Not Monkey Majik, but Magic Monkey!

Back in the late 70's, there was a live action TV series called "Monkey".
It's based on one of the great quest stories, a 16th Century Chinese epic called "Hsi Yu Chi" (Journey to the West). The series recounts the tales of MONKEY (ソンガク), a brave, humourous and resourceful hero who helps defend a Buddhist priest against demons and monsters en route to an Indian temple.

I just got a cool Monkey-themed screensaver from this site:
Monkey Magic and you can too!

From the tv show...















Collected from a soft drink. (I didn't get the whole series before it was discontinued...Do you know how frustrating that is?)







"Always look on the bright side of life!" (NOT from "Life of Brian", rather from the MONKEY TV show.)














Here is the theme song and I believe our pals Monkey Majik borrowed/stole their name from this show/song.

Songoku
Ore wa jiyuu ni ikiru Songokuu da yo
Kirakuna mon dayo
Yono naka iro iro aru keredo
Ore wa kankei nai ne
Moshi mo atama ga yokute kitai wo saretara
Soitsu mo tsuraine
Ue mirya ikura mo ue ga aru
Amari ue nado mirunayo

Motto Ookiku kokoro wo hirogete
Yono naka nagamete goranyo
Omotta yori warui tokojanai
Kono yo wa kekkou tanoshii

They call me Magic monkey
They call me Magic monkey
Yukai na koto sagashinagara
Ikiteru ore dayo
Magic monkey

Ore wa jiyuu ni ikiru Songokuu dayo
Tanoshiku yatteru
Nanika ni tsunagare ikiruno wa
Doumo dameda ne ore wa
Moshimo yononaka tsurakute nakitai toki wa
Kono ore mite miro
Shippai bakari no renzoku da
Dakedo kini nado sinai ne

Dare mo karemo ga iiko ni nattaraba
Yononaka tsumaranaku naru yo
Hito wa hito sa kimi wa kimi nanda
Hitomane nanka yamero yo

They call me Magic monkey
They call me Magic monkey
Yukaina koto sagashi nagara
Ikiteru Oredayo
Magic monkey

English translation:
I'm a happy-go-lucky Songoku
I see many troubles but they have nothing to do with me
If you are too smart and expected too much
It's a pity, I say
There's always somebody above you so don't aim too high
Take it easy and take a look around you
It's not a bad world as you think
They call me Magic Monkey
They call me Magic Monkey
Always looking for some fun
Magic Monkey

I'm a happy-go-lucky Songoku
Having a good time
I don't like to be bound by anything
If you are having a hard time and feel like crying, just look at me
Everyday is a mess, but I don't care a bit

Suppose everybody gets wise, what a dull world it would be
You can't be someone else, there's no point in imitating
They call me Magic Monkey
They call me Magic Monkey
Always looking for some fun
Magic Monkey