Zelda Anime Kickstarter Cancelled Due to Copyright Claim

Some of our readers predicted it would happen in comments on our article about the project, but Aeipathy Industries’ Kickstarter for the Zeldamotion project, a fanmade anime series based on the A Link to the Past manga by Akira Himekawa, has been canceled due to a copyright claim. Considering Aeipathy Industries’ ambitions to create a fully-realized anime series and the fact they have already created an episode with well-known voice actors from the anime industry, this Kickstarter being cut short no doubt comes as a big disappointment to many Zelda fans.

The copyright notice was received by Aeipathy Industries from a litigation firm called Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP on behalf of Nintendo and is visible on the Kickstarter page, which has been taken down.

While some Zelda Informer readers and staff members already foresaw the cancellation of this project due to copyright infringement, others speculated Nintendo would not file a claim against the Kickstarter because Aeipathy Industries wasn’t aiming to make a profit from the series. It’s certainly worth noting that the first episode of the anime remains on Youtube, so if money isn’t being made, perhaps Nintendo won’t be filing any claim against the footage that has already been created and uploaded. However, Aeipathy Industries seeking funding for their venture may have attracted the notice of Nintendo and resulted in them taking action against the Kickstarter.

On the other hand, Michael Patch of Aeipathy Industries released an official statement about the cancellation of the Zeldamotion project likely before receiving the copyright notice, as he references canceling the project without receiving one:

There is nothing I have put more time into or worked on so hard as Zeldamotion. I had a dream that I would make a Zelda movie one day. The reason I started really pursuing my art skills was because of Ocarina of Time. More than three fourths of the art I have in my sketchbooks or my computer is fan art from Legend of Zelda. Through the Zeldamotion project, I taught myself how to animate, manage websites, work with public relations, and share the joy of fellow fans when my (and those who helped me) hard work was finally unveiled, after years of work.

I learned a lot. I burnt myself out. I felt surreal joy. I think I am better for it. But the truth is, I am just a fan.

I used Nintendo’s IP’s in pursuit of my dreams, and my very small voice never met Nintendo’s ear. Understandable. There are thousands of IP fan requests all of the time. Though I have not recieved a C&D, Out of respect for Nintendo, and due to few incriminating crowds, (though it was maybe only 30% of people who commented) I am ending the Zeldamotion journey. To the other 70% of you, I give you my sincerest thanks. You made me feel like I was more than just some guy making fan art. You are the ones I did this for.

What do you think of this ambitious project being cancelled? Did you foresee it happening? Are you disappointed that the series won’t come to fruition? Let us know your thoughts.

Sources: Kickstarter, Aeipathy Industries