apothecary Posted February 18, 2006 http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1573069.htm By Tokyo correspondent Shane McLeod The cult television series Monkey is being remade in its home country Japan. If you know which TV character was 'born from an egg on a mountain top' and the lead line of "in the world before Monkey, primal chaos reigned", you probably have the ABC to blame. The Japanese series Monkey was a mainstay of ABC afternoon television programing in the 1980s, generating a cult following for its theme music, its fight scenes and dialogue that sometimes lost a little in translation. Fast forward 30 years and Japan's top rating TV network is trying to recreate the Monkey magic. When ABC Radio's AM program visited the set in the Tokyo suburb of Shibuya, the fight scenes of old were in full swing. But there are a few differences to the show that Australian fans grew to love. Blond Monkey Chief among them, a new look for the main character - Monkey, played in the new series by Shingo Katori and his very blond hair. "I bleach it every 15 days -- if I don't, it goes black," he said. Katori says his 2006 version of monkey is a punk rocker, yelling about love. Known in Japan as Saiyuki, or the "Journey to the West", the series is based on a classic Chinese tale of a priest and three companions, travelling to India in search of Buddhist scriptures. The original was a hit and its star Masaki Sakai remains a familiar face on Japanese television, appearing in variety and cooking shows. Producer Yoshihiro Suzuki says those behind the new series are hoping their version will be just as endearing. "We already have offers from countries in Asia - South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong and Singapore who are broadcasting it," he said. "Normally shows are broadcast overseas when the series is finished but this time it's only three or four weeks after Japan. "I've heard there may be some interest from Australia too, so I really hope that will be realised as well." Australian backdrops If Australians get to see it they might notice that the scenery of ancient China looks a little familiar. Parts of the series were shot in New South Wales at Stockton Desert near Port Stephens and the Blue Mountains last year. Actor Shingo Katori, says the knowledge of the original series was a surprise. "At night we would go out for a beer after work and I'd become friends with some of the local people," he said. "They didn't know we were there to film the show and they said, 'you're a surfer from Japan right? So I said, yeah, right'. "When I asked if they knew about the show, everyone started singing 'monkey magic, monkey magic'." Diehard fans might not be ready to contemplate a new version of monkey . They might still have some unresolved issues from the original, like whether the priest character Tripitaka was played by a man or a woman. But for those whose mis-spent youth involved calling up a flying pink cloud, a magic fighting stick and some good old fashioned battles with demons, it will bring back some memories and confirm once and for all, as the show's old closing line said "the nature of monkey was irrepressible". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tripitaka Posted February 18, 2006 I for one welcome the revival Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyAmine. Posted February 18, 2006 Hmmm, I dunno, sounds pretty bad to me but then again Im a bit of a Monkey Magic purist... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wandjina Posted February 18, 2006 hmmm, I dunno, a blond punk-rocker Monkey? I'm a monkey purist too andy...I even had issues when they replaced the actor who played Pigsy and put in that pony-tailed horse/dragon dude. he gave me the shits. (btw, I know the intro off by heart, and will recite it on request ) Does anyone else remember the second verse to the theme song?....it didn't translate as well as the first, and I think it was only played a handful of times: Oh what a funky monkey this one is All the gods were angry and they punished him Until he was saved by a kindly priest, And that was the beginning of their pilgrimage quest. guess it rhymed in Japanese. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hagakure Posted February 20, 2006 i dont mind the thought of a new series. if it loses some old quirks it better make up for them with extra weirdness. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benzito Posted February 20, 2006 Hagakure, have you watched any Japanese T.V. recently? I'm pretty sure there will be weirdness, regardless. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
