History Main / SillySimian

* Averted in ''VideoGame/StarFox'' -- with the exception of a single specimen all simians are evil. And at least [[MadScientist one]] is [[OneWingedAngel creepy]].

* From ''Radio/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'':

* Bananas the gorilla is a friend and accomplice of WesternAnimation/TheHairBearBunch. He's none too bright but easygoing, yet when he tries to prove he can be tough he winds up scaring himself.

* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': Bugs Bunny dealt with gorillas a few times, notably in "Gorilla My Dreams," "Hurdy Gurdy Hare" and "Apes of Wrath."

* ''WesternAnimation/CaptainSimianAndTheSpaceMonkeys''
* On the ''Around the World in 79 Days'' segment of ''WesternAnimation/TheCattanoogaCats,'' there was Smirky, the minion and accomplice to Crumden and Bumbler.

** Beagley Beagley and ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatGrapeApe''

* The 1987 film [[''Film/ProjectX1987 ProjectX]]''.

* The 1987 film ''Film/ProjectX''.

Some people find apes, monkeys, and lemurs inherently amusing. Perhaps it's the fact that they mirror humanity so closely while still maintaining the visage of a wild animal, perhaps it's just easier to anthropomorphize them, or maybe people just like [[ToiletHumour poop-tossing jokes]]? Whatever the reason, there's a cyclic period of people being fascinated by primates that always seems to take the world of fiction by storm.

* Monkey from ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' is a laid-back and somewhat [[MischiefMakingMonkey mischievous]] kung-fu master.
* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' film franchise has a ring-tailed lemur (King Julien), a mouse lemur (Mort) and an aye-aye (Maurice). ''And'' two chimps, Phil and Mason. All five can also be found in the spin-off TV series ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'', which ups the count even further by adding two DumbMuscle gorilla characters, Bada and Bing.

* ''Film/{{Outbreak}}'' unashamedly featured a cute little monkey who was the plague bringer of doom (albeit unintentionally.)

** Of course, a monkey appears in several scenes of ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' until its greed gets the better of it.

** And of course they eat chilled Monkey brains in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom''.

* Darling Pet Munkee's almost-eponymous song "Darling Pet Monkey", about an actual mail-order ad for live squirrel monkeys (see the "real life" section). Since their main shtick is writing songs about comic book ads that reflect the ad's tone and not what the actual product was like, it makes getting a monkey in the mail sound much cooler and less dangerous than it really would be.

*** Third opinion: [[RuleOfFunny friggin hilarious]].

* Music/{{Rush}} - "The Main Monkey Business"

* Heroic simians in ''WebAnimation/GamingAllStars'' include [[VideoGame/DonkeyKong Donkey Kong]], [[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry Diddy Kong]], and [[VideoGame/SambaDeAmigo Amigo]] in ''The Ultimate Crossover'' and ''Remastered'', all of whom become part of the ultimate team of heroes near the end of both versions.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

*** Of course, this all culminated in the [=JLApe=] crossover, where the entire Justice League were turned into gorillas, even in their own comics. Before you ask, it was actually in the late nineties. Also, it turns out that red-haired and blond gorillas (such as the ape versions of the Flash and Aquaman, respectively), are really weird looking.

* "WebOriginal/ILikeMonkeys": The man himself states "I like monkeys". It seems to be that way at first, until they start causing trouble, but he still likes them.

** In another episode, Robin temporarily moves to Japan, where [[WidgetSeries the co-host of her news show is a chimp]].

** Detective Chimp: ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. A member of ComicBook/{{Shadowpact}}, [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Bobo T. Chimpanzee]] would like to remind you that Franchise/{{Batman}} is merely the World's Greatest ''Human'' Detective.

** [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Beppo the Super-Monkey,]] who is a Kryptonian [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin monkey who is super.]]

** The original ComicBook/SquadronSupreme (a team of [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]] [[{{Expy}} Expies]] from an alternate universe) have an expy of Gorilla Grodd in their rogues gallery: a female cyborg ape named Ape-X [[PunnyName (like "Apex").]]

** Legend has it that this trend began when a Creator/DCComics executive noticed sales spikes during months where monkeys and/or apes were on the cover. Whether or not this is true is unknown, but Peter David, in the same foreword on the quotes page, insists that it's true, and even names the exec: Julius Schwartz, creator of [[Franchise/TheFlash Barry Allen]] and [[Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]], among others.

-->'''Wendy:''' Oh no. It's [[Franchise/TheFlash Gorilla Grodd]].

* ''VideoGame/JusticeLeagueHeroesTheFlash'' follows the trend of DC comics and has Franchise/TheFlash villain Gorilla Grodd as the first boss fight, and his gorilla army serves as some of the variety of goons throughout the entire game.

* Spidermonkey from ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin just what he sounds like]]; a monkey with Franchise/SpiderMan powers. Though his species is called "Arachni''chimp''". His SuperMode in ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'' is apparently a gorilla with [[SpiderLimbs spider legs]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' episode "Dead Reckoning" Gorilla Grodd reveals his master plan is to use Gorilla City's cloaking shield generator to produce a carrier wave that will magically turn every man, woman, and child on Earth into an ape. ComicBook/LexLuthor and the other supervillains were less than amused. And by "less than amused," we mean "Luthor shot him in the face." Even the heroes were underwhelmed; Franchise/WonderWoman's response upon seeing her transformation: "Oh, come ON!"