Monkey

Monkey season 2
Watch Monkey on Nippon TV
Ended
Season 2:
Ended on May 04, 1980
Watched: 0%
0 of 52 Episodes
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Why Watch
"A chaotic, cloud-riding journey where magical staff fights meet profound spiritual lessons in a brilliantly campy fantasy world."
Tone: Whimsical, adventurous, philosophical, and campy.
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Series Deep Dive:

Originally titled Saiyūki, this 1978 Nippon TV production redefined the martial arts genre for international audiences. Based on the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, the series became a cult phenomenon across the UK and Australia due to its quirky English dubbing and imaginative practical effects. The show followed Monkey, a deity born from stone, alongside his companions Sandy, Pigsy, and the monk Tripitaka. Its legacy lies in the perfect marriage of Buddhist philosophy and high-energy action, influencing countless creators in the realm of fantasy and animation. By blending slapstick humor with mythological depth, it remains a landmark achievement in global television history, proving that localized storytelling could bridge vast cultural gaps through sheer creativity.

Analysis Refined:March 2026
Scheduled next refinement: 415 days
Season: 2
Watched? # Air Date Episode Name
E1 Nov 11, 1979 再出発 天竺への道
E2 Nov 18, 1979 恐怖！猿のワクチン
E3 Nov 25, 1979 賭博妖怪 ミイラ取りがミイラ
E4 Dec 02, 1979 落ちこぼれの恐怖 分数妖怪
E5 Dec 09, 1979 妖異 太陽が二つの国
E6 Dec 16, 1979 オカルト！悪霊の棲む館
E7 Dec 23, 1979 夢の妖怪 幽鬼将軍
E8 Dec 30, 1979 女だらけの化け猫騒動
E9 Jan 07, 1980 地獄極楽宙ぶらりん
E10 Jan 13, 1980 河童の国の悟浄の恋
E11 Jan 20, 1980 毒キノコ 集団記憶喪失
E12 Jan 27, 1980 術競べ 消えた悟空
E13 Feb 03, 1980 人喰い妖怪 若返りの泉
E14 Feb 10, 1980 鬼女妖怪 狙われた新婚夫婦
E15 Feb 17, 1980 黄金妖怪 婿どの買います
E16 Feb 24, 1980 イカレた亭主の弟子入り志願
E17 Mar 02, 1980 泣くな八戒！瞳の中の愛
E18 Mar 09, 1980 悟空叛乱 一人ぼっちの妖怪
E19 Mar 16, 1980 偽西遊記 危機一髪
E20 Mar 28, 1980 燃えた屏風の七福神
E21 Mar 30, 1980 異説 鬼子母神由来記
E22 Apr 06, 1980 妖鬼の山 お転婆姫の恋
E23 Apr 13, 1980 妖術 石仏になった三蔵一行
E24 Apr 20, 1980 青狼魔王 満月への遠吠え
E25 Apr 27, 1980 虎竜魔王 悟空の慕情
E26 May 04, 1980 母上は妖怪か？再び天竺へ
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Series Legacy & Historical Archive

Franchise Status: The original series remains a standalone classic, though it inspired the 2018 Netflix reimagining titled The New Legends of Monkey.

Monkey remains a definitive pillar of cult fantasy television, having concluded its influential run on NTV. Beyond its martial arts choreography and supernatural tropes, the series introduced Western audiences to the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West through a unique lens of Japanese production and iconic English dubbing. Its enduring legacy is rooted in the charismatic performance of Masaaki Sakai and the philosophical undercurrents that balanced the show's more absurdist comedic elements.

The program persists as a rewatch staple because it captures a specific era of imaginative storytelling that relied on practical effects and high-concept morality tales. Its cultural DNA can be seen in everything from Dragon Ball to modern high-fantasy adventures, maintaining a nostalgic grip on viewers who value its blend of spirituality and kinetic action. For many, the show represents a gateway into Eastern mythology, serving as a timeless example of how cross-cultural adaptation can result in a global phenomenon.

Oracle Insights Refined:March 2026
Scheduled next refinement: 539 days

If you liked Monkey:

Technical Details
Network: Nippon TV
Seasons: 2
Years: 1978 - 1980
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Martial Arts
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Frequently Asked Questions

The series was not cancelled due to low popularity but rather concluded after adapting the major arcs of the sixteenth-century novel Journey to the West. By the end of the second season, the production had reached a natural narrative stopping point for the characters' pilgrimage. Additionally, the increasing production costs and the lead actors' desires to pursue other projects contributed to the decision to end the show.

There are two total seasons of the original Monkey series, which aired between 1978 and 1980. The first season consists of 26 episodes, and the second season also contains 26 episodes, bringing the total count to 52. While all episodes aired in Japan, only 39 were originally dubbed into English by the BBC during the initial run.

There are currently no credible rumors or official plans for a direct revival featuring the original 1978 cast. However, the franchise was reimagined in 2018 as a high-budget reboot titled The New Legends of Monkey, which was produced by See-Saw Films and released on Netflix. This modern adaptation serves as a spiritual successor rather than a direct continuation of the classic cult series.

The original 1978 series did not produce any direct live-action spin-offs featuring the same cast or continuity. However, the show's massive success inspired a 1994 remake in Japan titled New Monkey, though it failed to achieve the same cult status as its predecessor. The legacy of the show primarily lives on through various international adaptations of the source material rather than direct narrative spin-offs.

The English dub produced by the BBC was originally incomplete, leaving 13 episodes of the second season unreleased in English-speaking territories for decades. These missing episodes were eventually dubbed by Fabulous Films in 2004 using different voice actors to provide a complete set for DVD releases. Fans can now watch the entire 52-episode run with English audio across various home media collections.
FAQ Refined:March 2026
Scheduled next refinement: 434 days