The Monkey King

'The Monkey King' is an animated action movie directed by Anthony Stacchi. It's a coproduction between China and the United States with a story based on the popular novel "Journey to the West" of the Ming Dinasty. The film premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival in 2023 before a global worldwide release on Netflix on August of that year.

The movie follows the adventures of a monkey that was saved by Buddha after his birth to fulfill his destiny. Wreckless and careless, he soon will be crowned by himself as King of the Monkeys with the help of a magic staff that will be by his side in fights. That's how he will face a lot of enemies, in particular demons and dragons.

In one of his fights with a demon that was terrorizing a small village he will meet young Lin, that will accept joining the Monkey King as his assistant. The Monkey King will soon achieve immortality, although his ego will make Lin turn her back on him and help the ascent of the Dragon King. Even if Lin realizes her error, a big battle is coming.

Actor Jimmy O. Yang voices the Monkey King in the original version with an all asian voice cast. The film has received mixed reviews, praising the animation quality but criticising other aspects, but in the end it recognizes the effort to bring to the general public this typical Chinese story.