Winged monkeys facts for kids
Winged monkeys are famous fictional characters. They first appeared in the 1900 children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This classic story was written by the American author L. Frank Baum. These monkeys live in the jungle and have feathered wings, just like birds.
They are known for being playful, smart, and able to speak English. At first, the Wicked Witch of the West controls them. Later, the main character, Dorothy Gale, gains control. The Winged Monkeys help Dorothy by flying her to different places. They also appeared in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. Since then, similar characters have shown up in many other stories, movies, and games.
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The Winged Monkeys in Oz Stories
The Winged Monkeys in the Original Book (1900)
The Winged Monkeys once lived freely in the jungles of the magical Land of Oz. They were playful and loved to cause a little mischief. One day, their king played a trick on a human friend named Quelala. He threw Quelala into a river, ruining his fancy wedding clothes. Quelala's fiancée, Princess Gayelette, was a powerful sorceress. She was very angry about the prank.
As punishment, Gayelette put a spell on the monkeys using a special item called the Golden Cap. Whoever wore the cap could make the monkeys do three things. Later, the Wicked Witch of the West found the Golden Cap. She used its power to make the monkeys help her take over the Winkie Country. She also made them chase the Wizard of Oz away from her lands.
After Dorothy Gale defeated the Wicked Witch, she found the Golden Cap. She didn't know its magic at first. Once she learned about its power, she used it to ask the Winged Monkeys for help. They flew her and her friends to the Emerald City. During this trip, the Monkey King told Dorothy the story of their enslavement.
Dorothy then asked them to fly her back home to Kansas. However, the Winged Monkeys could not leave the magical land of Oz. This meant her second wish was used up. For her third wish, Dorothy asked them to carry her group over the dangerous mountains. These mountains were home to the Hammer-Heads, who wouldn't let them pass.
Finally, Dorothy gave the Golden Cap to Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. Glinda used the cap to send Dorothy's friends back to their homes. Then, Glinda broke the spell on the Winged Monkeys. She gave them the Golden Cap, setting them free forever. They promised to stop playing tricks on people.
The Winged Monkeys in the Movie (1939)
In the famous 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, the Winged Monkeys are also present. They understand commands but do not speak, unlike in the book. They capture Dorothy and her dog, Toto. They also take apart the Scarecrow. However, they leave the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion alone. This allows Dorothy's friends to put the Scarecrow back together and save her.
The movie does not mention the three wishes from the Golden Cap. This suggests the monkeys serve the Witch because they are afraid of her. The Golden Cap itself only appears very briefly. A character named Nikko, who is like the Monkey King, is seen with the Witch. He is played by Pat Walshe. Nikko's wings are clipped, and he follows the Witch's orders.
For example, the Witch tells Nikko to throw Toto into a river. Dorothy stops him from doing this. Nikko is also shown with the Witch when she is angry. His name "Nikko" is only in the movie credits.
The Golden Cap is only shown for a moment. After Dorothy and the Lion wake up from a sleeping spell, the Witch sees them in her crystal ball. Nikko hands her the Golden Cap. She then throws it away in anger. This short scene was originally part of a longer one. In the movie's script, the Witch planned to use the cap to summon the monkeys. She wanted them to take Dorothy's Ruby Slippers. But the sleeping spell was broken before she could. The cap in the movie looks much like the drawings from the original book.
A musical song called "The Jitterbug" was planned for the movie. It involved a magic insect sent by the Witch to weaken Dorothy's group. Then the monkeys would capture them. The video for this song is lost, but the music still exists. This song is sometimes added to stage shows based on the movie.
Winged Monkeys in Other Stories and Media
The Winged Monkeys have appeared in many other stories and adaptations of the Oz tales.
- In The Wiz, a musical film, the Flying Monkeys are a motorcycle gang. They ride motorcycles with metallic wings.
- The novels Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire offer a different origin for the flying monkeys. They were created by Elphaba as part of her experiments.
- In The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, the Winged Monkeys are a group of "motorcycle enthusiasts" played by Muppet characters. They are controlled by the Wicked Witch's Magic Biker Cap.
- The 2013 film Oz the Great and Powerful features a winged monkey named Finley. Oscar Diggs befriends Finley after saving him from a lion. The film also shows Winged Baboons, who are part of the armies of Theodora and Evanora.
- The Winged Monkeys also appeared in the TV series Once Upon a Time. In this show, they could turn people into winged monkeys.
- They have been referenced or appeared in other popular culture, including episodes of The Simpsons and films like Jumanji.
- In the 2017 TV series Emerald City, the Flying Monkeys are mechanical creatures. The Wizard uses them to spy on people.
- The Winged Monkeys appear in the 2024 film Wicked, based on the musical.
