Monkey picture book (new version uploaded on 02 October 2003 - earlier version didn't work)
Here's the message I received about this book:
"This picture-book was published 30 years ago, although it is out of print
now. I made this PDF file so that everybody can see it. But I made its DPI low so that it cannot be printed and reproduced on paper. A genuine article is this size of 10 times or more."
Download the PDF file of this book: EHON-S.pdf (1.22 MB)
NOTE: You'll need Acrobat Reader to read this file - you can download it for free from the Adobe Acrobat Reader web page.
If you have any problems viewing this PDF file, please contact me using the Monkey Feedback page.
Press pack photos
NTV released publicity photos from Monkey in press packs, and it's sometimes possible to find these at film fairs in the UK. These photos are extremely rare pieces of Monkey memorabilia. If you have any of these photos, or you know where they are available, please let me know using the Monkey Feedback page.
You'll find 8 black-and-white publicity photos from an NTV Monkey press pack on the Monkey Pictures - Page 5 page.
Wishing staff
In Japan, around the time when Monkey was first shown, it was possible to buy a toy retractible wishing staff which changed size just like Monkey's!
Other action figures
It used to be possible to buy 12 inch high dolls of Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy.
Dolls / action figures and board game
Apparently, they released four inch high action figures of the whole Monkey cast (possibly limited edition), though only in Japan. There was also a board game. Timothy Parnell gave me this information:
"All I can tell you is that locally to me in London there is an excellent shop, called 'Comet Minatures', that sell sci-fi and anime stuff. The guy who runs the store has been selling this kind of stuff for a long time, and he told me that though he has seen nothing at all for years, and believes I've got no chance of finding any memorabilia, he distinctly recalls seeing dolls of all four characters (including the horse) and a board-game. He thought there was also a Monkey figure with 'kicking' legs! Now he can't help with suggestions of the next step in finding them, but if you ever need other Japanese stuff, or sci-fi toys,it is a great place.The guy goes to a toy fair in Tokyo every year, so I think he's a reliable source......."
I've spoken to NTV, the Japanese producers of Monkey, to ask them if any merchandise is available, and they told me that since it's around 20 years old, nothing is available now.