Xi Xing Ji: Anying Mo Cheng

Xi Xing Ji: Anying Mo Cheng, known in English as The Westward: Dark Soul, is a feature-length animated film that serves as a spin-off to the popular Chinese manhua series The Westward. Produced by BYMENT, the film was created to expand upon the darker, more visceral elements of the franchise's established fantasy world. It focuses on the character of Tang Sanzang, exploring his internal struggles and the heavy consequences of his quest, providing a somber, cinematic departure from the more episodic tone of the original series.

The animation design was crafted to emphasize a gritty, high-contrast aesthetic that reflects the film's title, which translates to 'Shadow-Moving City.' BYMENT utilized advanced 3D character modeling and motion capture to ensure that the martial arts sequences felt grounded and impactful. Upon release, the film was generally well-received by fans of the franchise who appreciated the technical proficiency of the animation and the willingness of the studio to explore a more mature, atmospheric narrative trajectory for the well-known mythological figures.