"Journey to the West" is a joint investment and production by CCTV Animation Department and China International Television Corporation's Torch Animation Branch. It was a massive undertaking, taking six years to complete. Throughout the entire production process, over 2,000 animation and computer technology professionals dedicated their efforts. They drew nearly one million animation cels, designed 20,000 backgrounds, and created more than 500 character designs. Each episode is approximately 22 minutes long, with a total of 52 episodes spanning 1,114 minutes. Starting from modern aesthetic demands, the production team made deletions and modifications to certain parts of the original plot, allowing this animated series to preserve the essence of the classical literary masterpiece while also reflecting a distinct contemporary style. The animated series has its own distinctive characteristics in the design of some main characters. Sun Wukong not only retains the strengths of the original work but also possesses a more childlike, innocent temperament. The slight modifications to the plot also largely align with the story's development and the characters' motivations. For example, in the episode about capturing Sha Wujing at the Flowing Sands River, a scene was added where Sha Wujing snatches Zhu Bajie's small bundle, which contains a love letter written to Miss Gao of Gao Village. This not only lets Sha Wujing realize that they are the monks from the East he has been waiting for, who are journeying to the Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures, adding a comedic effect to his subsequent battle with Zhu Bajie, but also effectively reflects Zhu Bajie's inescapably worldly emotions—a truly brilliant touch. The animated series also does not portray Tang Sanzang as a weakling who only gets captured and waits for demons to manipulate him. During the struggle with the Yellow Wind Monster, Tang Sanzang even cooperates with Sun Wukong, tricking the Yellow Wind Monster into revealing that the Lingji Bodhisattva can subdue his monstrous wind.