Trailer Watch: Learn the Amazing History Behind Curious George and His Creators in “Monkey Business”

“He’s as much of an immigrant as anyone,” we’re told about the world’s most beloved monkey in a new trailer for “Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators.” While often perceived as an American icon, the character was actually created by Margaret and Hans Rey, German Jews who were living in Paris when they first wrote of George’s misadventures. Ema Ryan Yamazaki’s upcoming doc traces George’s — and his creators’— amazing origin story.

“He’s not a typical animal,” Margaret says of George in the spot. She was the one to pen the books, and Hans illustrated them. She explains, “He’s a curious monkey who, through his curiosity, gets himself into trouble and through his own ingenuity gets himself out of trouble.”

The trailer highlights both George and the couple who brought him into the world. Margaret “cut all of the deals and pushed her way into publishers and held their feet to the fire,” while Hans was the “sugar” to her “spice.”

“Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators” also touches on the historical backdrop the books were written against. While living in Paris, the Reys “were forced to escape from the Nazis by riding makeshift bicycles — a manuscript of the first Curious George book was one of the few possessions they could smuggle out with them,” the film’s official synopsis details. They arrived in New York as refugees and “over the next three decades they created a classic that continues to touch the hearts and minds of children around the world.”

You can watch “Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators” on VOD beginning August 15.