MIPCOM: ‘Journey to the West – The Lost Five Hundred Years’ First Look Revealed by Utopai & Huace

Journey to the West: The Lost Five Hundred Years is an AI-animated TV series about the origins of Sun Wukong before he becomes the protector of a monk he has never met. Huace Film & TV is producing th

Why does Sun Wukong later become the guardian of a monk he has never once met? *Journey to the West: The Lost Five Hundred Years* centers on this question, reimagining the 500 years Sun Wukong spends trapped beneath the mountain and his coming-of-age story as an animated series. It takes as its starting point the period before the pilgrimage in the Chinese classic 《Journey to the West》 begins.

Turning the Legend’s Missing Years into a Series

According to the official introduction, the work is a cinematic TV series focused on Sun Wukong’s early development. The announcement materials describe him as a rebellious trickster, warrior, and immortal being, and state that the series explores the origins of his connection with the monk Chen Xuanzang. Rather than focusing on the outcome of the familiar journey, the story is designed around the failures and changes that lead to the relationship being formed.

Division of Roles in Production and Distribution

Huace Film & TV and Utopai Studios are co-producing the project, with Huace handling the animation production using Utopai’s AI storytelling system, PAI. Utopai holds the distribution rights outside China. The first season was planned for broadcast, streaming, and digital distribution, with a theatrical expansion also planned later.

A Feature-Length Narrative Built as AI Animation

The project’s defining feature is its production method: fully AI-generated animation. Utopai’s project page classifies it as a mythological action title and lists Haidong Ren as the director. The same page indicates that a pilot will be released in 2026, but does not provide an exact release date or the names of individual services.

Source: Utopai Studios project page · Utopai Studios announcement