Lego Monkie Kid

Did You Know?

• A Lego Monkie Kid themed land was announced for Legoland Shanghai Resort in 2024.
• A quarterly Lego Monkie Kid limited edition magazine by CoroCoro was launched in 2021, available only in Japan.
• Lego Monkie Kid was nominated for Animated Series Production of the Year at the 20th Screen Producers Australia Awards in October 2021.

Development

Lego Monkie Kid is The Lego Group's first product line based on Chinese culture. Although the company had previously released Lego Chinese New Year sets, this was the first entire product line based on a Chinese theme. Research in China revealed that the classic story of the Monkey King and Journey to the West is widely known within Chinese culture, so it was chosen as the main inspiration. Senior creative director Simon Lucas said the story felt like it was in everyone's DNA, making it a great starting point for a new story rooted in Chinese culture.

The theme was developed over two years and interpreted the story differently from the original; Lucas noted that being 100% accurate was not necessary because they were picking up key ingredients. Recognizable characters from Journey to the West are included. Designers stated that researching Chinese stories and testing with children were important. Senior Design Manager Dennis Fong explained that they felt they hit something big with the Monkey King concept, seeing energy from kids and parents who instantly recognized iconic elements.

The initial concept originated in a rough sketch by Ned Rogers in December 2021, depicting construction sets transformed into animated vehicles, including Monkie Kid's Cloud Jet, Pigsy's Food Truck, and the Tuk Tuk from Iron Bull Tank. The theme was developed as an animated television series, with early set designs turned into animated models.

Characters

Monkie Kid, also called MK, is the main protagonist, a young noodle delivery boy chosen by Monkey King as his successor. He wields Monkey King's golden staff and has most of his powers. Mei is the descendant of the legendary White Horse Dragon and MK's best friend, gifted with a dragon aura and her family's jade dragon blade; she later inherits Red Son's Samadhi Fire in season 3. Pigsy is the stern owner and head chef of Pigsy's Noodles who acts as a fatherly figure to MK, using a rake as his weapon.

Sandy is a river ogre formerly a rage-filled soldier who became peaceful after therapy; when enraged, his eyes glow purple and his pearl necklace turns into orbs of fire. He uses a crescent staff and was made into a minifigure in the Season 3 sets. Mo is Sandy's pet therapy cat, reduced to a kitten named Baby Mo in later sets. Tang is a regular customer at Pigsy's Noodles who tells MK stories about Monkey King in exchange for free noodles; in season 3 he is revealed to have chi manipulation and uses a khakkhara.

He is believed to be another reincarnation of the Golden Cicada. Monkey King is the legendary hero who retired on Flower Fruit Mountain and trains MK as his successor. Demon Bull King is the leader of the Demon Bull Family and main antagonist of season 1, freed after 500 years trapped in a mountain, wielding a battle axe and cannons.

Toy line

According to BrickLink, The Lego Group has released 47 playsets and promotional packs based on Lego Monkie Kid. In 2020, eight sets were released on 16 May 2020 based on the TV special A Hero is Born, including the Monkey King Warrior Mech, Demon Bull King, and Monkie Kid's Team Secret HQ. Two promotional polybags, Monkie Kid's Delivery Bike and Build Your Own Monkey King, were also released. The A Hero is Born sets were retired on 31 December 2021.

Three sets based on the first season were released on 1 August 2020, including Monkie Kid's Cloud Roadster, and retired on 31 December 2021. Six sets based on the second season, including Monkie Kid's Team Dronecopter and The Legendary Flower Fruit Mountain, were released on 1 March 2021, with an exclusive set and a promotional polybag. These were retired on 31 December 2021. Three sets were released on 1 July 2021, including The Bone Demon.

Lucas explained that the building journey was made part of the play, like a video game with battles at each level. Two key chains with minifigures of Monkie Kid and Red Son were also released.

Television series

Lego Monkie Kid is an animated sitcom produced by Flying Bark Productions for seasons 1–4 and WildBrain Studios for season 5. It premiered on TV3 in Malaysia on 13 September 2020, on Channel 9 in Australia on 13 March 2021, on CITV on 9 May 2022, and on Boomerang on 4 February 2023 in the United Kingdom. A 45-minute special, Monkie Kid: A Hero is Born, premiered on RTM TV2 and TV3 in Malaysia on 13 June 2020, and internationally on Amazon Kids+ on 9 September 2021. Revenge of the Spider Queen, a four-part special, premiered on TV3 in Malaysia on 27 March 2021. Embrace Your Destiny, a four-part special, premiered on CITV in the United Kingdom on 1 June 2022. The Emperor's Wrath, a four-part special, premiered in China on 1 June 2023.