Nikkei Electronics did an article about the design process of the Famicom in the mid 90s. It mentions that Nintendo began work on designing the Famicom after Coleco representatives demonstrated a prototype Colecovision to them as part of an aborted Japanese distribution deal. Here's a translated version if you're interested: https://web.archive.org/web/20120731044313/http://www.glitte... The 2A03 definitely copies basic functionality ideas from the TMS9918, but it's implemented completely differently, it's not an expanded clone like the Master System VDP.
BTW after the deal with Nintendo fell through, Coleco next tried to get Sega to distribute the Colecovision. This deal also didn't happen, and the next year Sega released the nearly identical SG-1000. Kinda sad that they got screwed over twice.
Well noted, the article is a treasure! They do mention dragging a Donkey Kong with them to Ricoh and that they wanted to surpass everything before and make something that was as capable as their arcade hardware. The scrolling of the 2A03 design was a major advantage. It's very enlightening to see how they were inspired by the Colecovision but wanted to surpass it which they did in many ways.
BTW after the deal with Nintendo fell through, Coleco next tried to get Sega to distribute the Colecovision. This deal also didn't happen, and the next year Sega released the nearly identical SG-1000. Kinda sad that they got screwed over twice.