Monkey Movies Cartoon
Jomega Gibson
Throughout the years, monkeys have always held a certain charm that has been captured in books, TV shows, animated movies, and video games. Considering character depth, uniqueness, and their pop culture impact, this list celebrates the most beloved monkey characters, as chosen by fans like you. Have they made us laugh with their mischief? Have they tugged our heart strings with their courage? And most importantly, have they truly felt like more than just characters, but genuine personalities of their own?
Some monkeys have become iconic characters due to their distinct traits, like Curious George's playful curiosity, Disney's mischievous Abu in Aladdin, or King Kong's strength and towering might. Then there are those that have shown remarkable intelligence, like Planet of the Apes' Caesar, or the Kipling's Bandar-log from the Jungle Book. Even in video games, the likes of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong have left a significant impact. Each of these characters spark different emotions and thoughts, offering much more than just their animalistic attributes. Other names of famous monkeys include AiAi from the Super Monkey Ball games and Marcel, Ross Gellar's pet from the sitcom Friends.
So why do some monkeys stand out more than others? It's the personality and extra dimensions given to them that allow them to swing above the rest. From cartoons to anime, each monkey, with their unique qualities, have found their way not just into our homes, but into our hearts. Show your love for these primate pals by voting for your favorite monkey characters.
Curious George is a lovable and mischievous monkey who always finds himself in exciting adventures. From the beloved children's books, George's curiosity leads him into all sorts of trouble, but his kind heart and determination always help him find a way out. Fans of Curious George can't help but be captivated by his infectious spirit and the joy he brings to every page.
Rafiki, the wise mandrill from The Lion King, is known for his eccentricity and spiritual guidance. With his colorful appearance and mystical aura, Rafiki adds a touch of magic to the story. Fans are drawn to his wisdom and unique perspective on life, making him a memorable character in this timeless Disney classic.
Abu, the loyal sidekick from Disney's Aladdin, is a small monkey with a big personality. Despite his size, Abu proves time and again that he is brave and resourceful. Whether it's stealing apples or helping Aladdin on daring escapades, Abu's quick thinking and playful nature make him an endearing character that fans can't help but root for.
Boots, Dora the Explorer's trusty companion, is an adorable monkey who accompanies her on her educational quests. Boots' enthusiasm and willingness to help make him an invaluable friend to Dora and a beloved character among young viewers. Fans of Boots appreciate his loyalty and constant encouragement as they join him on their own imaginative journeys.
Diddy Kong, the energetic partner of Donkey Kong in the popular video game franchise, brings excitement and fun to every level. With his agility and love for adventure, Diddy Kong quickly became a fan favorite among gamers. His cheerful personality and knack for finding hidden treasures make him an essential part of the Donkey Kong universe.
Master Monkey, the agile member of the Furious Five in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, brings humor and charm to every scene. With his flexibility and love for martial arts, Master Monkey quickly became a fan favorite among viewers. His playful personality and knack for using his tail as a weapon make him an essential part of the Kung Fu Panda universe.
In this particularly exciting time for animation, when movies like the Spider-Verse series, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and TMNT: Mutant Mayhem seem to herald a new wave of Hollywood studio creativity, it is much more noticeable when an animated film is sub-par. Critics have a history of sitting through underwhelming family fare and shrugging, noting that kids will probably be entertained by the whooshing colors. I am not inclined to grade on that curve, and Netflix's The Monkey King, a new movie based on the enduring character from Chinese literature, doesn't clear the bar. Visual creativity and humor are present in flashes, but whatever there is to recommend it is weighed down by a poor script that never finds the story's dramatic center. Once it loses its way, about 15 minutes into the runtime, it never really hooks us again.
Directed by Anthony Stacchi and set in China during a time in which people shared the world with mythological beings, The Monkey King begins as the titular character (Jimmy O. Yang) is mysteriously born from a rock on top of a mountain. In a universe that thrives on cosmic order, overseen by the Immortals in Heaven, the little monkey is right away a sign of trouble, and the Jade Emperor (Hoon Lee) wishes to do away with him. But Buddha (BD Wong), who stands above all things, intervenes - the creature is powerful, he says, and has a great destiny ahead of him. After facing rejection from a troop of monkeys instills in him a need to prove himself, that destiny sets him on the path to becoming one of the most fearsome warriors on Earth, in hopes of winning a place among the Immortal Ones.
Just trying to synopsize this film illustrates its issues. The Monkey King's scope is initially simple, to its benefit. The young monkey, not yet able to speak, wants only to feel loved and accepted by the other monkeys living in the forest beneath his mountain. They reject him and his rebellious ways, which attracted unwanted attention from the Demon of Havoc (Andrew Kishino) and got a fellow young monkey killed. He trains alone to defeat this threat and earn his place among them; after stealing a sentient, all-powerful weapon named Stick (Nan Li), he succeeds, saving another child in the process. But while the other monkeys crown him the Monkey King, the troop's Elder (James Sie), who had tried to teach him about his smallness in the grand scheme of things, still sees selfishness driving his actions. The Elder's attempts to cut the protagonist down to size only plant the seeds of ambition to seek greater company, and ascend to the highest ranks of Heaven.
This all occurs in the first 15 minutes, and in that time, the Monkey King's core motivation is clear. The rest of the film only pays lip-service to that emotional thread. The Monkey King is a mighty, arrogant creature, whose primary modes of engagement seem to be mockery and battle. These traits are meant to be understood by us as armor against further rejection, but he shows no real desire to form a genuine connection with anyone - nor does the storytelling care to give him the opportunity. His quests progress, leading him to grander designs and greater foes, but his feelings remain largely untested, and therefore static. Lin (Jolie Haong-Rappaport), a young girl who fights to become his assistant, at some point accuses him of not letting anyone love him. I struggled to recall a time in the movie when someone actually tried.
Plot-wise, The Monkey King covers a lot of ground; the title character and Lin seem to pursue a new goal every few minutes. But without connecting what he does back to who he is, how are we supposed to care? This lack of dramatic focus is evident everywhere. Lin's feelings of loyalty to the Monkey King feel forced, compromising what should be compelling about her arc. The film's stance on whether his rebelliousness should be admired or punished is muddled. The movie's main villain, supposedly, is the Dragon King (Bowen Yang), who possessed Stick before the Monkey King stole it. He is desperate to steal it back and enact his master plan to flood the surface world and turn it all into his undersea kingdom - a conflict that has no connection to the Monkey King's goals. That storyline is more of an excuse for a blow-out fight than any culmination of the protagonist's journey.
Even the smallest pebble can make a big ripple. Don't underestimate people. Messages young children hear can stay with them into adulthood. It's important to find your place and your people in this world. Help others and accept help from others. Power can make people crazy. You only find your way when you have peace in your heart.
The Monkey King wants to save others from an evil demon. When he's treated poorly and ostracized, he takes a more egotistical path and strives for power for himself. It takes another lonely soul with misguided motives, Lin, to help him learn empathy and compassion -- and she learns the same herself. Other immortals are power-hungry.
The film is based on a classic Chinese tale and is set in China, as well as in other worlds. The Buddha is an omniscient and all-powerful being in the film. Most of the voice cast is Asian American. Jimmy Yang was born in Hong Kong.
Animated fantasy violence involves potentially scary concepts like hell, ghosts, death, demons, social isolation, and physical and emotional threats to kids. Baby monkeys are stolen by a demon, and one is seen suspended in a cage over a vat of boiling water. Animated creatures, including humans and human children, are subjected to fights, falls, near-death experiences, potential drownings, electrifications, kung fu-style battles, pole fights, poisonings, avalanches, fire, drought, and more.
Parents need to know that The Monkey King, based on a Chinese folk tale, is an animated film with significant fantasy violence and characters misbehaving and taunting each other with insults. Ultimately, the characters learn empathy and compassion for others. But on their path, they encounter potentially scary scenarios and concepts like hell, ghosts, death, demons, social isolation, and physical and emotional threats to children. Baby monkeys are stolen by a demon, and one is seen suspended in a cage over a vat of boiling water. Animated creatures, including humans and human kids, are subjected to fights, falls, near-death experiences, potential drownings, electrifications, kung fu-style battles, pole fights, poisonings, avalanches, fire, drought, and more. Language includes "hell" and insults like "wuss," "useless," "fool," "selfish," "scrawny," "loser," "dimwit," "old geezer" and "freak." A character jokes about getting "hammered" at a future party. Characters make threats and tell each other to shut up in various ways. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
c80f0f1006