The paddy field ecosystem represents a significant anthropogenic source of methane and nitrous oxide emissions. The low-carbon transition of rice production system is of great significance for China to achieve its carbon neutrality goal. Since the 13^th Five-Year Plan period, the rice-animal co-culture system, as a typical ecological circular agriculture model, has been developing rapidly. Diversified production types such as rice-duck, rice-fish, rice-crayfish, rice-frog, and rice-crab have emerged, playing an important role in ensuring food security, increasing farmers' income, and promoting rural revitalization in China. In recent years, extensive studies have been carried out investigating the impact of the rice-animal co-culture system on greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields. However, there is still no unified conclusion on whether this model promotes or inhibits greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, there is a wide range of differences in emissions under different co-cultivation types. This paper provided a comprehensive review of the current research progress on rice-animal co-culture, focusing on the mechanism of greenhouse gas emission mitigation, emission reduction performance, influencing factors and carbon footprint assessment. This paper also summarized the scientific and technical problems that urgently need to be solved and outlines future research directions, aiming to offer scientific support for advancing green, low-carbon, and high-quality agricultural development in China.