本片是由日本民间故事改编，东映动画精心制作。内容叙述一对姐弟被官僚逼害，姐姐自杀、弟弟厨子王丸习武艺，终于衣锦还乡，感动人心的佳作。
本片的原作是森鸥外以传说为基础创作的小说《安寿和山椒太夫》，可以说是日本动画创时期的代表作品。
其流畅的动作和华丽的画面与同时期的迪斯尼动画相比也毫不逊色。制作方面，采用了先由声优实际演出，然后根据演出创作原稿的一些迪斯尼动画的制作方法。

A monkey king who learns the secrets of magic goes on a spree and causes no end of aggravation for the gods, who finally imprison him. In order to make up for all the trouble he's caused, he is sent on a mission to accompany a prince who is the son of the gods on a journey through a land filled with dangers, monsters, cannibals and demons.

As a young boy, Xu-Xian is forced to free his pet, a small snake. Unbeknownst to him, the snake is actually a young snake goddess named Bai-Niang and she is in love with him. Many years later, when they are both adults, the princess is magically transformed into a human and sets out to find her love. But the local wizard believes her to be a vampire, and banishes Xu-Xian from the village in order to save him. Xu-Xian's pet pandas Panda and Mimi set out to save him and bring him, in the process becoming leaders of an animal gang.