Evil or Live
A Chinese manhua about net addiction and a strict rehabilitation prison.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Evil or Live is a Chinese manhua from Tencent, written and drawn by Li Xiaonan. A donghua version first aired in 2017.
The story follows young people suffering from "net addiction," a condition that triggers negative emotions and drives them deeper into online and electronic devices. The protagonist, 17-year-old Hibiki, is forced into a rehabilitation center called the Elite Reeducation Academy, which functions more like a strict prison for him and others like him.
Key characters include Hibiki (voiced by Shinichiro Ueda), Shin (voiced by Koki Uchiyama), and Shiori (voiced by Chika Anzai), who is Hibiki's romantic interest.
The anime ran on Tokyo MX from October 10, 2017, to January 2, 2018, totaling 12 episodes. Its opening theme is "Soredemo Boku wa Ikiteiru" (I'm Still Alive) by NormCore. The series is available on Crunchyroll. Dong Yi directed and wrote the series, Tang Yunkang produced it, and Manels Favre and Max Huang composed the music. Liang Yuan handled character design, and Zhao Xie served as animation director.
- type
- Manhua and donghua series
- author
- Li Xiaonan
- publisher
- Tencent
- premiere_year
- 2017
- episodes
- 12
- network
- Tokyo MX
- streaming
- Crunchyroll
Lore & Background
Evil or Live is a Chinese manhua published by Tencent, authored and illustrated by Li Xiaonan. Its plot follows young men and women experiencing 'net addiction,' a condition manifesting as negative emotions that cause them to withdraw further into the Internet and electronic devices. The story centers on 17-year-old Hibiki, who has been involuntarily enrolled in a rehabilitation facility called the Elite Reeducation Academy, which is little more than a strict prison for Hibiki and others like him.
The donghua adaptation premiered in 2017 and aired on Tokyo MX from October 10, 2017, to January 2, 2018, totaling 12 episodes. The opening theme is 'Soredemo Boku wa Ikiteiru' (lit. 'I'm Still Alive') by NormCore. The series was directed and written by Dong Yi, produced by Tang Yunkang, with music composed by Manels Favre and Max Huang. Liang Yuan served as character designer, and Zhao Xie was the animation director.
Key characters include Hibiki (voiced by Shinichiro Ueda), Shin (voiced by Koki Uchiyama), and Shiori (voiced by Chika Anzai), who is Hibiki's love interest. The series is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Reader's Guide
Evil or Live holds significance as a Chinese manhua and its donghua adaptation that addresses the contemporary issue of net addiction, framing it as a societal problem requiring extreme intervention. The work critiques the harshness of rehabilitation methods by depicting the Elite Reeducation Academy as a prison-like environment. Its broadcast on Tokyo MX and availability on Crunchyroll indicate cross-cultural reach, bringing a Chinese-produced story to international audiences. The series' legacy lies in its exploration of digital-age anxieties and the tension between individual freedom and institutional control. While not widely known in mainstream anime circles, it represents a niche but relevant commentary on technology's impact on youth, preserved through streaming platforms and reference databases.
Did You Know?
- The manhua is published by Tencent and authored and illustrated by Li Xiaonan.
- The donghua adaptation premiered in 2017 and aired on Tokyo MX.
- The opening theme is 'Soredemo Boku wa Ikiteiru' by NormCore.
- Shiori is Hibiki's love interest, voiced by Chika Anzai.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Evil or Live?
Evil or Live is a Chinese manhua created by Li Xiaonan and published through Tencent, later adapted into a 12-episode donghua that premiered in 2017. The series explores the psychological toll of compulsive internet and device use on teenagers.
What is the main premise of Evil or Live?
The story follows a group of young people diagnosed with 'net addiction,' a condition that amplifies their negative emotions and traps them in a cycle of screen dependency. Much of the narrative takes place inside the Elite Reeducation Academy, a rehabilitation center that functions essentially as a strict prison for its teenage inmates.
Who is the protagonist of Evil or Live?
Hibiki, a 17-year-old, is the central character who gets sent to the Elite Reeducation Academy after being labeled as net-addicted. He shares the facility with other residents such as Shin and Shiori, all of whom struggle under the academy's rigid and oppressive system.
How long is the Evil or Live donghua?
The animated adaptation runs for 12 episodes and first aired in 2017 on Tokyo MX. It adapts the full arc of Li Xiaonan's original manhua into a single season.
Who wrote and drew the original Evil or Live manhua?
Li Xiaonan is the sole creator, handling both the writing and the artwork for the series. The manhua is published under Tencent's platform, which also oversaw the 2017 donghua adaptation.
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