The groundbreaking AIGC (AI-Generated Content) series, ‘Post-Journey to the West’ (后西游记), continues its innovative run with the premiere of its latest installment. The first season, subtitled ‘Battle in Heaven’ (战天宫篇), began airing on October 4th across both Hunan TV and Mango TV. A special section for the series, ‘Ju Kan Hao’ (剧好看), started broadcasting the episodes from October 9th.
A New Chapter in a Classic Tale
The AIGC series ‘Post-Journey to the West’ is an adaptation of the classic fantasy novel of the same name, believed to have been written in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The first season comprises 30 episodes, each 40 minutes in length. This novel is recognized as one of the three major continuations of the iconic ‘Journey to the West’. The original story follows the ‘second generation’ of disciples who embark on a new pilgrimage due to misunderstandings surrounding the original scriptures.
The television adaptation deeply integrates the framework of the original 40-chapter novel with relevant plot points and clues from the original ‘Journey to the West’. This approach aims to construct a comprehensive narrative system for the ‘Post-Journey to the West’ saga. The story picks up 1080 years after Sun Wukong achieved sainthood. During this time, the scriptures brought back from the original journey have become incomplete and are subject to misinterpretation. This era also sees the emergence of a new little stone monkey, Sun Xiaosheng, born from the same immortal mountain that once produced the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
A Looming Crisis and a New Hero’s Journey
However, a crisis unfolds when the ‘Ten Elders’, whose names were once struck from the Book of Life and Death, mysteriously disappear during a grand ceremony. This event plunges Flower Fruit Mountain into peril, forcing the new Monkey King, Sun Xiaosheng, to mature and awaken his potential. Driven to uncover the truth behind the Book of Life and Death’s malfunction, Sun Xiaosheng journeys through trials in the underworld and the heavenly palace. Along the way, he encounters new companions such as Tang Banji, Zhu Yijie, and Shami, and together they set off on a second pilgrimage to retrieve and complete the true scriptures.
Innovative Broadcasting Model
This is not the first time ‘Post-Journey to the West’ has captivated audiences. The first season, ‘Flower Fruit Mountain’ (花果山篇), aired from August 31st on Mango TV and in the prime-time drama slot on Hunan TV. It consisted of 5 episodes (each 40 minutes long) and achieved the top viewership rating among provincial satellite TV stations for its time slot.
Notably, ‘Post-Journey to the West’ is the first series to adopt a ‘review-as-you-broadcast’ model following the release of the ’21 Articles for Radio and Television’ (广电 21 条). This innovative approach allows for simultaneous production, review, and broadcasting. Such a method significantly shortens the content creation and release cycle. It also provides the creative team with the flexibility to dynamically refine plot details based on review feedback and audience reactions, fostering a more responsive and adaptive production process.
The series showcases the potential of AIGC technology in television production, offering a fresh perspective on a beloved classic while experimenting with cutting-edge broadcasting methods.
