A Giant Project from Toei Animation: Monkey Quest is Coming in 2027!
The anime world giant Toei Animation has shared exciting details about its long-awaited new project, Monkey Quest, previously announced under the title Hypergalactic. The film, which is scheduled for release in 2027, will be a hybrid production combining traditional 2D animation with modern 3D techniques. During the presentation at the Annecy Festival, it was emphasized that the project is not just a film, but one of the biggest steps in Toei's strategy to expand into the global market.
The film transports the story of Journey to the West, one of the immortal classics of Chinese literature, into a futuristic science fiction universe. At the center of the story are 12-year-old Elle and her one-year-old brother Adam. The duo embarks on an intergalactic adventure after meeting Okon, a powerful monkey who is the legendary protector of Earth and has been imprisoned for centuries. The voice cast includes names such as Adam DeVine (Okon) and veteran actor J.K. Simmons (Vex).
Visually ambitious, Monkey Quest is collaborating with Studio Sanzigen for its 3D segments. The most striking feature of the film is the purpose behind the use of 2D and 3D. Director David N. Weiss stated that 2D animation will be used solely to represent the spiritual and interdimensional world from which Okon hails. The character designs bear the signature of Naoto Ohshima, the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog. This hybrid style adds artistic depth to the film and conveys the difference between the worlds through a visual language.
The history of the project actually dates back to 2018, when it was announced under the name The Monkey Prince. Initially planned for a 2024 release as a fully CG (computer-generated) production, the film was delayed to 2027 due to artistic changes during the development process and global collaborations. Toei Animation General Manager Asama Yosuke says this project will prove that
