Monkey Typhoon

Monkey Typhoon (アソボット戦記五九, Asobotto Senki Gokū, literally "Asobot Military History Goku") is a Japanese manga written by Tadashi Agi and illustrated by Romu Aoi. It was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine between 2001 and 2002.

It was later adapted into an anime series produced by the Avex group and anime studio Studio Egg, which premiered between October 1, 2002 and September 30, 2003 on TV Tokyo. It was broadcast by the anime television network, Animax, across its respective networks worldwide, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, South Korea, and other regions. It contains several steampunk elements, and is loosely based on the novel Journey to the West. The music for Monkey Typhoon was conducted by Kōhei Tanaka, and produced by Avex and Dentsu.

Story

Monkey Typhoon tells the story of three asobots—a form of robots whose general title is a portmanteau of the words association and robot—Goku, Tongo, and Joe. They are assisted in their journeys by Sanzo, a human, the son of the creator of the asobots, and Suzie, who joined them after her father was cured from the Destruction Virus. Later on they are joined by their former rivals Miyon and Shiyon. Their quest is to stop their world's destruction by collecting the legendary 49 keys to unlock Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Along the way, the asobots gain the ability to evolve further. Together, in their many voyages, they come across several foes and enemies such as Loki, Ryutaro Demon, the Quartet, King Doberman Pinscher, and many more, as well as grow united in their friendship.

Characters

Goku (五九, Gokū, lit. "Fifty-nine") Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi

The main character. He is a 1st generation asobot. His mission is to find the 49 Keys of the Apocalypse (actually he just wants to find the treasure where the key is located). He is accompanied with Suzie, Sanzo, Tongo, Joe and later with Meeyon and Shiyon. Goku looks mostly human, but he has a face that resembles a monkey, and he gets angry when they call him monkey. He has a robot horse called Skywalker and a magic metal weapon he calls a 'joystick' which lengthens or contracts to his will. Sanzo put a curse on him that will make him weak to all women and children. After he collected 6 keys, his appearance changed and acquired new abilities such as the improved "Easter Wind" and "Fire Vortex Revolution". He likes to chase pretty girls every time he arrives in town, which leads him to get a punch out of the air. In the end, Sanzo took off the curse from Goku and chose to go back in past, since Professor D's feather flew in a worm hole to the past, accompanied by his gang. His name, Goku, is made up of the Chinese characters for five and nine.

Sanzo Genjo (玄奘三蔵, Genjō Sanzō) Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki

The one who forced Goku on the quest, he said he can only remove the curse when they arrive to the last city. He woke up after 1000 years of cold sleep, to stop the world's destruction by collecting the 49 keys. He has a magical harmonica that affects asobots, but not the ones who were infected by the Destruction Virus. He sometimes uses it to heal asobots or power up Goku's attacks. Like Goku, he collected 6 keys, which later on, changed the appearance of his harmonica and can heal asobots even with the virus. He serves as a big brother to Suzie. He is also the former lover of Rhea, the mother of all asobots. At the last part of the series, he fought off Ryutaro Demon along with Goku, Yazu and friends. After the all the keys has been collected, all asobots that have been affected by the Destruction Virus have been cured. His last words (the last words in the series) are "The real treasure is none other than the treasure of the journey."

Suzie (スージィ, Sūjī) Voiced by: Mayumi Iizuka

Suzie lost her dad in an attack of some infected Asobots did to her city. When she was young, her father was telling her the legend, which leads her to join Goku and his friends to witness it. Although she doesn't have any abilities, she has a flying vehicle. Later she finds a bow which can produce a sound which affects asobots. Only Suzie can use it. At the last part of the series, Suzie is the last person who finished Ryutaro Demon by using the bow of sun to rest Ryutaro Demon's soul in peace. It is because she is the only one who understands what Ryutaro Demon feels. In the end, she, along with the gang, choose to go back with Goku in the past.

Joe (ジョー, Jō) Voiced by: Nozomu Sasaki

A worker asobot, but his mouth is never seen because he has it covered ninja style. He needs lots of water to survive or he could die. Goku himself said he is invincible when battling underwater. His weapon is called 'Feather Sword'. Later, like Goku, he collected 6 keys which can change his appearance and which can also change his weapon into 'Feather Blade'. He came back to past along with Goku and friends, since the bandit should never abandon each other.

Tongo (トンゴー, Tongō) Voiced by: Takeharu Kunimoto

A nurse asobot who looks like a fat cat that likes to eat. His weapon is called 'Chain Hammer'. Later, like Goku and Jo, he collected 6 keys, which can change his appearance and his weapon, making it the 'Megaton Hammer'. At the last part of the series, he fought off Ryutaro Demon along with Goku, Yazu and friends. He came back to past along with Goku and friends, since the bandit should never abandon each other.

Meeyon (魅音, Mion) Voiced by: Minami Takayama

An asobot who looks almost like a human. Later, she joined Goku. Sanzo stated that Meeyon has similarities with Rhea. She has a little sister named Shiyon. She has a pet named Saati that can transform itself into a hoverboard which she uses to travel. Most of her attacks are candy based (bubblegum bomb, choco men, etc.). Later in the series, after collecting 6 keys, she gets a magical umbrella that she can be used to fly, used as a shield, or used to hypnotize somebody (she did this to escape Goku once but never used it again). At the last part of the series, she and Shiyon were the ones who found Ryutaro Demon's weakness. She and Shiyon came to the past with Goku and friends to find treasures.

Shiyon (紫苑, Shion) Voiced by: Atsuko Enomoto

Meeyon's little sister. Like Meeyon, she is an asobot and one of Ryutaro Demon's quartet. During her time as part of the quartet she used a Sitar played like a cello. She joined Goku so she can spy them in their journey. After she died due to the Destruction Virus, Sanzo revived her after his harmonica is changed by the 6 keys. She can transform or change into a pretty lady who looks like Meeyon, only with blue hair. She has a pet parrot that can transform into a walkie-talkie.

Yazu (ヤズー, Yazū) Voiced by: Shinichiro Miki

He is a 3rd generation asobot. He is one of Ryutaro Demon's quartet. He dies but later gets revived in episode 33. Yazu is also armed with an elegantly designed scythe. He sacrificed himself for the group when he disagreed with Ryutaro Demon's plans in the last part of the series.

Rei (零, Rei)

The mother of all asobots and former lover of Sanzo 1000 years before the series started. According to Sanzo, she has similarities with Meeyon but Sanzo stated that he can see Rei more on Goku than on Meeyon.

Ryutaro Demon (出門龍太郎, Demon Ryūtarō) Voiced by: Nachi Nozawa

The main villain. He is the rival of Kuzo Genjo (玄奘久造, Genjō kuzō). Like Sanzo, he wants to find the keys for his sinister plans.

Casper Voiced by: Jūrōta Kosugi

One of Ryutaro Demon's quartet. He has a violin.

Marty

One of Ryutaro Demon's quartet. He has a trumpet.

Marie Voiced by: Chiemi Chiba

One of Ryutaro Demon's quartet. She has a set of drums.

Media

Anime

Episode List

1. Big gang,59 is coming!
2. How terrible! The destroy virus!
3. Maitreya Village's Dead fighting!
4. The journey of go to Jipang!
5. Tongo's Band of Bandits!? (結成!トンゴー盗賊団!?, Kessei! Tongō Tōzoku Dan!?)
6. Jo,A sad story of the past (ジョー、哀しき過去, Jō, Kanashiki Kako)
7. Terrible power,Yazu! (恐るべき力・ヤズー!)
8. Scorch!The Forest of Coral (灼熱!サンゴの森, Shakunetsu! Sango no Mori)
9. Cherry blossom!Fiore the assassin (桜舞う!刺客フィオーレ)
10. Wind,the trap of tornado! (ウィンド・竜巻のワナ!, Windo Tatsumaki no Wana!)
11. Cursed Festival of the Giant God! (のろわれた巨神祭!, Noro Wareta Kyokamimatsuri!)
12. God Orochi is coming! (大蛇神、降臨!, Orochi Kami, Kōrin!)
13. 59 Iron fist of anger!
14. Knight Pegasus, the knight of wild
15. Super Strength,Bishop Elephant (超怪力・エレファントビショップ, Chō Kairiki Erefanto Bishoppu)
16. Literature Village's tower of memory
17. The food paradise?! Cooking Village
18. The boy who blows the angular whistle
19. Sanzo VS Rook Cat
20. The gate of the legend is opened
21. Great Vegas' Grand Prix (グレートベガスグランプリ, Gurēto Begasu Guranpuri)
22. Love in the ghost town
23. Demoner,the Demon of labyrinth
24. Protect Tree Village!
25. 59 the messiah?!
26. Forest Rucola kingdom of High Building
27. 59 the assopet?!
28. Mystery lover
29. Crash!!Sites VS 59
30. Conclusion!!The strongest winner
31. Capture!Goku thief group
32. The riddle of Little Jipang
33. Awaken rival,Yazu!
34. Large game! Military affairs fighting meeting of desert
35. The Riddle of Miracle Village's ring
36. Crash!I will win this battle!
37. 59 thief groups go to north!!
38. Unlimited!Joystick!!
39. Lost child of snowfield
40. The man who waits for Sanzo
41. Meet again in Aurora Town
42. Rotate!Great battle of guts
43. Proud high coming inn enemy!!
44. The mermaid in Dragon Palace Island
45. The end of east,Jipang!!
46. Double-Head Dragon
47. The Violin of dazzlement!!
48. Trumpet of controlling stage!
49. Quartet of quartet death!
50. After 49 keys are found
51. Meet again in another world
52. 59 thief groups can't be destroyed!!

Theme songs

Opening Themes:

1. Beside You: Boku o Yobu Koe (Beside You: 僕を呼ぶ声) by BoA (eps 1-25)
2. Wo Ai Ni (我愛你(ウォー・アイ・ニー)) by dream (eps 26-52)

Ending Themes:

1. i WAKE YOUR LOVE! by m.o.v.e (eps 1-13)
2. Kasumi Yuku Sora Se ni Shite (霞ゆく空背にして) by Janne da Arc (eps 14-25)
3. BURNING DANCE by m.o.v.e (eps 26-38)
4. LolitA☆Strawberry in summer by SweetS (eps 39-51)
5. Asobot Senki Goku no Sekai (アソボット戦記五九のせかい) (ep. 52)

References

External links

• Monkey Typhoon (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia