In a world full of pastel-colored princesses, magical bunnies, and starry-eyed kittens, there’s one Sanrio character who doesn’t always get the spotlight he deserves: Monkichi. This cheeky, banana-loving monkey is pure chaotic charm packed into a tiny brown body with a heart of gold and a knack for hilarious mischief. While Hello Kitty and My Melody often take center stage, Monkichi is behind the curtain throwing banana peels, cracking one-liners, and turning the quiet corners of the Sanrio universe into unexpected comedy gold. With his lightning-fast jokes, expressive eyes, and deep love for a well-timed pun, Monkichi has delivered some of the funniest, most underrated moments in all of Sanrio. Here are ten of his absolute best.
#10: Banana Peel Ballet
In one of his early animations, Monkichi decides to choreograph a dramatic dance inspired by his favorite thing in the world—bananas. What starts as a graceful pirouette quickly turns into a full-blown slapstick routine when he slips on a banana peel (his own, no less) mid-spin. Instead of stopping, he incorporates the chaos into his routine, spinning, tumbling, and somehow managing to land with jazz hands and a proud grin. The kicker? The banana peel claps. This moment is the perfect example of Monkichi’s lovable ability to turn accidents into applause-worthy comedy.
#9: The Banana Stand Debacle
Trying to turn his love for bananas into a business, Monkichi once set up a banana stand with an overly complicated pricing chart: “Buy one, get nonfree. Buy two, get a riddle. Buy three, get a hug.” Customers were understandably confused, but Monkichi insisted it was part of his “banana economics theory.” The entire scene devolves into a riot of pun-filled signage and absurd haggling, ending with Monkichi giving away his entire inventory in exchange for a high five. It’s a brilliant blend of wit, randomness, and heart—signature Monkichi style.
#8: Karaoke Chaos
Monkichi once took the mic at a Sanrio karaoke night, confidently choosing a dramatic power ballad. But halfway through, he replaced all the lyrics with the word “banana,” belting out, “Baaa-na-naaaaaa!” in every possible key. While other characters cringed or chuckled, Monkichi committed to the bit like a true performer. His passion, combined with absolutely zero musical training, turned the performance into viral comedy gold. It’s the kind of moment that leaves you giggling days later, wondering how “banana” could hit so many octaves.
#7: The Great Banana Heist
Monkichi’s hunger got the best of him when he tried to sneak into Kuromi’s kitchen to “rescue” a bunch of bananas he believed were being held hostage. Dressed in full ninja gear (which was just a sock and sunglasses), he tiptoed through traps, overdramatically dodged imaginary lasers, and narrated his every move in a fake action-hero voice. He got caught, of course—but the entire debacle, captured on Pochacco’s phone, became one of the most rewatched clips in the Sanrio fan world. Comedy, commitment, and bananas—it had everything.
#6: Banana Yoga Catastrophe
Inspired by Keroppi’s peaceful yoga routine, Monkichi decided to lead his own “banana yoga” class. The idea was simple: incorporate bananas into every pose. It didn’t take long for things to go hilariously wrong. One pose required balancing a banana on your head while hopping in a circle—Monkichi slipped, fell into a fruit basket, and declared, “This is part of the journey!” His unflinching positivity made the moment not just funny but oddly motivational. Even when upside down in a pile of produce, Monkichi found the punchline.
#5: The Unintentional Prankster
Monkichi doesn’t mean to cause chaos—it just follows him. Once, he accidentally swapped Hello Kitty’s tea set with a banana-scented slime kit and spent the entire afternoon earnestly trying to make tea from goo. His innocent confusion, coupled with Kitty’s increasingly baffled reactions, turned a calm tea party into a full-blown sticky situation. The best part? Monkichi still served the slime with the utmost politeness, bowing and saying, “Please enjoy this organic blend.” The sheer earnestness made it twice as funny.
#4: Hide-and-Seek Master (Sort Of)
During a Sanrio forest picnic, Monkichi insisted on playing hide-and-seek. The twist? His “hiding spot” was literally under a banana leaf, which barely covered one ear. Still, he stayed there for hours, absolutely convinced of his stealth. When found, he leapt out yelling “BANANA SURPRISE!” and scared the fluff out of Cinnamoroll. His poor hiding spot made it all the more ridiculous, but the energy and enthusiasm turned it into an iconic Monkichi win.
#3: Dream Sequence Disaster
In a short animation featuring a dream sequence, Monkichi imagined himself as the hero of a magical banana kingdom. He wore a cape made of peels, rode a golden banana chariot, and ruled over talking banana citizens. But even in his dreams, things went haywire—his crown fell off, his chariot broke down, and the banana citizens held a vote of no confidence. Monkichi’s deadpan reaction (“Well…that escalated quickly”) was comedic timing at its finest. The dream might’ve crumbled, but the laughs were very real.
#2: Banana Phone Blunders
Monkichi once tried to invent a “banana phone” by hollowing out an actual banana and using it as a walkie-talkie. He’d dramatically pretend to receive secret messages (“Copy that. Peel mission is a go.”), despite no one else playing along. The absurdity reached peak hilarity when he tried to call Badtz-Maru and accidentally squished banana on himself mid-call. Still unfazed, Monkichi declared, “That’s what I call fruit-forward technology.” He may not be the most tech-savvy monkey, but he’s definitely the funniest.
#1: The Banana Costume Incident
Saving the best for last, this legendary moment involved Monkichi entering a costume contest dressed as… a giant banana. He couldn’t see out of the eye holes, kept bumping into decorations, and accidentally rolled off the stage. Still, he popped up afterward with a proud “Ta-da!” and struck a pose. Everyone laughed so hard they cried, and Monkichi—ever the good sport—bowed like he’d won an Oscar. His unshakeable joy and ability to turn any disaster into a joke cemented this as the ultimate Monkichi moment.
Monkichi may never be the face of Sanrio merchandise or headline his own series like some of his more famous pals, but that’s exactly what makes him so charming. He’s the wildcard, the jester, the joyful chaos in an otherwise orderly universe. With his love of bananas, a deep commitment to silliness, and a heart that’s always in the right place—even when his body is upside-down in a fruit basket—Monkichi proves that laughter is sometimes the most magical gift of all.
