Monkey Typhoon, known in Japan as Assobot Robot Goku (アソボット戦記五九), is a Japanese mixed-media project created by Avex Inc., consisting of a manga series and an anime television series. The project was first announced in June 2000, under the tentative title Son Gokū no Bōken (孫悟空の冒険), with collaboration of writer Yoshimi Ishikawa. The series is loosely based on the 16th century novel Journey to the West. The manga series, Assobot Goku, was written by Shin Kibayashi (under the pen name Jōji Arimori) and illustrated by Romu Aoi, serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 2001 to 2002, with its chapters collected in seven volumes. The 52-episode anime television series was animated by studio Egg and broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 2002 to September 2003.

Story

Monkey Typhoon tells the story of three assobots (アソボット)—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 assobots, 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 assobots 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

Media

Manga

Written by Shin Kibayashi (under the pen name Jōji Arimori) and illustrated by Romu Aoi, the manga series Assobot Goku (アソボット五九) started in Kodansha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine on December 26, 2001. It was later transferred to Magazine Special, where it ran from September 20, 2002, to October 20, 2003. Kodansha collected its chapters in seven volumes, released from September 17, 2002, to November 17, 2003.

Anime

Produced by Avex Inc., Dentsu and TV Tokyo, animated by studio Egg and directed by Mamoru Hamatsu, Monkey Typhoon was broadcast for 52 episodes on TV Tokyo from October 1, 2003, to September 30, 2003.

Theme songs