Journey to the West – Legends of the Monkey King

Sun Wukong, born of a magical stone, spent five centuries trapped beneath a mountain after stirring chaos in the heavens. Guanyin reveals that a monk named Tang Sanzang will free him, so Monkey agrees to join the monk on a perilous quest to obtain sacred scriptures from India. Tang Sanzang arrives and frees him, and the pair set out toward a shared goal. Along the way they gain two new allies, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, who join as companions. Together they face dark sorcery, fearsome beasts, and treacherous traps while learning to work as a team. Monkey's clever tricks and a sense of humor ease tense moments, and the quartet learns to lean on one another when danger appears.

This 1999 animated series is created by Fang Runnan, Zhou Fengying and Wu Cheng'en, adapting Wu Cheng'en's classic tale. It features a Chinese voice cast led by Qiao Zhen as Tang Sanzang and Shen Xiaoqian as Sun Wukong.

The series balances lighthearted comedy with action, weaving themes of friendship, growth and forgiveness into an adventurous ride. As the quartet overcomes schemes and peril, they learn to trust one another and channel their powers for a greater good.

Within the broad stream of Monkey King legend adaptations this 1999 version stands out for its kid friendly tone and bright animation. It helped keep the myth in the public imagination and introduced new audiences to the classic characters.