If you thought the AI wave was just a passing trend, think again. Remember when we originally reported on the much-talked-about full AI-generated series based on Journey to the West? Well, it’s officially here, and it’s making history.
Titled The Later Journey to the West (or Beyond Wukong), this visually polished reimagining of the Ming Dynasty classic premiered in prime time on Hunan Satellite Television and Mango TV this September. Here at RADII, we’re no strangers to the intersection of tech and culture. We’ve been tracking AI-generated content for a minute (funnily enough, especially Monkey King-related projects). But Beyond Wukong serves as a massive move for China. It’s the first-ever fully AI-generated entertainment to hit mainstream provincial satellite prime time.
Set a millennium after Sun Wukong’s legendary triumph, the synopsis follows a young stone monkey named Sun Xiaosheng and his crew on a fresh pilgrimage to redeem the cosmic order. The show breaks conventional remake formulas by offering striking, traditional Chinese painting-style visuals that blend technological innovation with traditional oriental aesthetics.
But what about the human touch? Directed by Li Dongshen, the production team behind the series insists on a human-centered creative philosophy. While AI fundamentally altered the workflow—handling visual creation and making plot iterations incredibly fluid—all core storylines, character growth, and emotional beats were exclusively polished by human screenwriters. To avoid copyright risks and preserve authenticity, the crew also adopted human dubbing over AI voice synthesis.
The premiere scored strong debut viewership but also sparked heated debate on Chinese social media. Fans are praising the digital rejuvenation of a classic IP, while critics question whether AI can capture the profound cultural connotations of classic literature. Whether you’re here for the tech or the tradition, Beyond Wukong has officially ushered AIGC into the mainstream.
Catch the full first episode of Season 1 below to see what it’s all about, and if you’re already hooked, catch the full season on Mango TV here.
Cover image via Youtube/China HunanTV
