Link Click
Chinese donghua about time travel through photographs.
Link Click (Chinese: 时光代理人; pinyin: Shíguāng Dàilǐrén, lit. 'Time Agents') is a Chinese donghua web series. Li Haoling wrote and directed it, with production by Studio LAN and assistance from Haoliners Animation League. The story centers on Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, who operate Moment of Time Photo Studio. They help clients overcome regrets by using a photo to send Cheng Xiaoshi back in time, where he possesses the photographer and absorbs their memories and emotions. Lu Guang can track events in time and guides Cheng Xiaoshi, who has only one chance and twelve hours to find what the client needs without altering the past.
The first season aired from April 30, 2021, to July 9, 2021, on Bilibili and Funimation, totaling twelve episodes plus a special episode titled 5.5. A second season ran from July 14, 2023, to September 22, 2023, on Bilibili. Several chibi specials were also released. A prequel season called Bridon Arc aired from December 27, 2024, to January 31, 2025, and won awards including the New York International Film Awards and Lisbon Animated Film Festival. A third season premiered on August 14, 2026.
Main characters include Cheng Xiaoshi (voiced by Su Shangqing in Mandarin, Alejandro Saab in English), the photo studio owner who can time travel by entering photos and possessing the photographer. Lu Guang (voiced by Yang Tianxiang in Mandarin, Zeno Robinson in English) is his partner, able to retrace a photo’s area within twelve hours and communicate telepathically with Cheng Xiaoshi during his travels. Recurring characters include Qiao Ling (voiced by Li Shimeng, Suzie Yeung), Xiaoshi’s childhood friend and landlady who brings clients; police captain Xiao Li (voiced by Tute Hameng, Christopher Sabat); lawyer Qian Jin (voiced by Wei Chao, Aaron Campbell); Liu Jing (voiced by Lin Qiang, Anthony Bowling), CEO of Quede Games; his son Liu Min (voiced by Sun Lulu, Daman Mills), a gold-haired serial killer and influencer; Emma/Wu Lihua (voiced by Zhao Yitong, Xanthe Huynh), a former secretary and client; police partner Chen Bin (voiced by Xing Chao, Howard Wang); school friends Xu Shanshan and Dong Yi; clients Yu Xia, Lin Zhen, and Chen Xiao (voiced by Waiwai); Liu Lei; Lu Hongbin; and Doudou, a kidnapped boy.
The first season’s opening theme is "Dive Back in Time" by Jaws, with ending theme "OverThink" by Fanka. Japanese dub versions used alternativ
- type
- Donghua web series
- creator
- Li Haoling
- production_company
- Studio LAN, Haoliners Animation League
- first_aired
- April 30, 2021
- number_of_seasons
- 3 (plus a prequel season and specials)
- language
- Mandarin Chinese
- genre
- Time travel, drama, mystery
Lore & Background
The series premiered its first season on Bilibili and Funimation from April 30, 2021, to July 9, 2021, consisting of 12 episodes including a special episode named 5.5. A second season aired from July 14, 2023, to September 22, 2023, on Bilibili. Several chibi specials were also released. A prequel season titled Bridon Arc aired from December 27, 2024, to January 31, 2025, and a third season premiered on August 14, 2026.
The story centers on Cheng Xiaoshi, who can travel back in time by entering a photograph and possessing the photographer, absorbing their memories and emotions. Lu Guang can retrace events within 12 hours after a photo is taken and communicates telepathically with Cheng Xiaoshi during his travels. They work under the constraints of a single 12-hour time limit per photo and must not alter past events. Recurring characters include Qiao Ling, the landlady and childhood friend who provides clients; police captain Xiao Li; and others involved in cases such as the murder of Liu Min.
Reader's Guide
Link Click gained recognition for its unique premise of time travel through photographs and its ability to build tension through animation and music. The Bridon Arc won awards including the New York International Film Awards and the Lisbon Animated Film Festival. The series expanded into other media: an audio drama adaptation was released on Mao Er FM starting November 10, 2022; a live-action drama adaptation was announced on June 17, 2023, starring Jiang Long and Bi Wenjun; a Japanese live-action adaptation co-produced by Fuji TV, Bilibili, and Tokai TV aired from April 11 to June 13, 2026; and a stage musical adaptation premiered on November 10, 2023. The first season's English dub premiered on Crunchyroll on August 8, 2022. The series is noted for its emotional depth and innovative storytelling within the donghua medium.
Did You Know?
- The opening theme for season 1 is 'Dive Back in Time' by Jaws, and the ending theme is 'OverThink' by Fanka.
- The season 2 opening theme 'Vortex' contains reversed lyrics at the request of writer/director Li Haoling to incorporate the theme of reversing time.
- A live-action drama adaptation was announced on June 17, 2023, and can be found on Bilibili or YouTube.
- The Bridon Arc prequel season won awards including the New York International Film Awards and the Lisbon Animated Film Festival.
More in Chinese animated television series 1-24
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