Exciting news for Donkey Kong fans! According to a report by Video Game Chronicle, Nintendo and Universal Pictures are teaming up to produce an animated Donkey Kong film. A copyright application for the project, currently untitled, was filed back in May, officially marking the collaboration. The timing couldn’t be better, as the iconic ape is set to star in a brand new game, Donkey Kong Bananza, featuring a young Pauline, a character that harkens back to the original 1981 arcade hit. However, this partnership is particularly noteworthy given the companies’ history. Decades ago, Universal actually sued Nintendo, claiming similarities between Donkey Kong and their King Kong property.
Back in 1983, Universal initiated a legal battle against Nintendo, arguing that Donkey Kong infringed upon their trademark for King Kong. Nintendo’s legal team, which included attorney Howard Lincoln (who later became a board member), sought the assistance of John Kirby, an attorney with a winning record in significant cases. Their efforts proved successful. The court ultimately rejected Universal’s claim that Donkey Kong would cause confusion with King Kong.
The judge determined that Universal did not possess the rights to King Kong, as they had previously argued it was in the public domain back in 1975 to produce their own 1976 King Kong remake. Furthermore, the court found no likelihood of consumer confusion between the two properties. Nintendo’s victory was a crucial step in solidifying their position within the U.S. video game market. As a gesture of gratitude, Nintendo presented John Kirby with a $30,000 sailboat named Donkey Kong and granted him exclusive global rights to use the name for boats. Later on, they further honored him by naming the main character of the Kirby video game series after him.
It appears that time has healed old wounds, but keep an eye out for potential Easter eggs in the upcoming film! Could we see a cameo from Kirby, or perhaps Donkey Kong himself enjoying a leisurely sail on a boat bearing his name? Only time will tell.