Kong: The Animated Series is an animated television series that follows King Kong, the title character based on the 1933 film of the same name. The series was a co-production between BKN International, Ellipsanime and M6, and premiered in France on the latter network on May 2, 2001. Kong was created to compete with Godzilla: The Series, and was the first show produced by BKN not to air in syndication. The series was acquired by EMBA Media Associates Limited from BKN International AG in 2015.

Plot

When King Kong fell to his death from the Empire State Building upon being shot down by biplanes in 1933, a scientist named Dr. Lorna Jenkins took DNA samples from him which she used to recreate a clone counterpart of the original Kong with the help of the DNA of her grandson, Jason. Many years later, Dr. Lorna Jenkins sends an e-mail to her grandson where he and his friend, Eric "Tan" Tannenbaum IV are invited to Kong's home on Kong Island. What they didn't know is that their university professor Ramone De La Porta had tampered with the e-mail so that he got invited as well. Upon meeting the native girl Lua, the group is taken to Dr. Lorna Jenkin's lab where Ramone's true colors are shown. Upon getting access to the Cyber-Link technology, Ramone uses it to steal some of the Primal Stones in a plot to take over the world. The Primal Stones were used to keep the fire demon named Chiros in his prison. With the help of his Cyber-Link that can merge him with Kong, Jason and his friends must work to reclaim the Primal Stones from De La Porta and his followers while fighting off the forces of Chiros.

Characters

Main

Villans

Other characters

Episodes

Season 1

Season 2

Cast

Additional

Movies

Kong: King of Atlantis (2005)

In 2005, BKN produced a film called Kong: King of Atlantis, which served as a continuation to the series in order to try and cash in on the 2005 King Kong remake. The film centres on Kong trying to protect the titular mythic island from a tyrannical human/snake hybridous sorceress. It's the 8th entry in the King Kong franchise. The film was released on DVD in most regions by Warner Home Video.

Kong: Return to the Jungle (2006)

A stand-alone sequel, titled Kong: Return to the Jungle was produced in 2006, and was computer-animated, unlike the first film and the series. In the film, hunters capture Kong and other animals from his island for a special zoo. The film was released on DVD by Genius Entertainment in the United States, Morningstar Entertainment in Canada, and BKN Home Entertainment in the United Kingdom. It's the 10th entry in the King Kong franchise.

Development

The series first began production in 1999, simply called Kong, being deemed as a "futuristic" version of the character.

Broadcast

On April 4, 2001, the series was pre-sold in the US to air on Fox's Fox Kids block. The show later premiered on June 2 of that year, and was also confirmed that the series had been pre-sold to M6 in France as well. Fox Kids aired half of the series before taking it off air. In March 2005, Super RTL acquired the German broadcast rights to the Kong: King of Atlantis movie. In July 2005, Disney Channels Worldwide purchased the US cable rights to the series alongside Kong: King of Atlantis to air on Toon Disney's Jetix block in anticipation of the release of Peter Jackson's King Kong remake. The series began on Jetix on September 9 and aired the rest of the episodes that Fox didn't. The film aired on November 1 of that year. In October 2005, Turner Broadcasting System Europe acquired the UK broadcast rights to the series to air on Toonami. Kong: King of Atlantis was also acquired for a November airing on the channel alongside Cartoon Network.

In other media

Home Media

United States

On March 20, 2007, Genius Entertainment released two two-disc volumes which make up the whole series. A boxset containing both volumes and the Kong: Return to the Jungle movie was later released.

Video games

Two video games were released based on the series, both on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. The first, called simply Kong: The Animated Series, was released by Planet Interactive in 2002. The second was released by Majesco Entertainment in 2005, and was based on the direct-to-video film Kong: King of Atlantis.