1999
Animated in Animation Shop as a celebratory forum emoticon — the :banana: that replaced the typed shortcut.
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.
Created 1999 · first posted on a Norwegian web forum · the same banana later set to Peanut Butter Jelly Time · licensed simply — you talk to the person who drew it.
Where it comes from
Same banana since 1999.
A short history — so you know exactly what you're licensing, from the person who drew it.
Forums → TV
Spread across early-2000s message boards, became a Flash and YouTube staple, and made it to network television.
Still dancing
Twenty-seven years of remixes, emoji packs and TV cameos later — same pixels, same person answering the enquiries.
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
Every frame remastered at 2000×2000 with true transparency — ready 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:
- Image only — no use of my name, likeness, or any implied endorsement. Announcing the license itself as an association also needs written approval.
- Fee paid in full, upfront, by bank transfer against an invoice — funds cleared before the license starts. No tokens, no equity, no "you'll be early", and no reversible payment methods (that includes PayPal).
- A named counterparty — a legal entity, a jurisdiction, and a person who signs. I don't negotiate with anonymous teams or through "connectors".
- Short term, non-exclusive, with a written right to terminate and require removal.
- A morality clause — misuse ends the license immediately.
- Everything in writing, through the form below. No calls, no video meets, nothing agreed verbally. If the deal needs a call to explain, it isn't ready.
Flag it honestly when you get in touch — it changes the quote, not your odds. Meet the terms above and this is a normal, friendly transaction.
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 the contact form with this checklist ready to fill in.
- Your legal entity — registered company name, reg. no. and country
- Who I'd be signing with — contact name and role
- What you're making and how the banana would be used
- Where it'll appear, and the reach / audience size
- How long you need it — licenses are non-exclusive
- Ballpark budget
- Whether it's a crypto / token / web3 project
- A link to a site, deck or mockup, if you have one
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.
Dancing Banana © 1999–2026 Trym Stene.
This page licenses the Dancing Banana character and animation only. It is not affiliated with, and does not grant rights to, the "Peanut Butter Jelly Time" Flash animation or the Buckwheat Boyz song.