AI Cuts Production Costs for New "Sequel to Journey to the West" Series

AI tools are reshaping Chinese TV, letting a new myth‑series be made for a fraction of the usual cost.

After its Aug. 31 debut on Mango TV, the series has already logged 280 million views, according to Sina.

The show is planned as 30 episodes, each about 40 minutes long, and is being produced and aired on a rolling basis, meaning new episodes are released as soon as they are finished.

Director Li Dongkun told QQ that the whole series cost roughly US$4 million – about one‑tenth of the budget typical for other mythological films.

Li added that a three‑minute action scene that would normally require around $746,000 was produced for just $3,700 thanks to AI‑generated graphics.

He also said the crew numbers only about 100 people: 30 work on set design and art direction, while 50 use generative AI for video creation. A traditional approach would need roughly 2,000 staff.

These savings show how AI can dramatically lower production expenses while still drawing massive audiences, a shift that could make high‑quality series affordable for more platforms.

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