Apeing the Monkey King: portraying Sun Wukong in TV, film and games
By Globaltimes.cn, Published: 2015-07-21 19:33:05
Movies and TV Series: China
1982 Journey to the West, 1998 Journey to the West II
Broadcast 3,000 times in its entirety, the 1982-version of Journey to the West the most-broadcast TV series of all time, according to people.com.cn. In this version, Sun Wukong is played by Liuxiao Lingtong (aka Zhang Jinlai). Photo:kaixin001.com
Editor's Note:
The Chinese 3D animated film Monkey King: Hero Is Back is the surprise hit of the summer, taking in 400 million yuan ($64.4 million) in its first week since its July release, according to people.cn. Drawing heavily from the Chinese classic Journey to the West, the main storyline centers around its half-primate hero Sun Wukong. Together with his sidekicks Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, Sun protects their master Tang Seng on his journey to bring back Buddhist scriptures from India. The film’s creative depiction of the Monkey King contributed greatly to its success. Check out this list of past Sun Wukong from around the world.
1995 A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: CinderellaCompared with Liuxiao Lingtong, Stephen Chow’s interpretation reshapes Sun Wukong into a humorous and cynical character, which resonated with post-80s Chinese. Photo:mtime.com 
2013 Journey to the West: Conquering the DemonsThis Monkey King, played by Ge Xingyu, is known as the “ugliest” of all the Sun Wukong. Photo:mtime.com 
Japan1978 Journey to the WestIn the Japanese TV version of Journey to the West , Sun Wukong is played by the famed Japanese singer, Masaaki Sakai. Photo:monkeyheaven.com 
2006 Journey to the WestIn Japanese versions of Journey to the West, characters and settings differ dramatically from the original story. For instance, in both the 1978 and 2006 versions, the monk Tang Seng is portrayed as female. Photo: spcnet.tv 
Korea2011 Supermonkey Returns In the Korean version, Tang Seng falls in love with the Monkey King. Photo:mtime.com 
The US2001 The Lost EmpireThis US-Germany co-production made for television was written to feature an American journalist, Nick Orton, who gets lost in the ancient Chinese world. There he meets Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing. Eventually he falls in love with Avalokitesvara, or Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. Photo:douban.com 
2008 The Forbidden KingdomIn this version, Jet Li stars as Sun Wukong, who after being trapped under a stone for 500 years is finally released by Jason Tripitikas, a kung fu movie fan. Photo:mtime.com 
2015 Into the Badlands This US TV series inspired by Journey to the West tells of a great warrior (played by Daniel Wu) who protects a young boy from danger in his quest to reach enlightenment. Photo:amc.com 
Games2011 League of Legends In the well-known MMORPG League of Legends, Sun Wukong is portrayed as a great warrior of tremendous strength. Photo:leagueoflegends.com 
2010 Enslaved: Odyssey to the WestIn Enslaved(Ninja Theory Studio), Tang Seng is a woman who wants to escape from a world of disorder that uses magic to enslave Sun Wukong as her bodyguard. Photo:ign.com 
Animation and Cartoons: China1961-1964 Havoc in HeavenThis classic animated film marks an achievement for the Chinese animation industry. In this film inspired by traditional Chinese art forms, Sun Wukong embodies the rebellious spirit that has influenced generations of Chinese. Photo:mtime.com 
1999 Journey to the West: Legends of the Monkey KingProduced by China Central Television, this made-for-children series portrays Sun Wukong as extremely positive, sometimes overly so, but is still considered a classic in China. Photo:mtime.com 
2015 Monkey King: Hero Is BackAfter being confined for 500 years by the Buddha, Sun Wukong is released by a child Tang Seng. The two then embark on adventures together on an introspective path of self-liberation. In this version, Sun Wukong is portrayed as a mortal who struggles to break from the chains of fear and weakness. Photo:mtime.com 
Japan1986 Dragon BallIn the Japanese anime series Dragon Ball, Sun Wukong is portrayed by illustrator Akira Toriyama as a great warrior from outer space. He prevents Earth from being destroyed several times to become one of the strongest warriors in the universe. Photo:mtime.com 
1988 The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the WestAfter the robo-cat Doraemon accidentally plunges the world into chaos with his time machine, Nobita attempts to set the world right again by taking on the role of Sun Wukong and accompanying Tang Seng on his journey for the holy Buddhist scriptures in Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) China. Photo:mtime.com 
1999 SaiyukiIllustrator Kazuya Minekura portrays Sun Wukong as a 500-year-old childlike monster that friendly, cheerful and even na?ve sometimes, until his golden headband is removed. He then turns into a ruthless killing machine (left). Tang Seng also gets a makeover in this series, where he is depicted as a jeep-driving, revolver-toting warrior. Photo:saiyuki.wikia.com 
2003 Son-goku the MonkeyAnimator Osamu Tezuka gives Sun Wukong a new origin story. Instead of being born from a giant stone, Sun was created by an evil spirit who initially wants to use him as a deadly weapon. However, the rebellious Monkey King does not accept his fate and fights for his freedom. Photo:mtime.com 
2006 PaprikaIn this animated film by director Satoshi Kon, psychologist Atsuko Chiba can step into the heads of his patients to becomes Paprika, a “dream detective” that can change her form at will. Pictured is Atsuko Chiba transforming into Sun Wukong to escape from enemies. Photo:douban.com 
Korea1990 The Flying SuperboardA skateboarding Sun befriends a SUV-driving Tang Seng, a treasure-hunting Sha Wujing and bazooka-toting Zhu Bajie. Photo:mtime.com 
The US2013 RWBYIn the US Web animation series RWBY, Wukong is a blond man that, while not a monkey, stays true to the original Chinese novel with his weapon of choice –a magic staff. Photo:wikia.com