Flying monkeys are fictional characters that first appeared in L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. They are described as jungle monkeys with bird-like feathered wings that are playful, intelligent, and speak English. They are initially under the control of the Wicked Witch of the West, but are later controlled by the protagonist, Dorothy Gale. They next appeared in the 1939 musical film adaption of the novel, The Wizard of Oz. In the film they have a much smaller role than in the book, and do not speak. After 1939, similar characters have appeared in numerous books, films, computer games and other popular media.