The Spectacular Anime That Surpassed Dragon Ball Z's Success

Highlights

Dragon Ball Z is one of the most popular and recognizable anime series in the world, with a blend of comedy and action that made it a household name.

The series is inspired by the Chinese folktale Journey to the West, focusing on the iconic character Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King. "Monkey Magic" was an anime adaptation of Journey to the West, aiming to capitalize on the success of Dragon Ball Z. However, it did not achieve widespread popularity and was discontinued after airing only 13 episodes.

Dragon Ball Z is undeniably one of the most popular anime worldwide. Its popularity has reached such heights that even your grandparents may have heard of it and know a few characters. The combination of comedic elements and intense action sequences has catapulted the franchise to become a household name over the past few decades. The momentum shows no signs of slowing down, particularly with the ongoing success of Dragon Ball: Super.

Given the immense success of the series, it comes as no surprise that numerous shows have sought inspiration (or even attempted imitation) over the years. However, there was one series that not only aimed to become a new Dragon Ball Z but also drew inspiration from the very source that inspired Dragon Ball itself. Who is behind this show, how did they try to piggyback off Dragon Ball Z, and what ultimately led to their downfall?

The Legend of Son Goku

Dragon Ball, although well-known, is actually based on the Chinese folktale called Journey to the West. In this tale, the mythical character known as the Monkey King, or Sun Wukong, gains recognition by declaring himself the Monkey King and discovering the "Water Curtain Cave" after going through a waterfall. After acquiring knowledge in Taoist practices, combat, and immortality from a sage, Sun Wukong becomes incredibly powerful, attracting the attention of the gods. However, his mischievous pranks eventually lead to his imprisonment under a mountain by the Buddha, where he remains for five hundred years.

Sun Wukong's freedom comes at the hands of Xuanzang, a monk from the Tang Dynasty. They embark on a journey together to retrieve Buddhist sutras from India. Sun Wukong employs his abilities to protect Xuanzang from monsters and demons who try to capture and consume the monk, hoping to attain immortality through his flesh. When the story was introduced to Japanese audiences, Sun Wukong became Son Goku, and from this, a young boy drew inspiration for what is arguably his greatest creation.

What is Dragon Ball?

Dragon Ball is a highly popular Japanese anime and manga series created by Akira Toriyama. It was first published as a manga in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from 1984 to 1995. The story follows Son Goku's life and adventures, from childhood to adulthood, as he trains in martial arts and searches for the seven Dragon Balls. These magical orbs can summon a dragon that grants wishes when collected. Along his journey, Goku makes friends, battles villains, and encounters various challenges. The Dragon Ball series consists of two parts. The first part, called Dragon Ball, focuses on Goku's adventures as a child and emphasizes adventure and humor. The second part, Dragon Ball Z, is more popular and explores Goku's adult life. It introduces new characters, including Goku's son, Gohan, and features more serious and dramatic storylines that involve threats to the universe. Toriyama's manga was initially inspired by Journey to the West, with Son Goku being influenced by the character Sun Wukong. However, Dragon Ball eventually developed its own unique identity. Interestingly, after Dragon Ball Z gained worldwide popularity, another company seized the opportunity to create an anime based on the original Journey to the West text, incorporating elements that made Dragon Ball Z successful; Monkey Magic.

What is Monkey Magic?

"Monkey Magic" is an anime adaptation of the legendary story Journey to the West. It revolves around the mischievous and formidable character Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King. In this version, the American dub has renamed him 'Kongo'. Remaining true to the original tale, the series begins with Sun Wukong's miraculous birth from a stone. It goes on to showcase his thrilling adventures, including his acquisition of the magical staff known as Ruyi Jingu Bang, his extraordinary fighting abilities, and his rebellious nature that often brings him into conflict with the gods.

This series, like many other adaptations, also includes Sun Wukong's eventual punishment by Buddha, known as 'The Guardian' in America. Setting itself apart from most anime at the time, the series stands out for its modern and stylized animation, as well as its humorous and action-packed portrayal of the classic tale. Notably, the animation style exhibits a more Western-influenced aesthetic compared to other anime series, likely due to being one of the first anime created with an international audience in mind.

The decision to incorporate computer animation was driven by the success of Pixar and DreamWorks Animation movies, which led movie studios to shift their focus away from 2D animation. To ensure international appeal, renowned music artists like Kintaro were selected to perform the themes, minimizing the need to alter the music for different markets. Additionally, merchandise and a PlayStation game were commissioned prior to the show's airing in anticipation of its global success.

What Went Wrong?

Despite everyone's noble efforts, the attempts to sell the show were not very successful. The major networks showed no interest, so the show was sold to syndication networks. It was scheduled to air at odd times on Saturdays and Sundays, mostly on local channels with no established programming for children. Unfortunately, Monkey Magic could not compete with Fox Kids and Kids WB and did not receive the necessary ratings to continue. The series was ultimately canceled after airing 13 episodes. Regrettably, it ended just as the actual journey in Journey to the West was beginning, making this single season feel more like a prolonged introduction rather than a depiction of the full story. Due to low ratings and poor merchandise sales, the show was canceled and only aired from 1998 to 1999 (with a small amount in 2000 for North America). Ultimately, the attempt to ride on the success of Dragon Ball Z was unsuccessful. Although the series is not available for streaming, a DVD set containing all 13 episodes (in both English and Japanese) has been released by Discotek. So, if any anime fans are interested in this unique series, they have the opportunity to visit an online store and purchase a copy.