AI-generated videos and dramas have become a prominent feature of the Chinese entertainment scene, evolving from low-budget productions like cat-like dramas to more sophisticated works that are virtually indistinguishable from real-life animation.

This week, the industry entered a new phase with the premiere of a fully AI-generated adaptation of the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West" on Hunan Satellite Channel, one of China's leading state-owned channels, known for producing successful entertainment programs and the Mango TV platform.

The series consists of 30 episodes, each approximately 40 minutes long, and the transition from commissioning to broadcast took only three months. Production is still ongoing, with the director explaining to local media that future episodes will be continuously improved based on viewer feedback.

The impact of the experiment wasn't limited to the production sector; it extended to the financial markets. Shares of Mango Excellent Media, the listed subsidiary of the broadcasting corporation, surged by the maximum daily limit of 20% twice during the week before later paring back their gains.

The increase added more than 13 billion yuan (approximately $1.9 billion) to the company's market capitalization, indicating renewed investor interest in the media and entertainment sector.

Chinese producers believe that the entry of AI-produced dramas into the mainstream reflects growing support for this type of content, at a time when the use of technology in content creation is accelerating, according to the South China Morning Post.