Donkey Kong (character)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong and Mario character
Donkey Kong from Donkey Kong Country Returns
First appearanceDonkey Kong (1981)
Created byShigeru Miyamoto
Designed byShigeru Miyamoto (1981–1994)
Kevin Bayliss (1994–present)
Voiced by
Language-neutral
English
Other languages
  • Kōichi Yamadera
    (Japanese dub of Donkey Kong Country animated series, 1999–2000)
  • Koji Takeda (Japanese dub of The Super Mario Bros. Movie)
  • Franck Capillery (French dub of Donkey Kong Country animated series, 1996–2000)[7]
  • Christophe Albertini/Nicolas Bienvenu (1996–2001; The Planet of Donkey Kong)[8]
In-universe information
NicknameDK
SpeciesKong

Donkey Kong, also shortened to DK, is a fictional

Dixie Kong instead). This version of the character persists as the main one up to today. While the 1980s games' Donkey Kong and the modern Donkey Kong share the same name, the manual for Donkey Kong Country and subsequent games portray the former as Cranky Kong, the latter's grandfather, with the exception of Donkey Kong 64 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie
, in which Cranky is depicted as his father, alternatively portraying the modern Donkey Kong as the original Donkey Kong from the arcade games. Donkey Kong is considered one of the most popular and iconic characters in video game history.

Illumination Entertainment feature film The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023).[6]

Concept and creation

In 1981, Nintendo was pursuing a license to make a game based on the 1930s Popeye comic strip. When this relationship was cancelled, Nintendo decided to take the opportunity to create original characters that could then be marketed and used in later games.[11][12] Shigeru Miyamoto came up with many characters and plot concepts, but he eventually settled on a love triangle between gorilla, carpenter, and girlfriend, that mirrored the rivalry between Bluto and Popeye for Olive Oyl.[13] Bluto was replaced by a large enraged ape, which Miyamoto said was "nothing too evil or repulsive", and the pet of the main character.[14] Miyamoto has also named the 1933 film King Kong as influences for the character. In addition to 1930s American media, Miyamoto also stated he drew inspiration from "Beauty and the Beast".[15]

Miyamoto used "

Nintendo of America, people laughed, but the name stuck.[17]

The character's appearance was redesigned for the Super NES in 1994 by former Rare character artist Kevin Bayliss with supervision from Miyamoto, who suggested giving Donkey Kong a red tie. Bayliss presented the modern look to Nintendo and was immediately approved for the high-resolution 3D medium. Although the character design has been tweaked over the years, Donkey Kong's appearance remains consistent since the last modification by Bayliss.

Today it makes me smile to see so many products with DK on the front, and that he's pretty much still the same as he looked when I gave him a once-over. So that's good enough for me – I must have done something right!

— Kevin Bayliss (2015)[19]

Characteristics

The

Donkey Kong, he also donned a distinct physical appearance featuring heavy brows and a peaked lock of hair on top of his head. This would become the standard look for Donkey Kong still used over two decades later. The modern Donkey Kong is portrayed as a powerful yet laid-back ape, who is interested mainly in his banana hoard and his girlfriend, Candy Kong. He has pugilistic abilities that are often emphasized, featuring as a hidden boss in Punch-Out!!, uppercutting K. Rool out of his castle at the end of Donkey Kong Country 2, and having punch-based attacks as his special and final smash moves in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In a match against boxing champion "Krusha" K. Rool in Donkey Kong 64, DK's weight is given at 800 pounds.[20]

The new Donkey Kong introduced in Donkey Kong Country was initially characterized as the grandson of the original Donkey Kong[21] who appears in the game as an elderly ape named Cranky Kong.[22][23][24] This remained the most consistent storyline, with it also being directly stated in both Donkey Kong Land[25] and Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, but Donkey Kong 64 portrays the modern Donkey Kong as Cranky Kong's son.[26][27] Leigh Loveday, the writer of Donkey Kong Country 2, prefacing his statement with "As far as I know", said that he is a grown-up version of Donkey Kong Jr.[28] Nintendo of Europe's website also states that the modern DK is DK Jr.[29]

However, the Game Boy Advance versions of Donkey Kong Country[30] and Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest,[31] Super Smash Bros. Brawl,[32] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,[33] Donkey Kong Country Returns,[34] Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze,[35] Gregg Mayles of Rare,[36] and Playing With Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics eGuide[37] all explicitly state that the present-day Donkey Kong is Cranky's grandson.

Appearances

Early history

Donkey Kong first appeared as the

Donkey Kong (alongside protagonist Mario and damsel in distress, Pauline). As Mario, the player must reach Donkey Kong at the top of each stage, where he is holding Pauline captive. Donkey Kong attempts to hinder the player's progress by throwing barrels, springs, and other objects towards Mario. The ape reappeared the following year in the sequel Donkey Kong Jr., where Donkey Kong is taken captive and locked in a cage by Mario, while Donkey Kong Junior sets out to rescue him. Donkey Kong resumed his antagonistic role in Donkey Kong 3
, this time the character Stanley the Bugman taking Mario's place as the protagonist. Stanley fights Donkey Kong's attempts to invade a greenhouse along with a horde of killer bees.

After Donkey Kong, Mario went on to become Nintendo's primary mascot, while Donkey Kong and his son were relegated to supporting roles and cameos. The 1994

Donkey Kong marked his re-emergence as a major character. He was redesigned, appearing with a red necktie
, which sometimes bears his initials, "DK".

Rare era

Donkey Kong's design was drastically altered by Rare during the development of Donkey Kong Country.

The 1994

damsel-in-distress in the two sequels to DKC and those to DKL, where he is captured by K. Rool. In these sequels, the player controls Diddy, Dixie, and Kiddy as they set out to rescue Donkey Kong. The Donkey Kong Country series also led to an animated television series and Donkey Kong 64
, in which DK is playable once again.

Post-Rare era

Following Rare's departure from the series, Nintendo co-produced a trilogy of rhythm games with Namco for the GameCube known as the Donkey Konga series, which were based on Namco's own Taiko: Drum Master, though only two of the series' games made it to America. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat was released in March 2005, in North America for the GameCube. It depicted DK as being more violent than his original image and also used the bongo controllers. It was also the first game to receive the ESRB E10+ Rating. In October 2007, Donkey Kong Barrel Blast was released in North America for the Wii.

On handheld consoles, Donkey Kong was reunited with his former rival Mario in the 2004

DK Jungle Climber, for the Nintendo DS. In the 2010 Wii game Donkey Kong Country Returns, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong get rid of the Tiki Tak Tribe, who appears on Donkey Kong Island and hypnotizes various creatures. In the 2014 Wii U game Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
, Donkey Kong sets out to get his home back from evil Vikings known as the Snowmads.

Other appearances

Every Mario Kart game has featured a version of Donkey Kong as a playable character. Super Mario Kart featured Donkey Kong Junior as a playable character. The modern Donkey Kong made his first appearance in the series with Mario Kart 64, and has been in every game to date since.

In the

Diddy Kong). Donkey Kong appears as a contender in Mario Party: The Top 100, and later as an unlockable, playable character in Super Mario Party
.

Donkey Kong has also made playable appearance in various

Mario & Sonic game, starting with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. He's also playable in Mario Hoops 3-on-3 and Mario Sports Mix
.

He is also playable in each

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, with Donkey Kong being among the first wave of amiibo released for the games. Jungle Japes from Melee returns in the 3DS version, and both Kongo Jungle from the original Super Smash Bros. and 75m from Brawl return in the Wii U version, along with a new stage called Jungle Hijinxs from Donkey Kong Country Returns. Along with Bowser, he is also a playable guest character in the Nintendo versions of Skylanders: SuperChargers. Super Mario Maker features Donkey Kong as a Mystery Mushroom costume. Donkey Kong appears as one of the playable characters in the downloadable campaign, Donkey Kong Adventure, for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
.

The character has also made more incidental appearances. Two minor enemies in

Baby Mario. First appearing in World 2–1, most of his gameplay reflects Donkey Kong Jr., even featuring the Snapjaw enemies from the game. He has been seen in the audience of some games in the Punch-Out!! series. He also serves as the hidden opponent in 2009's Punch-Out!! on the Wii. During Rare's time, references were seen throughout Rare's games. In Banjo-Tooie
, Bottle's daughter, Goggles, is seen holding a Donkey Kong plush doll. Also in the worker's quarters in Grunty's Industries, the DK logo is seen on the fridge.

Outside of video games, Donkey Kong has made several appearances in animation. The 1983 animated anthology series

Illumination Entertainment, in addition to having been given a subtle redesign composed of elements from his contemporary and original arcade appearances.[6] In November 2021, reports surfaced that Illumination had begun development on a Donkey Kong spin-off film, with Rogen set to reprise his role.[40] In response to backlash for voicing Donkey Kong in his normal speaking voice, Rogen explained: "I was very clear that I don't do voices. If you want me to be in this movie, then it's going to sound like me and that's it. That was the beginning and end of that conversation. I think in the film and in the game, all you seem to know about Donkey Kong is that he throws barrels and does not like Mario very much. And that's what I ran with".[41]

Reception and legacy

Donkey Kong has been described as one of the most iconic mascots for

GamesRadar ranked him as the 25th-best hero in video games.[51] Jeremy Parish of Polygon ranked 73 fighters from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate "from garbage to glorious", listing Donkey Kong as 22nd, stating that "we'd love to play as Donkey Kong. This guy, though? He's just the latter-day imposter version from Donkey Kong Country — the original DK's son".[52] Gavin Jasper of Den of Geek ranked Donkey Kong in 13th place of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate characters, stating that "DK is a blast to play as, especially when unleashing his ground-slap move in a match against seven opponents and everyone's bouncing around like ping-pong balls. His wind-up punch is perfect, too".[53] HobbyConsolas also included Donkey Kong on their "The 30 best heroes of the last 30 years".[54] According to Matt Reeves, the treacherous Koba-loyal apes in service of the Colonel in his 2017 film War for the Planet of the Apes are nicknamed "donkeys" in a reference both to Donkey Kong, and how they are used as "pack mules".[55]

See also

Notes

References

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  2. ^ a b c "Donkey Kong Voices (Donkey Kong Country)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  3. ^ "DK voice in Captain N: The Game Master". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  4. ^ "Interview with the Voice of Mario". Archived from the original on 14 December 2004. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  5. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Donkey Kong In Real Time at the '94 VSDA expo". YouTube. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Murphy, J. Kim (September 23, 2021). "Nintendo Direct: Chris Pratt Will Voice Mario in the Super Mario Bros. Movie". IGN. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "Cast & Crew of Donkey Kong Country". planete-jeunesse. Archived from the original on 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  8. ^ "La Planète de Donkey Kong". Planète Jeunesse. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Now You're Playing With Power: Top 25 Nintendo Characters of All Time". GameDaily. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
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  11. ^ De Maria, Rusel; Johnny L. Wilson (2004). High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Osborne. p. 238.
  12. ^ East, Tom (November 25, 2009). "Donkey Kong Was Originally A Popeye Game". Official Nintendo Magazine. Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2013. Miyamoto says Nintendo's main monkey might not have existed.
  13. ^ Kohler, Chris (2005). Power-up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life. Indianapolis, Indiana: BradyGAMES. p. 39.
  14. ^ Sheff, David (1999). Game Over: Press Start to Continue: The Maturing of Mario. Wilton, Connecticut: GamePress. p. 47.
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  17. ^ a b "Miyamoto interview, E3 2001". Quarter To Three. May 16, 2001. Archived from the original on November 18, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2007.
  18. ^ "Donkey Wrong". Snopes. February 19, 2007. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2008. The bottom line is that no evidence backs up any of the explanations that the name 'Donkey Kong' came about because of a misread fax, mispronunciation, or mistranslation. Shigeru Miyamoto, the game's inventor and the one person who unquestionably knows the origins of the name he chose, has repeatedly affirmed that he used the word 'donkey' to convey a sense of stubbornness and the name 'Kong' to invoke the image of a gorilla.
  19. ^ Playtonic Games. "MEN AT WORK". Playtonic Games. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  20. ^ Rare. Donkey Kong 64. Level/area: Match for Undisputed Heavyweight Championship of DK Isles. Announcer: Weighing in at a solid 800lbs, I give you the prime primate... Donkey Kong
  21. ^ "One swift blow was all that was needed to leave him sprawled on the floor, face down! He groggily rolled over to see the familiar wrinkled, white-bearded, grouchy face of his old granddad "Cranky Kong" peering down at him". – Donkey Kong Country instruction manual, pg. 5–6
  22. ^ a b "He groggily rolled over to see the familiar wrinkled, white-bearded, grouchy face of his old granddad "Cranky Kong" peering down at him. In his heyday, Cranky was the original Donkey Kong who battled Mario in several of his own games". – Donkey Kong Country instruction manual, pg. 6
  23. ^ "なかまたちのプロフィール大紹介 page1" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 8, 2016.
  24. ^ "The king of swing... the thrilla gorilla... the prime primate... It's Donkey Kong! Although he is a relative of the classic arcade character, Country's Donkey Kong is a totally new character with a new look, new moves, and a new attitude". - Donkey Kong Country instruction manual
  25. ^ "Cranky Kong, aging video game pioneer and primate patriarch, swayed back and forth in his rocking chair, as he harassed his grandape, Donkey Kong..." - Donkey Kong Land manual
  26. ^ "Well, if it isn't my lazy, good-for-nothing son". – Cranky Kong, to Donkey Kong; Donkey Kong 64 in-game dialogue
  27. ^ "That darn Donkey has all the luck! His girl Candy waits around in her hut, always willing to offer musical help to that undeserving son of mine and his fancy polygonal friends. Pah!" – Donkey Kong 64 instruction manual (UK), pg. 8
  28. ^ "Rare.com Scribes – August 25, 1999 (Waybacked)". Archived from the original on August 5, 2002. As far as I know, 'our' DK is the son of Cranky, which does indeed make him the original DK Jr. all grown up: so if you see Cranky referred to as DK's granddad anywhere, just cover your eyes and hum loudly until it goes away.)
  29. ^ "Donkey Kong Country". Nintendo.co.uk. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2021. 1994's Donkey Kong is actually 1982's Donkey Kong Jr., all grown up, while the original Donkey Kong from 1981 has aged into grumpy pensioner Cranky Kong
  30. ^ "Well, you've amazed your old Grandpa by getting this far!" - Cranky in the Donkey Kong Country Game Boy Advance remake
  31. ^ "You've rescued that lazy grandson of mine, and dumped K. Rool in his own filthy swamp. Not bad for a novice!" - Cranky in the Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Game Boy Advance remake
  32. ^ Nintendo. Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Level/area: Codec conversation between Snake and Otacon. Otacon: "The Donkey Kong who fought that epic battle with Mario was this guy's grandfather."
  33. ^ Nintendo. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Level/area: Codec conversation between Snake and Otacon. Otacon: "The Donkey Kong who fought that epic battle with Mario was this guy's grandfather."
  34. ^ "Glad I could help my grandson overcome this deadly challenge in exchange for a little cash money!" - Cranky in Donkey Kong Country Returns
  35. ^ "Donkey Kong's grandfather Cranky Kong really lives up to his name!" - Nintendo's Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - Meet the Kongs: Cranky Kong - Nintendo Switch YouTube trailer Archived 2024-01-28 at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^ Gregg Mayles [@Ghoulyboy] (May 2, 2017). "I'm pretty sure when I made this stuff up nearly 25 years ago that he was his grandson. By DK64 he was so senile that he couldn't remember" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  37. ^ "Super Mario Kart is the only Mario Kart game to feature Donkey Kong Jr. Due to the success of Donkey Kong Country, all future Mario Kart entries featured Donkey Kong, who is actually Donkey Kong Jr.’s son, with Cranky Kong, aka Donkey Kong Sr., canonically being the character featured in the original Donkey Kong game. Makes sense, right?" - Playing With Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics eGuide, Super Mario Kart 16 Bits Tab.
  38. ^ "Rumble Falls". Smash Bros. DOJO!!. July 23, 2007. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
  39. ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (2020-09-18). "The Super Mario Bros. Movie Was a Damp, Fungal Love Letter to New York City". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on 2022-05-03. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  40. ^ Robinson, Andy (November 3, 2021). "Another source points to potential Donkey Kong movie with Seth Rogen". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  41. ^ Jiang, Sisi (April 3, 2023). "Super Mario Bros. Movie Fans Knock Seth Rogen For Barely Trying". Kotaku. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
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  52. ^ Parish, Jeremy (2018-12-03). "We rank the Smash Bros. (and friends)". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
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  55. ^ Collura, Scott (10 December 2016). "War for the Planet of the Apes: Trailer commentary by director Matt Reeves". IGN. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.

External links

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