List of fictional primates

This list of fictional apes is a subsidiary to the list of fictional animals. The list is restricted to notable non-human ape characters from the world of fiction including bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, gibbons, and other higher primates.

Primates in literature

Main article: List of fictional primates in literature

Discworld: Librarian of the Unseen University.

Ape	Origin	Notes
Fiben Bolger	The Uplift War	A Neo-Chimpanzee
Ishmael	Ishmael	A philosopher gorilla who was captured from the wild when young and sent to the zoo. After the zoo sold him to a menagerie, an old Jewish man bought him and could communicate with him through his mind. Ishmael teaches captivity to the unnamed narrator.
The Librarian	Discworld	The Librarian appeared in the first novel of the series, The Colour of Magic, and was transformed into an orang-utan in The Light Fantastic as the Octavo fired a beam of magic upwards. On discovering that being an orang-utan had certain advantages for a librarian - he can climb up to high shelves, for example - he refused to be transformed back into a human and has remained an orang-utan ever since. The other wizards have gradually become used to the situation, to the extent that, from Night Watch: ‘if someone ever reported that there was an orang-utan in the Library, the wizards would probably go and ask the Librarian if he'd seen it.’
Shift	The Chronicles of Narnia	the main antagonist of The Last Battle, which is the last book of the series. Shift is an ape who, like many animals in Lewis' work, can talk.

Primates in comics

Congorilla
Art by Mauro Cascioli.

Main article: List of fictional primates in comics

Ape	Origin	Notes
Ape-X	Squadron Supreme #5	a member of The Squadron Supreme; Also the name of a super hero who becomes a powerful gorilla after donning a magic Mexican wrestling mask
Congorilla	Secret Origins #40	featured in Secret Origins #40 - an 'all gorilla issue' that featured an editorial discussion of the Silver Age phenomenon and the issue sported a campy cover that featured a number of tricks formerly used to sell comics such as go checks, fires, motorcycles and questions.
Don Uggie Apelino	Judge Dredd 2000AD	a genetically altered intelligent ape that encountered Dredd several times - first during a gang war, and later after a foiled attempt to have Dredd assassinated. After the Apocalypse War, radiation returned him to the intelligence of a normal ape, whereupon he led a group of crazy and brutal apes in the Cursed Earth - and ran into Dredd for the last time.
Gorilla Boss	Batman	Originally a Mobster by the name of George Dyke, he was set to be executed but had his brain removed from his body by his henchman and it ends up transplanted into the body of a towering gorilla by a disgraced surgeon named Doc Willard.
McGimben Gimbensky	Grease Monkey	A gorilla who happens to be Chief Mechanic for Barbarian Squadron. A self-styled artist who cares nothing at all for regulations. Robin becomes his assistant and close friend.
Monsieur Mallah	Doom Patrol (vol. 1) #86	An intelligent homosexual gorilla created by an evil brain in a jar. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Evil, enemies of the original Doom Patrol.

Primates in film

Main article: List of fictional primates in film

The latest incarnation of King Kong

Ape	Origin	Notes
Aldo	Planet of the Apes	the leader of the gorilla factions (and the ape revolution, by extension) during the rise of the ape society prior to humanity's downfall, as the "lowest species" of the planet.
Cheeta	Tarzan	a chimpanzee character appearing in numerous Hollywood Tarzan movies of the 1930s–1960s as well as the 1966–1968 television series, as the ape sidekick of the title character, Tarzan. Cheeta's role in these films is to provide comic relief, convey messages between Tarzan and his allies, and occasionally lead Tarzan's other animal friends to the ape-man's rescue.
King Kong	King Kong	a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films. The character has become one of the world's most famous movie icons and, as such, has transcended the medium
Dr. Zaius	Planet of the Apes	an orangutan and although given a minor role devoid of dialogue in the novel, he becomes the main antagonist of the story in the subsequent film adaptation. Zaius was portrayed in the first and second films of the series by actor Maurice Evans.
Caesar	Planet of the Apes	The leader (and chief instigator) of the ape revolution in the fourth entry, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, and the ruler of Ape City in the fifth and final film, Battle for the Planet of the Apes. He was portrayed in both movies by actor Roddy McDowall, who had also played Cornelius. Along in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, played by actor Andy Serkis.

Primates in animation

Main article: List of fictional primates in animation

Name	Species	Origin	Notes
Bobo	Chimpanzee	Kim Possible
Bingo		Banana Splits
Charles Simian		Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys
Kala	Gorilla	Tarzan
Kerchak	Gorilla	Tarzan
Kiki	Monkey	Magical Sentosa	He is the former mascot of Sentosa, Singapore.
King Gorilla	Gorilla	The Venture Bros.	super-villain and "scared straight" counselor
Mr. Teeny	Monkey	The Simpsons	Krusty the Clown's acting partner and possibly pet and, like Krusty, is addicted to cigarettes.
Mojo Jojo	Chimpanzee	The Powerpuff Girls	a chimpanzee with megalomania
Mr. Nesmith the chimpanzee		Planet Sheen	In the service of NASA, originally a normal ape, but when his rocket crashed on an alien planet he developed advanced intelligence and the ability to speak, due to the higher gravity. Sheen Estevez, the star of the show, often incorrectly refers to him as a Monkey, much to Nesmith's annoyance.
Windsor Gorilla	Gorilla	My Gym Partner's a Monkey	a wise gorilla and another friend of Adam Lyon
Optimus Primal		Beast Wars	leader of the Maximals
Bobo Haha		Generator Rex
Chim-Chim	Chimpanzee	Speed Racer	pet chimpanzee of Speed's younger brother

Primates in television

Main article: List of fictional primates in television

Ape	Origin	Notes
Lancelot Link	Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp
Nurse Precious	Passions	soap opera orangutan
Bollo	The Mighty Boosh	talking Gorilla
Jungle Master Rilla	Power Rangers Jungle Fury
Professor Bobo	Mystery Science Theater 3000

Primates in video games

Main article: List of fictional primates in video games

Ape	Origin	Notes
Andross	Star Fox
Andross	Star Fox
Donkey Kong	Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Jr.	Donkey Kong Jr.	Donkey Kong's son
Diddy Kong	Donkey Kong Country
Dixie Kong	Donkey Kong Country
Gorilla	Gekido
Specter	Ape Escape	rules over lesser apes known as Piposaru.

External links

Comics

• The Gorilla Age of Comics - A comprehensive list of appearances of gorillas on comic book covers and in comic book storylines.
• Everything's Better With Monkeys - A list of highlighted comic covers with gorillas, along with limited commentary.
• The Gorilla Cover Gallery - Hundreds of gorilla covers from golden age to modern comics.