The cheeky chimp - who's just been given $2 million (£1.25m) in Jacko's will - was taught the dance by trainer Bob Dunn in the 80s.
In this video - taken from a long-forgotten Japanese TV broadcast - Bubbles strides backwards mimicking his master's signature shuffle. He ends the show with a cheery wave to the camera.
Jacko and Bubbles were inseparable in the mid-80s after the chimp was rescued from a cancer lab. But the pair had to part when Bubs grew too aggressive to be around Michael's young family.
Now aged 26, he lives happily at a centre for celebrity apes in Florida where the reported $2m windfall will pay for care into his 60s.
Bob told us: "Bubbles missed Michael when they parted and wil miss him now. They were close friends and playmates and the last time Michael visited Bubbles recognised him and remembered him."
He described how Jacko thought of the ape as his "first child" and said he hopes the children will keep in touch with him in the future. He added proudly: "I taught Bubbles to Moonwalk."
Patti Ragan, who runs the sanctuary in Florida, said Bubbles enjoys eating sweet potatoes, listening to flute-and-guitar music, painting and hanging out with longtime buddy Sam, 40.
"They laugh and dance together, they groom each other - but of course they sometimes fight and have arguments, too," she said.
But he still hasn't been told that Michael is dead.
Patti added: "They just don't know that word. So there's no point in saying that to him. We join the world in being sad and mourning the death of Michael Jackson.
"What we can do is give Bubbles the best long-term future we can."
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This article has 13 comments
that monkey is so cute
By carla.. Posted January 9 2010 at 3:07 AM.
What a sad commentary on Joe . He was left out of the will but Bubbles got $2.
hope you get the message Joe.
By raffe.. Posted November 3 2009 at 1:35 AM.
Some people do not have anything better to do than tear Michael Jackson down.Thing about is he's probably in heaven now and having a great old time and people here don't have anything better to do than to try and distroy him still. But you can't touch him now. He is in heaven and that's one place you'll never get to enjoy. Judge not lest you be judged. Stop throwing stones at an innocent man. How about it. He is some one child,brother, and father. For god's sake so a little love! and compashion.
By deborah.. Posted October 19 2009 at 5:44 AM.
Some people do not have anything better to do than tear Michael Jackson down.Thing about is he's probably in heaven now and having a great old time and people here don't have anything better to do than to try and distroy him still. But you can't touch him now. He is in heaven and that's one place you'll never get to enjoy. Judge not lest you be judged. Stop throwing stones at an innocent man. How about it. He is some one child,brother, and father. For god's sake so a little love! and compashion.
By deborah.. Posted October 19 2009 at 5:43 AM.
Poor Bubbles...
By tiara.. Posted September 26 2009 at 3:26 PM.
i still think they should tell bubbles because if they don`t then when bubbles wants 2 see micheal again and they tell him no bubbles is gonna wanna know why so u might as well tell him but other bubbles is really cute doing the moonwalk and R.I.P MICHAEL JACKSON YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOR FORGOTTEN
By zaza.. Posted August 20 2009 at 2:04 PM.
that is NOT bubbles! check out the ears and the nose/face shape... even so michael is depply missed, and im glad to hear someone has looked after his pet after his passing. bubbles will be well looked after for the rest of his life. great sentiment x
By finny.. Posted August 2 2009 at 2:00 PM.
very cute
By amy.. Posted August 1 2009 at 11:14 PM.
that is so cute
michael loved bubbles and bubbles loved michael.
R.I.P MICHAEL xx
By emma.. Posted July 27 2009 at 1:06 AM.
MICHAEL JACKSON WAS LIGHT YEARS AHEAD.
RIP
By JackoWackoWalker.. Posted July 26 2009 at 8:35 PM.
Brilliant. You can teach apes to do anything. Be great to see if he can do any of Jacko's other dances.
By stacey.. Posted July 26 2009 at 1:11 PM.
So cute!!
By Amy.. Posted July 26 2009 at 12:02 PM.
good article...but seriously he has a name Michael jackson...plz stop calling him jacko...jeez >=(
By pat.. Posted July 26 2009 at 3:37 AM.