Link Click is a Chinese animated series created and chiefly directed by Li Haoling, produced by Studio LAN and Haoliners, and first released in 2021; it blends healing drama, fantasy, and mystery around two young men who use photographs to enter the past.
Link Click began as an earlier project concept titled Purification Rules (DEVIL GAME), announced at Bilibili’s 2018 Chinese animation presentation.
The series premiered on April 30, 2021, and its first season ran until July 9, 2021, for 11 main episodes plus a special episode.
A spin-off short series later aired from October 10, 2021, to March 10, 2023.
Season 2 began on July 14, 2023, and ended on September 22, 2023.
The Yingdu Arc premiered on December 27, 2024, and concluded on January 31, 2025.
A third season has been announced for 2026.
A Japanese-dubbed version was also announced after the original release.
The story follows Xiaoshi Cheng and Guang Lu, partners who run the Time Photo Studio.
Behind the shop’s ordinary front, they secretly take on unusual commissions.
Using supernatural powers connected to photographs, they can enter moments from the past and relive events through the people captured in an image.
Their missions are emotionally intense, morally risky, and often much more dangerous than they first appear.
What makes the series especially gripping is its mix of personal tragedy, suspense, and time-bending rules.
Even small choices can trigger painful consequences.
The series was created by Li Haoling, who also served as chief director and writer.
Original character concepts were credited to INPLICK.
Character design was handled by LAN, Huang Simeng, and Xiong Dan.
The music was composed by Tenmon and Yuma Yamaguchi.
Animation production was credited to Studio LAN and Haoliners.
The project’s producer was LAN.
Outside mainland China, distribution included companies such as Medialink in parts of Asia, Aniplex in Japan, and Funimation outside Asia.
In Hong Kong, it was also broadcast on RTHK TV 31.
Xiaoshi Cheng
Xiaoshi Cheng is voiced by Shangqing Su.
As a child, he suddenly lost his parents and later grew up with the help of Qiao Ling’s family.
He now co-runs the photo studio with Guang Lu and acts as the main “executor” during missions.
Through Guang Lu’s guidance, he learns how to use his power to enter a photograph, possess the photographer, or physically travel into the past depending on the situation.
He is energetic, impulsive, and deeply emotional.
That combination makes him both the heart of the story and one of its biggest wild cards.
Guang Lu
Guang Lu is voiced by Yang Tianxiang.
He met Xiaoshi Cheng on a basketball court and later became his business partner.
During missions, he serves as the “observer.”
He can foresee everything that happened within 12 hours after a photograph was taken and can connect his consciousness to the person entering the photo by a high-five.
Calm, precise, and intelligent, Guang Lu is the one who tries to keep events under control.
His cool-headed nature perfectly contrasts with Xiaoshi Cheng’s emotional style.
Qiao Ling
Qiao Ling is voiced by Li Shimeng.
She is the daughter of the Time Photo Studio’s landlord and grew up with Xiaoshi Cheng as his childhood friend.
Bright, dependable, and empathetic, she is often described as the studio’s “landlady.”
She also acts as the intermediary who receives and passes on clients’ commissions.
Liu Xiao
Liu Xiao is voiced by Zhao Lu.
A mysterious young man, he is the younger son of the Liu family and the younger brother of Liu Min.
He first met Li Tianchen in childhood, later studied abroad, and returned home after the Li Tianchen incident.
His reappearance ties him to some of the series’ darker developments.
Vein
Vein is voiced by Liu Zhaokun.
He is a major figure in the Chinese business community in Yingdu.
He controls many industries and an entertainment company, with wide influence and access to information.
Although he acts freely and unpredictably, he also has a strong personal code.
Xia Fei
Xia Fei is voiced by Jin Xian.
He is a university student in Yingdu who also works as a model.
Thanks to his striking appearance, he rises quickly in popularity.
He approaches Xiaoshi Cheng and Guang Lu for reasons that are not immediately clear.
Chris
Chris is voiced by Nie Xiying.
He is a well-known psychologist in Yingdu.
He was once a student at the language school where Cheng Weimin worked.
As a mixed-race Asian student who faced bullying and isolation, he appears to have a deep connection to a fire that occurred ten years earlier.
Season 1
Emma (Wu Lihua), voiced by Zhao Yitong, is a girl from the countryside who works as assistant to President Zhu at Quede Games.
Zhu Ye, voiced by Guo Haoran, is the financial director of Quede Games.
Yu Xia, voiced by Qian Chen, is one of the partners of Xia Lin Noodle Shop.
She is close friends with Lin Zhen and asks Xiaoshi Cheng and Guang Lu to help find the shop’s secret recipe.
Lin Zhen, voiced by Nie Xiying, is the other partner of Xia Lin Noodle Shop and Yu Xia’s close friend.
Chen Xiao, voiced by Waiwai, is a bespectacled construction engineer from Fengchuan County.
His mother died in an earthquake in May 2008.
Liu Lei, voiced by Gu Jiangshan, is the captain of Longyang No. 1 High School’s basketball team.
Liu Meng, voiced by Zhao Shuang, is Chen Xiao’s first love and the younger sister of Lu Hongbin.
Lu Hongbin, voiced by Guan Shuai, is the captain of the Electrical Machinery Factory School basketball team and Liu Meng’s older brother.
Doudou, voiced by Zaizai, is the son of a family that runs a milk tea shop.
Mei Piyan, voiced by Ma Cheng, kidnaps Doudou but becomes frightened when Xiaoshi Cheng, while possessing Doudou, confronts her.
She is later arrested by the police.
Season 2
Qian Jin, voiced by Wei Chao, is the Liu family’s personal lawyer.
Well-dressed and refined, he was once a police officer in the same force as Xiao Li.
Because of various circumstances, he left the police and later adopted the Li twins.
He is also closely tied to the death of his wife.
Li Tianchen, voiced by Jinli, is a youthful-looking boy with a special ability.
After losing both parents to domestic violence, he and his twin sister depended only on each other.
He appears to have formed some kind of alliance with Qian Jin and even disguises himself as Li Tianxi to deceive others.
His true motives remain hidden in shadow.
Li Tianxi, voiced by Chengli, is Li Tianchen’s twin sister.
Unable to speak, she is a tragic figure whose life and innocence were shattered by her father’s abuse.
Season 1 consists of 11 main episodes and 1 special episode.
Its episode titles are:
Episode 1: EMMA.
Episode 2: Secret Recipe.
Episode 3: Only Allowed to Lose, Not to Win.
Episode 4: Confession.
Episode 5: Farewell.
Episode 5.5: Special Episode: Martial Arts Marriage Contest.
Episode 6: Searching for the Child.
Episode 7: Aunt Mei.
Episode 8: The Missed Signal.
Episode 9: The Evil Consequence of Good Intentions.
Episode 10: Trap.
Episode 11: The One Who Carries Light.
The short spin-off Daily Life at Time Photo Studio has 18 episodes.
Its titles include stories about food delivery, livestream Q&A sessions, martial arts practice, birthdays, Halloween, and unexpected visitors.
The shorts lean more comedic and slice-of-life than the main series.
They give the trio room to be charming and chaotic without the constant emotional damage.
Season 2 has 12 episodes.
Its episode titles are:
Episode 1: Fall.
Episode 2: Night Raid.
Episode 3: Two Funerals.
Episode 4: The Women in the Photograph.
Episode 5: The Last Supper.
Episode 6: Li Tianxi.
Episode 7: Street Battle.
Episode 8: Hostage.
Episode 9: Three Stories.
Episode 10: Improvised Performance.
Episode 11: Confrontation.
Episode 12: Can’t Be Without Big Brother.
The Yingdu Arc has 6 episodes.
Its episode titles are:
Episode 1: And So Time Begins to Flow Again.
Episode 2: Prelude.
Episode 3: They.
Episode 4: None Survive.
Episode 5: Reunion.
Episode 6: Maze.
The first soundtrack album, Link Click Original Soundtrack, was released on April 17, 2021.
Its credited artists include White Shark JAWS, Fanka, and Yousa Lingyuan.
Notable songs include “Dive Back In Time”, the opening theme.
The ending theme is “Over Think.”
Another insert song is “Related to You.”
Instrumental versions of the songs were also included on the album.
A later soundtrack release, Surprising Click, was issued on June 28, 2024.
Artists credited on it include Fanka, Lei Yuxin, AK Liu Zhang, Nadira, and cast performers for several character songs.
Its tracks include “Now & Forever,” “BREAK!,” “Surprising Click,” “Judgment Train,” and “Burning Palace.”
This later music package reflects the series’ stylish, modern, and emotionally charged identity.
In mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, the series streamed online at its original platform.
In Taiwan, the full series was also made available through Chunghwa Telecom MOD.
It was additionally released on YouTube through the Ani-Mi Animation channel in several Asian regions.
These releases helped the series build a sizable international following.
A Japanese live-action television adaptation based on the franchise was announced for broadcast in April 2026 on Tokai TV and the Fuji Network.
It stars Taiki Sato and Kanata Hongo as dual leads.
The adaptation centers on the same photo-based time-travel concept that made the animated version stand out.
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