I think the combination of calling him Charlie, making him a unicorn-like creature, and going to a place called Candy (Kingdom instead of Mountain) makes it a little more than mere friendly homage for my liking. Probably not enough to give rise to a legal claim of copyright or trademark infringement, but enough to be ethically very shaky.
It’s like if that Borderlands sniper was also an anthropomorphised polar bear from the 100 Acre Tundra.
I think the combination of calling him Charlie, making him a unicorn-like creature, and going to a place called Candy (Kingdom instead of Mountain) makes it a little more than mere friendly homage for my liking. Probably not enough to give rise to a legal claim of copyright or trademark infringement, but enough to be ethically very shaky.
It’s like if that Borderlands sniper was also an anthropomorphised polar bear from the 100 Acre Tundra.
They could have just licensed Charlie from Steele. It would actually look good then.