PrimeWire

Monkey was my first introduction to the strange and beautiful world of Japanese television and film when it first burst onto the screens of UK television in the late 70s. There really was nothing quite like it and it still resists easy definition to this day.
The series is based upon the legendary 16th century Chinese story ‘Journey to the West’ and tells the story of Tripitaka, a monk who has been tasked by Buddha himself to undertake a journey from China to India to locate the sacred scriptures and in doing so, ushering in a golden age on Earth.
If that sounds at all dry, trust me, it’s one hell of a surreal, deranged, comedic, fantastical, mythic journey. Thanks in part to Tripitaka’s divine shape-shifting companions, Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy who are the cosmic Three Stooges, with each episode less like a linear journey and more like a mythical snakes and ladders as they encounter a variety of gods, demons and human and non-human tricksters along the way.
There is a sad post-script to the series, the actress Masako Natsume who played the male role of Buddhist monk Tripitaka (and in doing so created some gender attraction anxiety and confusion along the way!) like some western musicians, died at the young age of 27 in 1985.
I half remember a documentary on the story behind Monkey and the bringing of the series to the UK and the dubbing of it from its original Japanese to English but its a little hazy - it would be great if it did exist and wasn’t a figment of my aged imagination.