Kejo the Silverback is a character from the Jungle Cruise attraction at the Disney Parks.
History[]
Background[]
Kejo was a silverback that lived in the Congo basin of Africa during the 1930s. He was part of a troop of gorillas that raided various camps and colonies, including a camp of a safari group around 1935/1936 and stole their supplies. Thompson J. Gazelle, a news reporter of the Daily Gnus newspaper, reported on Kejo, claiming him to be the part of the "Adventureland Gorilla Theatre Company", whom Gazelle praised the gorilla, interpreting him to perform an act of William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
At some point in 1938, Kejo and the gorillas attacked the Jungle Navigation Company where they stole its movie projector, postponing their movie night indefinitely. Additionally, the gorillas also ransacked a campsite within the Congo basion, stealing various supplies and flipping over a jeep. Some time, a tour passed by the camp after stopping for a refuel.
Development History[]
Kejo was designed by the late Marc Davis in an update for the Jungle Cruise attraction in 1976 for an update in the Disneyland version[1]. The animatronic was originally seen fighting a crocodile; however, the crocodile was removed very early, which is possibly only used for testing[2]. The crocodile was suddenly replaced by a floating crate with bananas on it for the gorilla to grab. Kejo's name was revealed in the Adventure Trading Company attraction at 2014.
Despite the crocodile being removed, the original Marc Davis concept of Kejo fighting a crocodile is still used in Tokyo, making it the only version where the original concept is present nowadays.
Appearances[]
Jungle Cruise[]
In the Disneyland version of Jungle Cruise, Kejo is seen attempting to grab a bunch of bananas on a floating crate where he is encountered after the guests pass through a group of gorillas infesting a camp.
In the Tokyo Disneyland version, the original Marc Davis gag of Kejo fighting a crocodile was used where he is seen attempting shoo away an angry crocodile with his stick. Like in the Disneyland version, this scene is encountered after passing through a gorilla camp.
Adventure Trading Company[]
Kejo appears in a photograph in the Daily Gnus newspaper where he was mentioned in an article focusing on Thompson J. Gazelle interpreting him as if the gorilla were reciting Shakespeare. This is the first time Kejo's name has been used in any material connected to the Jungle Cruise attraction.
Jingle Cruise[]
Kejo appears in the Christmas overlay reprising his role he did in the original version of the attraction where he is seen attempting to grab candy canes.
Trivia[]
- There is an unused concept of a scene where Kejo was trying to fish only for him to be stalked by a crocodile which was one of the earliest scenes designed by Chris Runco[3]. The reason why the fishing concept was scrapped is unknown.
References[]
- ↑ "More Jungle Cruise". Meet The World (August 7, 2009).
- ↑ "Jungle Cruise Forgotten Effects". WDW Magic (May 14, 2017).
- ↑ https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c9/e5/2e/c9e52e6694aae7c10118bc6a3300a451.jpg
External links[]
