Famed monkey takes a new direction in New York

Pop star, top animator help bring fresh take to a Chinese classic

In the 1970s, a Japanese television show based on Journey to the West, a 16th century Chinese novel about a mischievous monkey and his friends, introduced a generation of British children to Chinese culture.

That series, Monkey, became a cult classic, captivating viewers with its wacky mix of martial arts and Eastern morality.