Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) Coloring Pages

9Th! Smart and active animals

The Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) is the ninth sign in the 12-year Japanese Zodiac. It stands for the "monkey" that everyone knows. Monkeys are very close to humans, and they are famous for being smart and moving around actively.

What are their traits and symbols?

Because of their cleverness and agility, monkeys are seen as a symbol for many good things.

• Wisdom and smarts: They are quick thinkers and understand things right away. That is why they are a symbol of wisdom and creativity.
• Quick wits and flexibility: They move fast and can adapt well to any situation. Because of this, they are a symbol of quick wits and flexibility.
• Warding off bad luck: The Japanese word for monkey sounds like the word for "leave." So, people believe it means bad things will leave, making it a symbol for warding off bad luck.

Where do monkeys live?

Monkeys mostly live in places with lots of trees, like forests, jungles, and mountains.

• Skilled hands and feet: They are great at climbing trees. They use their long arms, legs, and tails to move around freely in the trees.
• Living in troops: Most monkeys live in troops with their family and friends. A troop has a leader, and they all help each other live.

Traits of people born in the Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac)

People born in the Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) are said to be cheerful, energetic, and full of humor, just like monkeys.

• Friendly and popular: They have a bright personality and make friends with anyone right away. They are popular people who everyone loves.
• Great ideas: They are quick thinkers and have the power of inspiration to come up with new and fun ideas instantly.
• Ready to take action: They do not just think. They have the powerful drive to take action right away.

How to choose colors: Go for a bright, cheerful look!

Colors for Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac): Monkeys come in all kinds of colors. This Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) is a cute character, so pick any colors you like!

• Basic monkey color: Use brown (like bright brown, light brown, or peach) to make it look like a real monkey.
• Face, hands, and feet: For parts with light fur like the face, hands, feet, and tummy, try light colors like peach or cream to make it look even more like a real monkey.

Polka dot colors: This Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) has polka dots on its body. The colors you choose here will totally change how your picture looks!

• Matching colors: Use a darker shade of brown that matches the body to give it a calm, neat look.
• Contrasting colors: Use bright colors that stand out from the body (like red, yellow, or blue) to make a fun, pop-style Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac). Feel free to choose whatever you like!

Bamboo and peach in the background: Let's color the peach held by Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) and the bamboo behind it, too.

• Bamboo: Start with a bright green (yellow-green) base, then add a little darker green to the joints to make it look 3D.
• Peach: Blend pink, orange, and yellow together to make a yummy-looking peach.

How to make it look 3D: Make it nice and round!

The body of Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) looks round and soft. If you think about "shadows" and "lights" while you color, your picture will look 3D. Where the shadows go:

• Try coloring areas that get less light—like the bottom of the tummy or the inside of the legs—with a color that is a little darker than your main color.
• For a sitting Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) like this one, putting a shadow on the neck under the face makes the face look like it is popping forward.

Where the light hits: For spots that get lots of light, like the top of the head or the round knees, use bright colors or leave some white space to make them look shiny.

Art supply tips! Try coloring the small details!

Colored pencils: Carefully color inside the lines for things like the bamboo pattern, the tiny lines on the peach held by Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac), and the soft clouds in the background. This will make your work look amazing!

• Make light and dark shades: When you color the whole body, just changing how hard you press lets you show the fur texture and the roundness of the muscles.

Background clouds: If you color the clouds in the background softly with light blue or pink, it makes a fun picture that looks like Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) is flying in the sky.

Tips for enjoying your coloring page!

• Try drawing a happy face!
  • This Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) is smiling! Try getting creative with the eye colors or add a little red on the cheeks to make it look even happier.
• Add some yummy food to the background!
  • Monkeys love bananas! It is super fun to draw things Year of the Monkey (Japanese Zodiac) likes to eat—like bananas or nuts—around the bamboo or on the ground!