongs? The dichotomy between past actions and future decisions is central.
2. Time Reset / Second Chance
   The reset to a younger age gives Ling Chen unique opportunity. This trope allows exploring “what if” scenarios: can someone avoid mistakes if they know what’s coming?
3. Conflict with Self & Fate
   Ling Chen isn’t just fighting other characters; he is battling his own past identity (Penrose), his guilt, and potentially the consequences of changing the timeline.
4. Action + Superpowers
   The series includes super powers / abilities, hero vs villain action, battles, and strategic confrontation. Fans of action + superhero style stories will enjoy these elements.
5. Character Relationships
   The rivalry with Ye Zimu, as well as Ling Chen’s interactions with those who will become enemies or allies depending on how the reset unfolds, add emotional stakes.

Reception & Status

The donghua has finished its run, with all 16 episodes released. Viewer ratings are mixed to positive: for example, Anime Planet shows a score around 3.5/5. It is considered moderately successful among donghua with the “reset villain” / “superpower school / hero vs villain” tropes.

Where to Watch

• On Bilibili (official platform) for regions that support it.
• Also listed on anime tracking and info sites like Anime-Planet, AniList, etc., where you can check episode counts, synopsis, staff info.

Note: Depending on region, subtitles or dubbed versions may or may not be available. Always check official distributors for your country.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

• The premise of a villain resetting back to youth to change fate is engaging and allows for suspense: viewers know certain events could happen, so there is tension in whether Ling Chen will succeed.
• Decent pacing: with 16 episodes, the series has enough room to cover the reset, conflicts, and development without being overly long or filler-heavy.
• Development of internal conflict: the story focuses on morality, choice, guilt, and regret. This gives emotional depth beyond simple action sequences.

Weaknesses:

• Some reviews mention that character development of side characters is light; focus is heavily on Ling Chen and Ye Zimu.
• The reset trope is common; viewers who are familiar with many such stories may find some predictability.
• Some action scenes or animation quality vary episode to episode.

Final Thoughts

Fanpai Chushihua (Villain Initialization) is a donghua worth watching for those who enjoy stories of redemption, time travel / reset, villains with conscience, and hero-villain rivalry. It may not completely reinvent its genre, but it uses familiar tropes well and gives enough emotional and narrative hooks to keep the audience invested.