Mr. Ray Sues, Claiming 'Finding Nemo' Stole His Name

AP ^ | July 22, 2003

[Shermy]

NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- Will the real Mr. Ray please stand up?

On the big screen, it's the name of the manta ray in the animated movie "Finding Nemo."

In real life, he's Ray Yodlowsky, a children's musician known as Mr. Ray.

The flesh-and-bones version is not taking the coincidence lying down. Yodlowsky has filed a $10 million trademark infringement lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company and Pixar Animation Studios, claiming the manta ray character is causing confusion among his fans.

Yodlowsky said that some of his fans expected him to be dressed as a manta ray at a recent appearance.

"It's weird," he said. "I'm a human ... that's a manta ray. People must be thinking I'm nuts. But it's my future, and who knows what plans they have for their Mr. Ray? Believe you me, children remember all the minor and secondary characters from those movies."

In the movie, the manta ray plays a schoolteacher who helps a father fish search for his son.

A representative for Pixar declined comment, and attempts to reach Disney were unsuccessful.

[Shermy]

Mr. Ray has a website:

MrRay.com

[Sloth]

But it's my future, and who knows what plans they have for their Mr. Ray?

If he keeps this up, Mr. Ray will turn out to be a child molester in Finding Nemo II.

[dead]

He should just rename himself "Mr. Frivilous Lawsuit."

[socal_parrot]

I went to the Mr. Ray website. His guitar scares me.

[A CA Guy]

The guy is an idiot!

[SunStar]

Sounds like Spike Lee has some competition in the "gold digging moron" award.

[Chad Fairbanks]

"Funding Nemo"

[VermiciousKnid]

He'll never win. Look what Disney got away with re: "The Lion King."

The lifted the ENTIRE story from that Japanese animation show "Kimba The White Lion."

I watched "Kimba" as a child, and when I saw a video of it in the store I picked it up for my own kids. I was shocked at how similar the stories were, but Disney stole even more than just the plot. The characters...even the character's names were lifted.

It was a disgrace and one of the worst examples of plagiarism I've ever seen. The "Kimba" creators should have won their suit hands down, but they didn't.

Regards,

[mhking]

HMB/Bizarre PING....

If you want on or off this list, FReepmail me!

FYI: This has fast outgrown it's original "charter" and become a home for the truly bizarre. An alternative saying/phrasiology is being sought (and suggestions are very welcome!). Also, like it's "cousin list" the B/C list, it has become a high-volume list.

[KarlInOhio]

The ironic thing is they weren't originally going to use a manta ray, but instead a sting ray. But they decided the name might cause problems with:

[VermiciousKnid]

BTW...I do think that Mr. Ray's lawsuit is silly and will be thrown out.

[dead]

I wouldn’t let this guy within a hundred yards of my kids:

We strum it up and down, of course.....

[Shermy]

Ray goes by the name of "Ray Anderson"
For Example: http://nbs.gmnews.com/News/2000/0407/School/s002.html

Ray lives in North Brunswick, next door to Franklin Park, New Jersey. N. Brunswick shares the zip code actually used on the Daschle letter.

Hmm...Ray played with Meatloaf. If he takes up with Neil Young for the "Greendale" album tour, I'm calling the FBI. ;)

[Shermy]

You're dead on. Disney ripped off "Kimba". There's web pages about it - here's one:

http://www.kimbawlion.com/rant2.htm

[mrs. a]

Anyone from the DC metropolitan area remember those commercials for Mr. Ray's Invisible Hair Re-Weave back in the '80's? ("Our whole lives have changed!")

Maybe THAT Mr. Ray should sue Ray Anderson.

[mrs. a]

Sorry - I meant Mr. Yodlowsky, not Mr. Anderson.

One-a them days...

[TrebleRebel]

Does he have alot of plastic boxes with snap-lock lids filled with sweaters? We find that out, we're on our way...

[catonsville]

For years there was a local TV commercial in Baltimore by "Mr Ray". He sold wigs and hairpieces for men and women. He did the commercials himself and the self-parody sold a lot of wigs.

[socal_parrot]

Or how 'bout...

"Hey mr. RAY...check out my tongue!"

[socal_parrot]

What in the name of Kookla, Fran and Ollie is going on on the Mr. Ray Website?