An animated film, Xi You Ji, or Journey to the West has led the domestic animation industry in production fees, with a budget of 70 million yuan or nearly US$8 million.

Adapted from the classic mythological novel, authored by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century, this lively fantasy relates the amazing adventures of the monk Xuanzang as he travels west in search of Buddhist sutras with his three disciples, the impertinent and capable Monkey King, greedy Bajie the Pig, and Friar Sand.

In the animation film, the image of the Monkey King is more like the face of a handsome young man in comparison to the monkey face of the old version, whereas Bajie the Pig also shakes off his clumsiness, to become more lovely.
This expensive animation film is now in its last stage of production and is expected to be released at the same time as the TV series, Journey to the West.

While it wants to dominate the domestic animation market, the animation cartoon is also eyeing the U.S. and European market.

(CRI.com June 7, 2005)