TRYMSTENE
The original Dancing Banana GIF, created by Trym Stene in 1999

Original · since 1999

license the
dancing banana

The pixel banana that's been bobbing across the internet since 1999 — born as a forum emoticon, danced its way to YouTube, Newgrounds and prime-time TV. If you want to use it commercially, this is the door.

Request a license →

Created 1999 · first posted on Norsk FreakForum · the same banana later set to Peanut Butter Jelly Time · licensed directly by its creator, no middlemen.

The real one

One banana. One creator.

Plenty of versions float around. This is the original — licensed by the person who drew it.

1999

Animated in Animation Shop as a celebratory forum emoticon — the :banana: that replaced the typed shortcut.

Forums → TV

Spread across early-2000s message boards, became a Flash and YouTube staple, and made it to network television.

Credited

Consistently attributed to one creator across meme archives and press — and uncontested by anyone else.

What you can license

The banana itself — for almost anything.

Ads, merch, packaging, games, video, editorial, apps. Pick the asset and the use; the license is written to fit it.

The original GIF

The classic looping animation as it first appeared — for digital, social and editorial use.

The hi-res remaster

A clean, high-resolution version of the character — for print, merch and large-format display.

The character

The Dancing Banana likeness for products, packaging, games and animation — scoped per project.

Scope This licenses the Dancing Banana — the character and its animation. It does not cover the "Peanut Butter Jelly Time" flash animation or the song, which were made by other people. If your use needs those too, you'll want their permission separately.

How licensing works

Every use is quoted to the project.

There's no fixed price list, because a sticker pack and a national ad campaign aren't the same ask. Tell me what you're making and I'll quote it. Roughly, requests fall into three shapes:

Social & short campaign

One brand, a defined run, limited channels. The light end — usually a flat fee.

Merch & product

The banana on something you sell. Typically a fee plus a small royalty, so it scales with the product, not with guesswork.

Broadcast, film & games

Wide reach, long life, or exclusivity. Quoted per project — the serious end of the range.

Four things move a quote:

Use — where it appears Reach — how many people Term — how long Exclusivity — anyone else?

Non-exclusive and short is cheap; exclusive and perpetual is not.

Crypto, tokens & "bananacoin" projects

Possible — on stricter terms.

I don't endorse, promote, or post about token projects. The banana's image can be licensed for one, but the terms are deliberately different:

Flag it honestly when you get in touch — it changes the quote, not your odds.

Request a license

Tell me what you're making.

The more you share, the faster I can come back with a real number instead of more questions. The button below opens an email with the checklist ready to fill in.

Email a licensing enquiry →

Every license comes with a short written agreement covering scope, term and territory, plus a mutual representation and indemnity clause — standard language that protects us both. Getting in touch isn't an agreement; it's the start of a conversation. Free or non-commercial fan use generally doesn't need a license.