Black Myth: Wukong and Chinese Audiovisual Culture’s Journey to the West

Abstract This study examines how fan-created translational remixes contribute to the global dissemination of Chinese audiovisual culture. The research explores how international audiences engage with Black Myth: Wukong through fan videos, particularly on YouTube, where content creators integrate elements from the 1986 Journey to the West television series to contextualize the game’s embedded cultural references. By reconfiguring audiovisual materials, fans act as cultural mediators, bridging linguistic and interpretative gaps for non-Chinese players. The study analyzes four prominent translational remix videos through qualitative video analysis and a quantitative examination of viewer comments. The findings reveal that these remixes extend the game’s narrative and facilitate a broader transcultural discourse, deepening global audiences’ understanding of Chinese storytelling traditions. Moreover, viewer comment sections serve as dynamic spaces for cultural negotiation, where audiences engage in discussions that expand on the content of the remix, correct misinformation, share historical and production-related insights, and exchange personal experiences, thereby shaping the reception and circulation of wider Chinese audiovisual culture. This research argues that fandom, in this context, is not bound by nationality or ethnicity but is shaped by shared affective and intellectual engagement. In this light, it outlines implications for Chinese producers and suggestions for future research.