Monkey (TV Series) Opening Song (Monkey Magic)

Release[edit]
Two 26-episode seasons ran in Japan: the first season ran from October 1978 to April 1979, and the second one from November 1979 to May 1980, with screenwriters including Mamoru Sasaki, Isao Okishima, Tetsurō Abe, Kei Tasaka, James Miki, Motomu Furuta, Hiroichi Fuse, Yū Tagami, and Fumio Ishimori.
Saiyūki was dubbed into English from 1979, with dialogue written by David Weir. The dubbed version was broadcast under the name Monkey and broadcast in the United Kingdom by the BBC, in New Zealand by TVNZ and in Australia on the ABC.
However, only 39 of the original 52 episodes were dubbed (and broadcast by the BBC): all of series 1 was, but only half of series 2 was prepared for a version in English. In 2004, the remaining episodes were dubbed by Fabulous Films Ltd by the original voice acting cast, following a successful release of the English-dubbed series on VHS and DVD; later these newly dubbed episodes were broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK.
A Spanish-dubbed version of Monkey aired in Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic in the early 1980s. While the BBC-dubbed Monkey never received a broadcast in the United States, the original Japanese-language version, Saiyūki, was shown on local Japanese language television stations in California and Hawaii in the early 1980s.

[@matty101yttam]

This show was the bane of parents at its peak. The amount of rakes,brooms and well anything with a long handle that got broken in the process of their kids fighting demons was unimaginable.

[@lonceystourguidefilms3933]

Haha so true and pure gold:)

[@spazco8669]

We were...IRRAPRESSABLE!

[@ecopennylife]

Plus fighting who was going to be Monkey when playing 😉

[@julianandrews6025]

NOt to mention the amount of time I spent trying to summons my cloud

[@debbzev]

I kicked my brother so hard, he fell thru the park Ray fire place door and broke the glass! Good Times!

[@placidrenegade]

Kids today will never know the power of Monkey Magic on a Friday teatime!

[@VCanisMajorisY]

They have Fortnite. Lucky bleeders

[@loulou7963]

I was subjected to this by my older brother. It used to scare me ! 🤣

[@Goggin68]

they have a remake but its an all white cast havent watched for that reason

[@zabaleta66]

Played Sunday late afternoon in New Zealand.....still true though.

[@hamgil]

My parents introduced me and I like it quite a bit

[@AuralVirus]

Black Myth Wukong : can finally play a childhood favourite

[@tarnetskygge]

someone should mod this song into the game 😂

[@HERITAGE12]

Can FINALLY ride that cloud ! 😂

[@AuralVirus]

@@tarnetskygge & Replace the games voice with an AI voice alike of the tv show - the games voice is a bit meh, best use the chinese version.

[@shaunsimpson9902]

My brother died recently and couldn't help watching this as we loved it when we were little. RIP my wonderful friend I miss you everyday.

[@africareigns]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I too watched this, with my brothers. I miss those happier and simpler times.

[@but_iWantedTo_speakGerman]

Covid vaccine

[@preciousdragonbaby]

Same as my one and only eldest brother passing away back in 2018 at 44 yrs young .. he introduced me to this classic & we spent many nights at dinner time watching this as kids. I miss him everyday & I watch this whenever I am missing him. Today he would of been 50 so Happy Birthday Brother 🎉❤😇

[@preciousdragonbaby]

Sorry for your loss ❤

[@adammason4554]

@@preciousdragonbaby happy bday Bro

[@ACOE]

I live in rural Japan and a local DJ slammed this theme song mid-set. The whole club cheered.

[@nightmarekid1986]

A.COE stop lying kid

[@dannyboy1779]

Buddha loves a tryer? Lol

[@iaincowell9747]

.....and then everyone clapped

[@haydenahn8776]

r/thatHappened

[@ACOE]

Uhh, yeah. It happened. Albert Einstein didn't give me $100 though.

[@-apple-4848]

1978年に放送された『西遊記』のドラマを、今から約40年前の1982年頃、7～8歳の小学生時代に、再放送で初めて知りました。 日本人の私は、『西遊記』をとても大好きで、再放送を何度も見ていました。 その後、まさか、日本のドラマの『西遊記』が、英語版『Monkey』のタイトルにて海外で放送され、イギリス、オーストラリア、ニュージーランド、香港・・・。 世界中で愛され、伝説的になっていると、最近知り、大変驚きました。 この『西遊記』のドラマ、『Monkey Magic』のオープニングソングや、『ガンダーラ』のエンディングソングが、海外の国々でとても賞賛されているのを知り、とても嬉しいです。 KZbinって、いいですよね！

[@davecoalwood9487]

We absolutely loved it as kids Friend ❤❤😅😅😅👊

[@rztrzt]

We also had it in South Africa when I was a kid, love the show!

[@Meh.247]

Ah yes... My childhood too 😬 Didn't think nothing of it at the time. It was just good effects, and comedy back then.

[@jameskid81]

words cant describe how much this programme meant to me as a kid

[@KymberleyBradshaw]

I absolutely adored this show. I could only have been between 4-6. It was the perfect blend of insanity, comedy, heartfelt moments and action. I got the DVD releases from a few years back so I could revisit it as an adult lol

[@Dazarabia522]

Same here

[@MrThomas864]

Same 👍

[@rogertau6408]

true 😭

[@MattyofWBB]

I feel exactly the same, loved this as a kid.

[@Roll_the_Bones]

This vid could get a whole new audience of Black Myth: Wukong gamers...

[@----.__]

Had no idea what Wukong was about, then I saw the magic staff and a cloud get summoned and I had to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Bought the game straight away! If someone makes a faithful Voltron game as well my life will be complete.

[@MYSTICKNIGHT23]

First time I saw monkey king was from the forbidden kingdom movie with jet li and Jackie chan

[@user-vn2oq8fp3h]

Bro this is why I got the game

[@juliethompson1786]

This was on BBC 2 every Friday teatime. Must’ve been about 1980 and I was only 7/8. Loved it. Used to kick and twirl around the living room, annoying my mum! Anyone else remember Monkey pulling the staff out of his ear or using his hair to clone himself? Loved how he used to call his magic cloud too. Brilliant stuff! Loved Pigsy especially.

[@lindsayrobertson1981]

same! this was the only show we were allowed to eat our tea in front of. oh how we loved Friday teatimes. gold.

[@dicky3340]

" Ahhhhh, Pigsy!!!!! " . Anyone in my school with big ears got that for years

[@leehewitson3085]

Yes classic times when tv licence was worth paying!

[@notanotherrick]

We had a great childhood

[@johnbaries2754]

Me too!!

[@pietropes1322]

In the UK in the 80s this show was a must watch.

[@jackiebayliss]

I'd rush home from school to watch it Lol 🤣

[@LoriCiani]

Yes, I remember that. It was a bit of a cult classic and the theme even got into the charts, if I remember correctly. 😊

[@elizabethquinn6944]

Loved this sooooo much

[@johnnydeath2]

It aired again here sometime in the early 2000s that where I caught it. :D

[@thuaners]

same in Australia 🥰🥰🥰

[@airshredder7314]

I can't believe that Masako Natsume (Tripitaka) died at only 27 of acute Leukaemia. So sad.

[@woobykal68]

I used to watch this show when I was 10 years old. I am now 55 years and still remember this tune.

[@StuartRyan-yi5ok]

Yes the tune is a time machine. When I hear it I am 10 years old again. Great memories.

[@hottskulls2878]

I used to watch this show when I was 10 and now I own the box set

[@Professor__S]

This show must be from the 70's. I watched this when I was 8 years old in 1992 and I'm 39 now.

[@erikbihari3625]

So this show was basically the kung fu panda of it's day? Man, everyone really was kung fu fighting!😂

[@vanessavanessa8654]

Yes, such great antics same age and we watched it too. Loved 🙉🐒🐵

[@christianabad9982]

Godzilla: Is literally powered by nuclear within its body. Has atomic blast that can destroy an entire city. Kong: *M O N K E M A G I C*

[@thacow7603]

Godzilla the whale gorilla

[@donhuberto5213]

the monke used the monke magic to be monke bros with the cringe lizard

[@jameswhittingham8027]

Yeah but monkeys are irrepressible.

[@jusrty3794]

I’m a Japanese and grown with original one but here I found that English voice acting is really good too, like they are actually talking as they are.

[@UTubeAngelique]

It was very special, as a UK kid, learning about this pilgrimage as a young British child… we watched this series from start to finish in the late 1970s/early 80s and it was amazing. Every kid (and parent) loved it. The comedy, the religion, the culture… it was so funny and you always knew who the bad guys/demons were! Usually, a beautiful woman whom Pigsey had his eye on!😂

[@staples4335]

​@@UTubeAngeliqueI was born in 1986 in Australia and this was on TV when I was a child lol.

[@UTubeAngelique]

@@staples4335 it’s just the best! A classic!

[@mk7073]

OMG, this takes me back to the 1980s in an instant. I think this may be the pinnacle of televisual entertainment! 🤩👍

[@thee4thdoctor]

I used to love watching this back when it premiered on the BBC in 1978....I was 10 yrs old. Hard to believe it was 40 years ago now...where did the time go?

[@richardpoynton4026]

I was just thinking the same as you. I was 9 years old. I can’t believe this was, what, 42 years ago, now! If I remember, it was on just before or after ‘Rent-a-ghost’ kzbin.info/www/bejne/npWnpmuYnqxgY7s, or maybe it was ‘Willow the wisp’ narrated by Kenneth Williams? kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4nHZ2Cthcqpask

[@robertwillis4061]

Loved watching this. Was 14yo. My dad hated it. Wouldn't even be in the same room. I thought it was something to do with WW2 as a great uncle died fighting the Japanese. Nope. I was wrong. He hated the fact that it was dubbed into English and the mouth movements didn't match.

[@Fonziedaz1]

I like your profile using Tom baker as doctor who in the TARDIS

[@nabri-nfg3262]

😭😭😭 im 21 im so scared, that time's gonna fly by

[@David-uq6yb]

I do remember this! I was 11 when this came out in ‘78. We were annoying the teachers with “Monkey Magic”. Wasn’t he trying to find the Monkey king or something? Can’t remember exactly what it was all about.

[@Daveyengland]

You know everybody commenting is at least mid 40’s 😂

[@kadeinabox1164]

Mate I'm 20 and I was brought up on this shit! It's timeless 🤙🏻

[@domwaller7391]

I am not lol I'm 43 😁

[@richardayton6862]

I'm 30 man and channel 4 had this on when I was about 10/11. Loved it

[@domburton]

Not quite but not far off...

[@ElHijoMachepa]

43 here 🙋

[@medievalist]

Loved this as a kid in New Zealand, and later lived in Japan for three and a half fantastic years. Great country, great people.

[@Cujo5]

You know the show is Chinese, yeah? Based on your comment, seems like you might think it's Japanese.

[@atmtm8431]

またいらしてください😊🇯🇵🇳🇿

[@atmtm8431]

​@@Cujo5we the japanese made this show based on famous chinese story.

[@noodles169]

I was absolutely obsessed with this show as a kid. Never missed an episode. I even had the theme music on record player. Good times

[@stevenwilkins8828]

this was the best thing on TV when I was a kid the good old days

[@CodyTheBear_]

there has been so many spin offs from this

[@kalegions799]

And then there was Danger mouse and Doctor Who lol!

[@vegn_brit5176]

@@@deckofcards87 , and StarTrek, Thunderbirds! Ah the good ol' days.

[@sf5823]

steven wilkins I got lost in that world, really appealed to my imagination. Loved big trouble in little china

[@jeffwilliams742]

steven wilkins agreed

[@DavidJohnson-dc8lu]

The fact they tried to make a new Monkey show and didn't add this song was an absolute abomination.

[@harbl99]

It's like they actively chose the 'doomed to failure' option.

[@mayormccheese6171]

The dubbing of this is just perfect. The over-the-top Chinese/Japanese accents are brilliant.

[@lowkeyconvert8971]

these don't sound like japanese accents. they don't even really sound like chinese accents either. more pseudo-oriental asian with a tinge of brit from a brit's POV. it's a story originating from china but a japanese production. i will however say that regardless, the dubbing works.

[@MackerelCat]

@@lowkeyconvert8971the accents are done by actors from hong kong.

[@lowkeyconvert8971]

@@MackerelCat nope. they're british voice-over actors. this is an originally japanese production but the british dubbed it for english-speaking audiences.

[@simonmiller61]

You are 100% correct . The exit music perfected it for me

[@Roll_the_Bones]

There was an earlier Japanese series of Chinese legends, The Water Margin, and the wonderful Miriam Margolyes, voice-acted all the female characters, she must've been very young at the time!

[@andrewmills2490]

I’m 56 years old and this still kicks ass. A very good memory of my childhood 😊😊😊😊😅😅😅

[@dannytheman103]

I'm also 56 mate. I used to absolutely love this as a kid. Friday, 6pm on BBC 2. Superb.

[@andrewmills2490]

@@dannytheman103 top quality escapism for 50 minutes and did you try summon your own cloud lol 😂 not forgetting The Water Margin as well.

[@Roll_the_Bones]

If you happen to have a GOOD computer, there's new PC game of the original folklore story, which is actually stunning. Black Myth: Wukong.

[@kazumaaoi3766]

海外で放送されていたんですね…今頃知りました。このOP懐かしくて見たかったので、とても嬉しかったです。thank you!!

[@x180286]

特にイギリスでは人気があって岸部シローがイギリス旅行したときに現地の住民から、ひょっとしてあなたは…。と声をかけられたそうです。

[@debbiecurtis4021]

This Japanese show made me study Japanese and live there twice.

[@user-yoshi86]

オーストラリアでも流れてましたよ！！ ８０年代は現地は日系企業も多かったです。

[@izzytaylor5653]

One of the greatest TV shows ever. Brings me straight back to my childhood🐵

[@izzymurati1987]

Of course it does

[@garystyles4151]

6 o’clock every Friday Harold Lloyd on after x

[@TC-xh2dg]

Hooray for Harold Lloyd

[@Jen-nh2bf]

A pair of glasses and a smile lol

[@criticalbil1]

Yeahhh. BBC 2 possibly? And I'm vaguely remembering ancient episodes of Flash Gordon too...

[@chriswayneevans]

😂 well remembered

[@loulou7963]

Omg ! Harold Lloyd ! My older brother got me into that as a wee girl 👧!

[@JT-xt8bh]

Monkey Magic on a Friday and a visit to The Chippy after,beautiful memories 🙏

[@thekarmafarmer608]

Haha, you said it. Brilliant, exciting and simple times

[@mrfreeseat]

And the next school morning felt a light year away 😊

[@danielwatson3273]

We were all out swinging sticks around and doing impressions a half hour after this finished, I remember thinking this was the best thing I had ever seen, loved it.

[@bingonamo7520]

Watched it in the 80's here in NZ. Loved the special effects and crazy over the top acting. Such an original show. All of the episodes are on Netflix now, in some countries anyway.

[@cheapy2006]

Myself and my brother watched this every week on BBC in the '80s. As soon as it was over, we would kick the shit out of each other, complete with sound effects, for a further 15 mins. The sisters thought there was something wrong with us.

[@shabnam786.]

😂

[@millymolly7362]

My brothers did that too :)

[@brianchar-bow3273]

GODIEGO(JPN) that composed this song was the most famous band in the late 70s Japan, with two hit singles cut from their third album “MAGIC MONKEY” becoming Japan hits and in TV shows and commercial songs that everyone lived in Japan knew them. Looking back now, their third album was the best and most fulfilling album of their all lifetime works. They debuted in Japan in 1976, when they were all in their early 20s. GODIEGO(JPN) had two keyboardists who could compose, 　and since their debut, they have been a rare type of band in the Japan, singing mainly English lyric songs. Based on the catchy melody of Paul McCartney follower Yukihide Takekawa, they were a very unique and creative band that mixed songs from Mickey Yoshino's progressive rock tone to a funky jazz arrangement with horns. This trend has remained consistent since their debut in 1976 with their debut album " SUITE NEW GENESIS ", 1977's 2nd album " DEAD END " and 1979's 4th album " OUR DECADE ", and everyone who listens to the songs on these albums will understand how talented the band was. Their third album was released as a soundtrack for TV dramas “MONKEY” around 1979 in UK, Australia and other countries, so the two theme songs were known outside of Japan. Speaking of the catchiness of the melody, progressive rock and funky horn arrangements, it reminds us of the GENESIS (UK) after " AND THEN THERE WERE THREE" that changed the tune drastically.　 However, " AND THEN THERE WERE THREE " was released in 1978, "DUKE" in 1980, "ABACAB" in 1981, and " INVISIBLE TOUCH " which became a worldwide smash hit album, in 1986, so GODIEGO(JPN) had made their debut and already had become a popular hitmaker in Japan before GENESIS　(UK)changed its tune from Prog Rock to popular main stream. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGPbiJudd5tqhMU Monkey Magic TV Studio Live. Godiego "Night Hit Studio" Fuji TV (Japan),　Aired on January 29, 1979. Godiego were Yukihide Takekawa ：Vocals, Mickey Yoshino 　　：Keyboards Takami Asano 　　　：Guitars Steve Fox　　　　　：Bass, Tommy Snyder 　　：Drums, 1st debut album " SUITE NEW GENESIS " 1976 2nd album " DEAD END " 1977 3rd album “MAGIC MONKEY” 1978 CM Song Graffiti Godiego Super Hits 1978 4th album " OUR DECADE "1979　 “Suite Peace”, (including Pomp and Circumstance)　kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJi3mpJ8abSpg6M

[@ejong1]

Only aussies, kiwis & brits during the 80s & 90s knew of this show outside of Japan, as a kid i had most of season 1 & half of season 2 on VHS which my mother recorded from TV, the show was so iconic & literally watched it so much the quality of it became really bad & fuzzy as we all remember how a VHS would become when you watched it too much, such good times!

[@monke.2191]

You too will become magic lyrics fertile.

[@nf3202]

50年前近くに制作された作品何だよな、冒頭の編集センスが曲も相まって素晴らしい

[@kicktv84]

🥴🥴🥴🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@f1nesave]

If you were born between 1970 and 1979 you had a great childhood

[@loulou7963]

Yes 🙌

[@Xscapeplan01]

Hell yeah!

[@mjstefansson7466]

Jimmy Saville's niece would disagree

[@joannefalkinder393]

Thank you

[@hxjay1971]

spot on

[@up3315]

Brings back a lot of memories as a kid, watching it on ABC (in Australia). Thanks for uploading!

[@INTUITIVENORSK2303]

Yes, me too! It was certainly an awesome time for us Aussie kids! Peace bro.

[@Johninadelaide2022]

Same here.. I think it as this and then Dr Who in the evenings

[@ssombies]

This is one of the greatest things I have ever seen.

[@ckvonpickles3751]

Sad to hear today Shiro has passed away :( RIP Sandy

[@1nfiniteloop]

Oh no, not another of the cast! They were like the Asian version of the Goodies. Will be missed and irreplaceable.

[@scottlang7271]

Very sad to hear :(

[@swaldron5558]

Very sad, I was 14 years old crush on her.

[@joannefalkinder393]

Rest in peace

[@andrewjones-productions]

Masako Natsume (Tripitaka) died in 1985 from leukemia. Shiro Kishibe (Sandy) passed away in August of 2020. Toshiyuki Nishida (Pigsy) and Masaaki Sakai (Monkey) are still regularly on television.

[@akikosuzuki8960]

I am Japanese in my 50's. This show was so popular here in Japan when I was a kid that they created the season two. Many decades later, I was surprised it was broadcasted in UK as well hearing from my English friend. Go-Die-Go is Japanese band with a vocalist who graduated the foreign language university majoring in English.

[@nushashelley6263]

We also had this in South Africa

[@jameskid81]

Akiko believe me this was MASSIVE in the UK, i love this show

[@akikosuzuki8960]

@@jameskid81 James, It brought me a happy feeling to know many people loved this show internationally. When I was kid, I also watched Thunderbirds on Japanese tv and guess it aired some years later it did in the UK.

[@waynen6996]

@akiko Yes i also loved it, I'll always remember monkey eating the peaches of longevity and thinking or saying aloud it is to late to stop eating and the narrator (buddha teachings) saying it is never to late, or something very similar, it was one of the main reasons i watched and listened for monkey evolving of his actions and for the teachings i really enjoyed,yet being born in 1972 i was very young yet i knew there was some deep meaning to it all.....loved it💙💎🕊️

[@AbelMcTalisker]

In the UK we never actually got to see most of season 2. Not sure why unless the change of the actor playing "Pigsy" had something to do with it.

[@ItsPallasAthena]

My dad loved this show when he was a kid, and I remember watching the VHS tapes he'd kept when I was little. Great show

[@PG-cr9zy]

Still the best version of this story too, better than any reboots, remakes etc

[@KirbyBartlettSloan]

RIP 'Sandy' (Shirō Kishibe, 7 June 1949 - 28 August 2020)

[@russellmoxham5625]

The original cut is as inspired as any TV intro in history. The outro song and sequence were beautiful too.

[@doubleheadedeagle6769]

Loved this show. There was nothing like it on TV at the time. Still hasn’t been matched.

[@lowkeyconvert8971]

not the same genre but i think seinfeld is up there.

[@Roll_the_Bones]

It was equalled by The Water Margin, which is not surprising, really.

[@GwladYrHaf]

This was a phenomena in many countries in the 1980s. Brilliant series

[@Loves2smoodge]

The acting was spot on. The fight scenes were flawless. The special effects were seamless. It really was Magic!

[@izzymurati1987]

I agree with you on that one

[@zendaman999]

ちゃんとオリジナルの俳優の声に似た声優さんの声をつけているところがいいですね。

[@paulsmith-ll9vg]

if by the end of the titles your not singing along to it, there probably is something wrong with you, and watching this tv show was possibly my first introduction to martial arts and started off my love of the east, and even now although i cannot always tell you what i was watching yesterday on television, i can always remember every television show that i watched as a kid, and with such a good selection of good tv to watch at the time its true that of all the shows that i was watching, that monkey was one of the highlights of my youth,

[@thevilemaxim9039]

One of the greatest TV shows ever made

[@colinjacobs176]

When I was a kid this was what was on and we loved it. I caused havoc whirling sticks around like Monkey's staff. I never understood or thought it odd that I was watching a Japanese adaptation of one of the four classics of Chinese literature and learning about Chinese buddhism - it was just a cool show. Nowadays how would a kid broaden their horizons like this?

[@Growndweller]

Tripitaka would say, "There will always be a way."

[@notasstupidasilookprobably]

Top quality entertainment when I was a kid. Still like to say "Aahh Pigsey" but it falls on deaf ears to the uninitiated and I end up looking like an old twat. Bloody youngsters with their Facebook and their Grime.

[@ToppDogg73]

Not as stupid as I look probably. Lol, i feel your pain mate, i do exactly the same as you.

[@amyclarke41]

I saw it too don't worry about kids just enjoy it

[@spector969]

Let's be honest, if we're here watching this, the likelihood is that we're all old twats, so at least you're in good company xD

[@MELLYBOY58]

Not as stupid as I look probably We sail in the same ship 😊😊😊

[@harfast10]

I saw a new aged version of the story the other day. The actors had American and Australian accents. It was cringe worthy.

[@sajaniregmi8974]

I don't know why I'm very addicted to this show . I have nothing else to watch on Netflix except this one.

[@thuaners]

because its a timeless classic!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰 You have good taste eheh!

[@BadHorsie1]

Oh it's on Netflix?

[@zoserox]

It's been 40 years but I remember this tune and this show from my days as a kid in Japan in the 1970s. Thanks!

[@cryonioncryonion]

Sandy R.I.P ...

[@markstorer7204]

Real childhood memories for this 50 year old .. weekdays at 6pm on BBC2..... fantastic...🖒

[@garyobrian3597]

The intro narration is so wise

[@daddys7414]

Favourite show of my youth …thanks for upload

[@GLYDR]

I watched a few episodes recently, didn't have a fucking clue what was going on but as a kid I understood it completely

[@lisacollins5868]

GLYDR 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Same here!!

[@millymolly7362]

IKR lol

[@mikeydavies8254]

ME TOOO.

[@julietking7615]

Sooooo true 😂

[@vegn_brit5176]

I was there!! I can proudly say I watched it as a 10 year old on the BBC! I remember I was so upset after the last episode.

[@truthjunkie2325]

The 70s were great...I do miss them so much....

[@danielleak9958]

A song so awesome they used it every fight scene, it never got boring, used to love signing it randomly as a kid 😂

[@bearlop]

So lucky to be 49. This was essential tv for a school kid. Loved monkey so much.

[@jameskid81]

this was like crack for kids

[@Xscapeplan01]

Was anyone else here obsessed with this in 1980?

[@jackiebayliss]

I remember rushing home from school so I wouldn't miss it Lol🤣

[@MrThomas864]

Man I loved this show as an Australian kid in the 80s, me and my older brother would play it out in the back yard but he would always make me be piggsy lol

[@wickedleeloopy2115]

I think if you blew on your 2 fingers to call on a cloud now days , some might look at you strange , while some that are old enough to remember , will just know....

[@yvonneburns2786]

Yeah but you've still got to have the cloud stepping boots to use it though!

[@swaldron5558]

I love it.

[@stevejamesf2610]

i used to love this when I was a kid. never thought I'd end up living in Japan.

[@INTUITIVENORSK2303]

Hi Steve! Japan's a very lovely country, full of wonderful inhabitants. I hope you're enjoying your time there. Cheers from Australia!

[@danielmoskovich2953]

Same

[@Tweekend27]

In NZ as a kid in the 80's, this show was right up there with the best of 'em. We had only 1 channel back then, I think. 2 at the most.

[@user-zx5eq7bl2c]

I Love You, Japan.

[@leoboyle]

This is sort of an extended version of the opening sequence, but captures a lot of the "signature moves" of the characters, as well as features and motifs absent from the weekly (Shorter) version of the intro. Brings back lots of happy memories. For kids, this series was great fun in the early 1980's and the real sense of innocence is there in the show - some aspects might not have aged well, but it was so iconic that even the difference in the dubbing has that "so-bad-it's-good" quality about it. It all just worked so well and the intro music, although completely cheesy, remains memorable to this day. Loved it and it was nice to see it again.

[@christopherdale5243]

As kid of the 80's this was the coolest show after school.

[@woodyspooner]

Loved Monkey Magic. It was great fun, with all the Kung Foo action mixed with comedy. I must have seen almost every episode.

[@WendyAlicia]

the best show ever to exist !!!!! glad to be this old 🤣🤣🤣

[@antoniomontanez2186]

What's truly sad is that I've lived my life, so far, completely unawares and in blissful ignorance of Monkey. This has to be one of the most important discoveries I have made this year. Like grooves on a vinyl record, this theme has now become indelibly etched into my brain............

[@thuaners]

omg... im so happy you discovered this awesome show 🥰👍

[@skyfire8950]

monke

[@buska100]

I remember watching this amazing show when it first was on TV in about 1980 in Australia. I introduced My Children to it in the 90s and My Grandchildren to it now. A Really Timeless Show.

[@xxkissmeketutxx]

Thanks to netflix my kids now love this the same as I did at their age 35ish years ago 💕 Monkey for the win!!

[@konni0883]

This brings back a lot of fond memories. I can remember watching this on the ABC. Despite the fact, that the entire series has been released on DVD and blu-ray in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, these releases never ever included the option to watch the show in Japanese. I hope some licensor / distribution company takes the initiative to physically release the original Japanese language version of Saiyuki in its entirety remastered in HD (and eventually also in 4K) with English subtitles (that are faithful to the original Saiyuki) on blu ray with all sorts of Japanese bonus material like interviews, making ofs, ads, teasers, etc..

[@lowkeyconvert8971]

this is a very good point. it should be offered in the original japanese too as an option. i do think the british dubbing did a good job though.

[@KingFahtah]

Every weeknight ABC. This, Kenny Everett, The Goodies, Dr Who (in various combinations).

[@YourOldUncleNoongah]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@sevensprings460]

With Roger Ramjet and Danger Mouse.

[@KingFahtah]

@@sevensprings460 Oooooooh crumbs! Yes.

[@YourOldUncleNoongah]

@@sevensprings460 hahahah wow yes!!!!!!!!

[@philtree90]

@@sevensprings460 They were the days!!!!!!!

[@80s-wizard34]

The greatest childhood show in existence 🐵🎩🌟

[@FullDemiurge]

I grew up watching this series 35-40 something years ago in Nicaragua. Seriously! Many years later would I learn its a retelling of Journey to the West and what Dragon Ball was based on. Glad to see it´s coolness holds up to date.

[@lowkeyconvert8971]

what dub did they use?

[@FullDemiurge]

@@lowkeyconvert8971 Spanish, from Mexico I believe.

[@Ckawauchi35]

Can't believe I found this video. We used to watch this show in Okinawa in the early 80s. Happy memories! Thank you for posting.

[@toninz75]

As a kiwi kid I can remember having our own words to the theme song..."Monkey is spunky but Pigsy's not. Tripitaka does the haka while Sandy does the bop...monkey magic,monkey magic,monkey magic monkey magic ohhhh" lmao omg that's hilarious,I've never forgotten those words even 35+ years later

[@Sofia-The-First]

I’m from NZ and know that song. But we sang it as “Monkey is magic but Pigsy’s not. Tripitaka did the Haka and Sandy did the bop!

[@mr.marooned6318]

Wait, this was a legit show? The production value are far beyond anything I’ve seen come out of US Tv at the same period. This is very impressive

[@scottlang7271]

Yes, Mr. Marooned, it was legitimate - and immensely popular in Australia and NZ.

[@TheBerteh]

@@scottlang7271 And the UK

[@darganx]

Americans missed out big time with this show, it was a phenomenon in the late 70s/ early 80s.

[@chooseyourpoison5105]

Yep it was legit and we loved it. It's on Netflix at the moment if you want to watch it. Highly recommend!

[@debbiecurtis4021]

It's Japanese. It was one of my favourite TV shoes when I was growing up.

[@davecoalwood9487]

The absolute bollocks. Wherever You are in the world- if You watched this as a kid, You are My Brother or Sister 😂😂❤❤

[@zoralsalsa5987]

My mum used to watch this as a kid in the 80s, and then we saw it had been put on Netflix! I used to be obsessed with the monkey king when I was younger (since my local library had a kids' graphic novel version), so discovering this was awesome, for both me and for my mum. (She was delighted I like it as much as she did as a kid) It's definitely a classic.

[@Yoshiro_7]

It’s not the original one it’s a remake

[@80s-wizard34]

Oh my childhood!! 🤩🤩🤩💜🙏🏽 the impact of this show in 80s Australia was phenomenal!! They made me desire wisdom and enlightenment at just 9yrs.. and I didn’t even realise!! 🙏🏽😑🙏🏽

[@Growndweller]

Same!! This show made me understand more about Buddhism and Eastern traditions than a whole year of study could! I used to respect Tripitaka so much, she was like my Jesus!

[@plorr2FYI]

Thank u so much for uploading this. Showed my son this vid explaining I watched this whilst his Nan prepared dinner when I was younger. He reckons a lot of the cartoons of his 90s childhood stole ideas from this! Loved Monkey.. theme tune stuck in my head now 😄👌🏾

[@Charles_Kos_Tutor]

this show was and is UNBELIEVABLY GOOD!

[@yukikoma2806]

I remember when I first met an Australian guy who had watched the show in our workplace a long time ago. I was very surprised at the fact he's seen it since I didn't know the drama was broadcast abroad.

[@javelinXH992]

It was shown here in the UK and we loved it as kids. Can still sing the theme tune today - and summon a cloud!

[@anzaeria]

Well it was a Japanese TV show and would have been broadcast in a number of different countries.

[@teenoso4069]

Masako Natsume - died so young. RIP

[@pokang100]

Mon-Thurs 6pm.Abc tv (Australia) 82,83 sitin down having supa couldnt ask for more!!

[@darrenc2721]

6pm friday uk, fish and chips and monkee!

[@mrmustang6977]

I remember watching it early 90's on the ABC Australia

[@amysunnar9018]

@@mrmustang6977 ' me too i also remember it bein on inthe early 80's

[@BarryLetts379]

I asked them to reair the show but they said that they lost the rights

[@xroadwalker]

Recovery inda morning 😨

[@koobie83]

This show opening theme song, the whole thing still makes me so excited. Love this so much!!!

[@INTUITIVENORSK2303]

Me too! lol

[@fionahornitzky3912]

Good memories never die LOL.xx 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 That's when kids had more fun than the kids today 😂😂😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉🎉🤣👻🤪🤣💘💘

[@geoffp1292]

I loved this show so much as a kid I even made my own staff,& painted it black with gold ends,& became quite good at twirling it around too..Monkey Magic rules! 👍😆

[@wayneshields2125]

My childhood afternoon was Voltron followed by Danger Mouse then Monkey then either The Goodies or Dr Who

[@iampennochio]

I had the voltron toys and the fists and shoes would shoot off. Right up there with astroboy and inspector gadget.

[@lukedowey6434]

Don't forget Roger Ramsey, metal mickey.

[@prob6820]

Battle of the Planets (G Force)

[@mobrown7594]

😢this reminds me of being 4 years old chilling with my mom and Dad running around and having fun having my dinner brought to me whilst watching this lol

[@suuudo]

Oh my god, they just paid homage to this in Disney+‘s American Born Chinese, and it’s glorious.

[@yegassan1390]

I love this drama. It is glad to have a companion in the world😁 From Japan

[@Clara-ph7my]

We only had the 3 channels on TV. There was only a selected time slots each evening for kids from 3.30 - 7pm. Usually ending with Monkey, Dr Who starting to build up to being suitable TV for all the family. I loved Monkey. It was very popular back then when it was on, most people remember this programme.

[@Hodaris_Darlin]

Clara Gee, where I lived we only had 2 stations. Funny thing is, we had better shows back then than we do with the dozens of stations we have now.

[@raalaa121]

I was watching this as a kid in the 90s I did not know it actually came out in the late 70's ... interesting. Nostalgia at it's finest.

[@user-uv9vw6fx9u]

Brings back happy childhood memories. Saw Monkey and Tripitaka at Rewind North 2024. Best costumes ever. Respect .

[@giraffebecky]

Wow! I have this on dvd and LOVE IT SO MUCH! I thought I was alone! I'm so happy to see how many likes and views this has! What a great series! "Monkey Magic! Monkey Magic!" Right now I'm watching the series "Journey to the West (Sun Wukong)" from 1986 for the first time. I wish someone would dub that series! It deserves a good English dub!