Demon Monkey

Demon Monkeys are the main antagonists of Temple Run and its sequel, Temple Run 2. They chase the player in their quest to retrieve the golden idol, with capture resulting in the end of a run.

Appearance

Temple Run 1

In the original Temple Run, three small Demon Monkeys actively pursue the character throughout the course of a run. Their appearance is similar to that of normal monkeys except for their heads, which appear as eerie-looking skulls with glowing green eyes. Demon Monkeys also have long, forked tongues, as can be observed on one of the game's wallpapers. In the first game, they emit high-pitched screeches typical of a monkey.

Temple Run 2

In Temple Run 2, the horde of three Demon Monkeys is replaced by one giant individual; the monkey-like screeching noise is also replaced by a sound more akin to a roar. The design of the Giant Demon Monkey varies between each map, and are as follows:

	In Sky Summit, Holi Festival, and originally Spooky Summit. the Giant Demon Monkey simply appears to be a larger version of the original. It has black fur with a green-eyed skull; its front arms are also noticeably larger than its back legs.
	In Spooky Summit, the Giant Demon Monkey retains aspects of its original Sky Summit look; however, it is also shown to be translucent, and surrounded by a light blue haze that gives it a ghostly quality. Its eyes are also a significantly brighter green.
	In Frozen Shadows, its fur is grey instead of black, and dusted with white frost; its eyes are also icy blue instead of green. During a run, the player may encounter forks in the road, at which a smaller Demon Monkey will jump down and block one of the paths.
	In Frozen Festival and Winter Toyland, the Giant Demon Monkey retains aspects of its Frozen Shadows look; however, it also wears a red Christmas sweater and green scarf, as well as unique deer antlers.
	In Spooky Ridge, the Giant Demon Monkey retains aspects of its Frozen Shadows look; however, it is also shown to be translucent, and surrounded by a purple haze that gives it a ghostly quality.
	In Blazing Sands, Winter Wasteland and Blooming Sands, the Giant Demon Monkey adopts a pangolin-like appearance. Its fur is dark brown, and its back is adorned with scales; it also has a unique animation in which it rolls out of the temple at the start of a run.
	In Lost Jungle, the Giant Demon Monkey takes on a plant-based appearance, with a body covered in moss and vines as opposed to fur. In place of the typical skull head, it can be seen bearing a skull with painted patterns.
	In Fall Jungle, the Giant Demon Monkey retains aspects of its Lost Jungle look; however, the moss on its body has been changed to a reddish-orange hue in line with the map's autumnal colors.
	In Lantern Festival, the Giant Demon Monkey retains aspects of its Lost Jungle look; however, both its skull and the vines adorning its body have been changed to gold. The mossy hide has also been replaced with red and gold scales.
	In Pirate Cove and Pirate Cove - Earth Day, the Giant Demon Monkey takes on a skeletal form, with a uniquely shaped skull that bears golden false teeth; one arm has also been replaced with a hook. It wears pirate clothing, tangled in some places with rope, and with a ship's wheel strapped to its back.
	In Spirits Cove, the Giant Demon Monkey retains aspects of its Pirate Cove look; however, the pirate clothing of the original has been replaced by a purple charro outfit, embroidered with gold with Mexican-inspired patterns. The wheel on its back is also noticeably absent.
	In Volcano Island and Holiday Havoc, the Giant Demon Monkey has dark navy-blue hide, lined with blue veins and sprouting blue crystals. Its skull also has a unique shape, with light blue eyes.
	In Enchanted Palace and Twilight Palace, the Giant Demon Monkey has a purple, furry body with teal fur on its limbs. It has golden bangles on its arms, and jade spikes lining its back. Its skull is unique in shape, covered in tribal markings; its eyes are shown to be blue in color.
	In Haunted Harvest, the Giant Demon Monkey has a purple body entangled with green vines; pumpkins also sprout from its back. Its skull has a unique spiked shape, with light green eyes.

Other Appearances

	In the VR version of Temple Run, the player is chased by the Frozen Shadows variant of the Giant Demon Monkey, additionally flanked by two smaller variants.
	More Demon Monkey variants appear in the Temple Run: Run for your Life! interactive book series. In Doom Lagoon, the reader can be found by a baby Demon Monkey with its mother; and in Pyramid Peril, a mummified Demon Monkey distinct from the Blazing Sands variant can be found.

Quotes

Upon capturing a runner:

• "I eat explorers like you for breakfast."
• "You made a tasty snack."
• "Nom nom... leathery!"

Upon the runner getting burnt:

• "Smells like toast."
• "Mmmm, crispy explorer."

Upon the runner getting caught in a trap:

• "Caught you!"

Gallery

Temple Run

Artwork.

In the original Temple Run.

On a wallpaper.

Eating a runner.

[2]

[3]

Taking down Guy Dangerous.

Taking down Francisco Montoya.

Taking down Zack Wonder.

Taking down Montana Smith.

Temple Run 2

Spooky Summit loading screen.

Holi Festival loading screen.

Winter Wasteland loading screen.

Blooming Sands loading screen.

Lost Jungle loading screen.

Fall Jungle loading screen.

Pirate Cove loading screen.

Volcano Island loading screen.

Holiday Havoc loading screen.

Mauling a runner upon capture.

After capture.

[2]

[3]

The Demon Skull, one of the Masks.

Trivia

• The original Demon Monkeys in Temple Run were designed by the game's artist, Kiril Tchangov. He uses skulls as his signature in games he has worked on - this is how the skull-faced design of the Demon Monkeys came about.
• Natalia Luckyanova, one of the original game's developers alongside Keith Shepherd, initially found the Demon Monkeys frightening and objected to their inclusion in the game; on the other hand, Shepherd and Tchangov liked their design and ultimately convinced her in their favor.