< Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong/Characters


The titular character of Donkey Kong has amassed a respectable cast family, Rogues Gallery and other supporting characters.

See also Mario's and Wario's casts, who both share a loosely defined universe with DK and company.

The Kongs

Tropes associated with the entire Kong family:

Donkey Kong

"Banana-slamma!"
Debut: Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong ("DK" for short) was Mario's original nemesis in the game that bore his name. He's a big hulking ape with a penchant for tossing barrels and eating bananas. He's since been pushed out of Mario's #1 spot by Bowser (and gotten his own video game series), but has since challenged the plucky plumber four times in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games. According to Donkey Kong Country, the original Arcade Donkey Kong was actually his father, now named "Cranky Kong", and while this is currently disputed, more recent games, Mario Super Sluggers in particular, seems to support this.

Tropes associated with Donkey Kong:

  • Anti-Villain: In his antagonist roles, such as Mario vs. Donkey Kong. DK doesn't really have anything against Mario. He just has trouble controlling his impulses, and Mario has to rein him in.
  • Badass: Especially in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat and Donkey Kong Country Returns.
  • Berserk Button: Mess with DK's precious banana horde and see what happens to you. Here's a hint: it will be painful. Very painful.
  • Big Good: In Mario Party 5 and onward, he acts as an exact opposite of Bowser, having Minigames where everyone always gets coins, and sometimes even gives stars to people.
  • Boisterous Bruiser
  • Breaking the Fourth Wall: If you succeed at a bonus room puzzle while controlling him, he'll turn to applaud you and give you a thumbs-up for succeeding.
  • Brought to You by The Letter "S": The DK on his tie.
  • Catchphrase Spouting Duo: DK and Diddy in the Donkey Kong Cartoon cartoon; they also give off this vibe in the games, though they never actually speak.
  • Defeat Means Friendship: The end of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, in which Mario beats DK, scolds him good, and gives him a Mini-Mario like he wanted all along.
  • The Determinator: Shigeru Miyamoto called him "Donkey" because he's as stubborn as one. Depending on who you're playing as, this is either a good thing or a bad thing.
  • Everything's Better with Monkeys: Averted for the Kremlings.
  • Face Palm: He'll do this if you screw up in a bonus room puzzle while controlling him.
  • Full-Name Basis: He's never referred to as just Donkey. It's always Donkey Kong, DK or D.Kong in Japan (with the few exceptions being Cranky in Donkey Kong Country 2 during one of his speeches in his museum hint shop, Diddy during the ending of Donkey Kong Country 3, and almost the entirety of Donkey Kong 64).
  • Go-Karting with Bowser
  • Heel Face Turn: He becomes the protagonist of his own series and is less hostile towards Mario and the other characters.
    • Perhaps as some Fridge Brilliance, Donkey Kong is already known to be the offspring of Cranky Kong (who originally bore the moniker in his battles with Mario). So his less antagonistic attitude towards Mario and his cohorts could be an attempt to patch up the bad blood between his old man and Mario.
  • Heterosexual Life Partners: DK and Diddy again.
  • Large Ham: Usually when something awesome happens, but also when riled up (as with real life apes). A good example is right before the final boss in Donkey Kong Country Returns. Donkey Kong and Diddy are pissed.
  • Legacy Character: As mentioned above, Cranky Kong was the first Donkey Kong before giving the title to the current one.
  • Lightning Bruiser: Despite his size, he actually quicker than one might think. This classification is even pointed out in a Super Smash Bros. Melee trophy.
    • And the obvious inferences from the fact that the games are intense platformers, and DK's primary attack is a somersault.
  • Meaningful Name: His name is meant to indicate both his stubborn behavior (Donkey), and his massive size (Kong). Likely started out as a bit of an insult, but has since morphed into something between Awesome McCoolname and Names to Run Away From Really Fast.
  • Mighty Glacier: In Mario Kart and the sports games.
  • Ring Around the Collar: His only consistent article of clothing.
  • Throw a Barrel At It: Trope Namer.
  • Took a Level in Badass: Donkey Kong is a veritable beast in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. Seriously, the guy isn't above fighting dirty and pulls no punches at all. He's almost like a more kid-friendly Kratos. Unfortunately....
  • Took a Level In Dumbass: Ever since Donkey Kong 64, he has been falling into this. It only gets worse in the Mario series.
    • Too Dumb to Fool: It does verge on Cursed with Awesome in Donkey Kong Country Returns. One of the Tikis tries to hypnotize Donkey Kong and make him a brainwashed slave like all the other animals they're controlling. All it does is make Donkey Kong mad.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Bananas, of course!

Donkey Kong Jr.

Have you seen this primate?

"Monkey muscle!"
Debut: Donkey Kong Jr.

Junior is a mystery. He first appeared when Mario flew off the handle and locked up his father, the original Donkey Kong, rescuing DK and apparently setting Mario back on the straight-and-narrow. He popped up a handful of times after that, most notably in a kart race and tennis tournament, and then just fell off the map. If the story that Cranky Kong was the original DK is true, then Donkey Kong Jr. could be the modern DK's father... or even DK himself (except that they both appear in Mario Tennis...[1]).

Tropes associated with Donkey Kong Jr.:

Diddy Kong

"Pay no attention to the monkey behind the monkey!"
Debut: Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong's little buddy, sidekick and wannabe nephew, Diddy is a teenage monkey in a red baseball cap and tank top. Diddy is more carefree than DK and loves to play rock music and eat peanuts. He spends most of his time hanging out or having adventures with DK or his girlfriend Dixie Kong. Diddy was introduced in Donkey Kong Country, but was integrated into Mario's extended cast in the Mario sports games.

Tropes associated with Diddy Kong:

Dixie Kong

Debut: Donkey Kong Country 2

Diddy Kong's girlfriend Dixie is a hero in her own right. She helped Diddy rescue Donkey when the big ape was kidnapped by the Kremlings, then rescued Diddy himself when he befell the same fate. Dixie has long blonde hair that she wears in a huge ponytail, which she can use to spin helicopter-like over long distances and, inexplicably, pick up large objects. She can act childish at times, but makes up for it with her courage. Tiny Kong is Dixie's (bigger) little sister.

Tropes associated with Dixie Kong:

  • Action Girl: Nintendo's first after Samus. She is never once a Damsel in Distress.
  • Babysitter From Hell: A hilarious and completely non-malevolent example. Her babysitting instincts are abysmal to the point of criminality, but it's alright because Kiddy Kong has been blessed by genetics with badassery right out of the cradle.
  • Badass Adorable: Don't let her small size and cute looks fool you, she definitely qualifies for this after beating K. Rool and his forces in Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3.
  • Bash Brothers: With Kiddy. They can send each other flying around all over a room, and sometimes have to in order to get by obstacles.
  • Brains and Brawn: Brains to Kiddy Kong's brawn.
  • Breakout Character: She displaced Diddy as the main character in the third game.
  • Distaff Counterpart: To Diddy.
  • Dream Team/Took a Level in Badass: From a gameplay perspective in Donkey Kong Country 3, Dixie got a lot of Diddy's speed while still retaining her own highly useful 'copter abilities. When paired with Kiddy, himself a slightly faster version of Donkey Kong, you have an optimal adventuring team of strength, speed and precision, as well as a host of Combination Attacks.
  • Fragile Speedster: In Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, she has maxed out boost and high agility, but the lowest top speed.
  • Green Eyes: In her updated appearances sans Rare. She originally had the same black pupils Diddy has in the games, but official artwork since her debut have shown her to have green eyes.
  • Hair of Gold: Especially in the cartoon, but this also applies to the games to some extent.
  • Helicopter Hair: Her main characteristic is the ability to slow her fall by spinning her hair rapidly.
  • The Hero: In Donkey Kong Country 3. While she and Kiddy are equal contributors to their adventure, Kiddy has no stake in anything and little opinion on the matter. It's Dixie who moves the plot.
  • The Kindnapper: In Donkey Kong Country 3, to Kiddy, technically. No one seems to mind though.
  • Odd Couple: With Kiddy. With his being a baby and her being a babysitter, they nevertheless act as equal partners and Bash Brothers in adventuring.
  • Official Couple: Her and Diddy.
  • Pink Means Feminine: She has always worn a pink top and beret, though one of her Palette Swaps in DK: King of Swing inverts her normal color scheme, giving her a yellow top and beret with pink hair.
  • Prehensile Hair: Her ponytail is capable of picking up various objects, like barrels and cannonballs.
  • Product Placement: She used to have a pin of the Rare logo in her beret. For obvious reasons, she doesn't wear it anymore.
  • Refuge in Audacity: If presented with her baby cousin, right out of the cradle, what would Dixie Kong do? If you answered "abduct him onto her continent spanning journey, utilizing him as a meat shield, projectile, and pack mule against killer animals in dangerous and extreme climates in environments littered with health hazards", then you'd be correct.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: With Kiddy. The character change animations make it very clear (Kiddy'll grab her by the scruff and set her aside, while Dixie would pop a bubblegum bubble against his back, startling him).

Kiddy Kong/Dinky Kong

Debut: Donkey Kong Country 3

Kiddy Kong is Chunky Kong's baby brother, and Dixie and Tiny's cousin. Although he's only a toddler, he's absolutely massive, roughly the same size as Donkey Kong himself. Kiddy accompanied Dixie when Donkey and Diddy were kidnapped in the Northern Kremisphere. He cries and throws tantrums at times, but possesses the same natural courage as the rest of his family. His name in Japan is "Dinky Kong", continuing the Theme Naming of characters with the initials "DK".

Tropes associated with Kiddy Kong:

  • Badass Adorable: He may be only a baby, and a cute one at that, but he is still strong.
  • Bash Brothers: With Dixie. There will be many occasions where he and Dixie will have to throw each other at something to proceed.
  • Berserker Tears: After taking damage, he'll sit down, cry and slam his fists into the ground.
  • Big Little Brother: Baby cousin, actually, but otherwise a dead ringer for Donkey Kong.
  • Brains and Brawn: Brawn to Dixie's brain, since, y'know, he can't talk yet. Or think very hard, for that matter.
  • Cheerful Child: Has absolutely no problem with Dixie shanghaiing him on their adventure. At least, right up until something so much as gently brushes up against him.
  • Crying Little Kid: Whenever he takes damage. Overlaps with Berserker Tears, since he seems to be throwing an epic fit.
  • Cute Bruiser: For a given value of "cute"...
    • He's a baby Gorilla.
  • Cute but Cacophonic: He's a crybaby, no doubt about it.
  • Dream Team: Gameplay-wise with Dixie in Donkey Kong Country 3. As a team, Kiddie and Dixie together make up for many of Donkey Kong's and Diddy's smaller weaknesses (mostly speed), and retain Dixie's high mobility.
  • Expy: Kiddy fills roughly the same niche as Donkey Kong in Donkey Kong Country 3.
  • Extreme Omnivore: He likes to chew on old tires.
  • Inelegant Blubbering: If he gets hurt, you get a shot of him crying his eyes out in either fear, painor anger.
  • In the Blood: Chunky Kong is also huge.
  • Kid Hero: He's a toddler. An old Rare website states that Kiddy is three years old, meaning he is the only Kong with a confirmed age.
  • Lightning Bruiser: He can skip across water while rolling and can somersault all over the place with Dixie's help.
  • The Load: Hilariously subverted. In Donkey Kong Country 3, Funky Kong palms him off on Dixie because he's tired of baby-sitting. While Kiddy Kong is barely even a toddler (he still prefers crawling to walking), it's also immediately apparent that he's also twice Dixie's size and as strong as Donkey Kong.
  • Odd Couple: A baby and his babysitter. They're nevertheless equal partners on their journey.
  • Refuge in Audacity: There's no real way to justify putting a baby in mortal danger. Repeatedly. His babysitter Dixie did it anyway.
    • Really his whole character. Rare needed to design a viable replacement for Donkey Kong. Their choice: a baby. That's built like a truck.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: He and Dixie like to prank the hell out of each other.

Lanky Kong

Debut: Donkey Kong 64

"A twisted twig on a distant branch of the family tree", Lanky is an eccentric oddball orangutan who hangs out with the other Kongs. He marches (or handstand-walks...) to the beat of his own drum tune of his own trombone. Lanky's distinguishing characteristics are his goofy personality and ridiculously long arms. He joined up with Donkey and Diddy during one of King K. Rool's invasions of DK Isle.

Tropes associated with Lanky Kong:

  • Cloudcuckoolander: He's eccentric, goofy and odd.
  • Plucky Comic Relief: His bio on the German Donkey Kong 64 website mentions that his silliness is appreciated by the Kong family, particularly by Chunky and Kiddy. The bio also said his occupation was a stand-up comedian, and his hobbies are playing the trombone and making up jokes.
  • Rubber Man: At least when it comes to his arms, especially in his phase of the boss fight against King K. Rool.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Grapes.

Tiny Kong

Left: Donkey Kong 64 appearance. Right: appearance as of Diddy Kong Racing DS.

Debut: Donkey Kong 64

Dixie Kong's little sister, Tiny Kong shares Dixie's speed, helicopter-like hair, and adventurous spirit. She's good friends with her cousin Chunky Kong. After her first appearance, Tiny apparently hit puberty, as she is now much taller and more mature-looking than her big sister.

Tropes associated with Tiny Kong:

Chunky Kong

Debut: Donkey Kong 64

The biggest and strongest member of the Kong clan. Chunky is Dixie and Tiny's cousin and Kiddy's big (very big) brother. Chunky is big, strong and tough, but has a very gentle personality and is very easily frightened. Like a true Kong though, he always pulls through in the end.

Tropes associated with Chunky Kong:

  • The Big Guy: According to the announcer during the boss fight at the end of Donkey Kong 64, he weighs one ton at his normal size. He is also taller than Candy Kong.
  • Cowardly Lion: He's the biggest (according to the talking microphone in Donkey Kong 64, he weighs 2000 pounds, more than twice as much as Donkey Kong, who weighs 800 pounds) and strongest of the Kongs, and also the most cowardly.
  • Expy: For Kiddy Kong in Donkey Kong 64. He doesn't get the bad reception that Tiny gets, probably because he has a better-developed personality than Kiddy had.
  • Gentle Giant: He is bigger and stronger than DK and fires a pineapple launcher, yet he plays the triangle and is shown to be very sweet and gentle.
  • Lovable Coward: Despite being the biggest and strongest of the Kong family, he is quite a coward. He will gather enough courage when needed though.
  • Mighty Glacier: In game, he has the ability to pick and toss rocks.
  • Real Men Wear Pink: Chunky enjoys ballet and playing the triangle.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Pineapples.

Cranky Kong

GO HOME AND LET ME GET SOME SLEEP!

"They can't keep this level of graphics up for much longer! We used to be lucky if we only got three shades of grey, let alone any real colors!"

Debut: Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong's aptly named father (or grandfather; it isn't exactly clear). Cranky Kong spends his days sitting on his front porch, dispensing sarcastic advice to passersby, and bemoaning the loss of the good ol' days of 8-bit gaming. He was married to Wrinkly Kong before she gave up the ghost. According to Donkey Kong Country, Cranky was the original Donkey Kong who kidnapped Pauline and fought Mario.

Tropes associated with Cranky:

Cranky: Back in my day, we used to have REAL gameplay... we didn't have any of this fancy 3D stuff!

Funky Kong

"When ya wanna be there like now, Funky's Flights is the way to go!"
Debut: Donkey Kong Country

One of Donkey Kong's pals from DK Isle, Funky Kong hates leaving the safety of his garage, but gladly helps out Donkey from the sidelines. He's a first-class gearhead who's invented a wide variety of vehicles and artillery to aid his friends, and often shows up at the last minute to throw a monkey wrench (pun intended) into King K. Rool's plans. When not at work, Funky loves surfing, drumming and kart racing.

Tropes associated with Funky:

Candy Kong

"How would you like a quick spin in my save barrel?"
Debut: Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong's girlfriend: along with Swanky, one of the only two Kongs never to be a playable character. Candy provides a variety of services around DK Isle, including running save points and minigames.

Tropes associated with Candy:

  • Big Damn Heroes: At the end of Donkey Kong 64, she shows up to distract King K. Rool so Funky Kong can blast him with a rocket launcher.
  • Blue Eyes
  • Dark-Skinned Blond: Blonde hair and brown fur the same color as most of the other apes.
  • Distracted by the Sexy: See Big Damn Heroes above.
  • Double Entendre: "Stand a little closer, Donkey/Diddy/Tiny/Lanky/Chunky... and I'll show you how to use your instrument."
  • Humanoid Female Animal: Originally the only female Kong that was this. Tiny's Fanservice Pack adds another Kong to this trope.
  • Ms. Fanservice: Parodied (unless you're a furry).
  • The One Who Wears Shoes: Wore sneakers in Donkey Kong 64. Sandals in the cartoon.
  • Pink Means Feminine: Her original outfit was a pink leotard, and she traded it in for a pink halter top.
  • Tsundere: Only in the cartoon, where she was inexplicably an orangutan.
  • Visual Innuendo: In Donkey Kong 64, she increases your health bar with large, round melons.
    • Well, yeah, the watermelons are your health bar... what did you expect?!?
  • Why Do You Keep Changing Jobs?: She's been seen running a save point (in the first Donkey Kong Country), working at Bluster Barrelworks (in the cartoon), selling musical instruments (in Donkey Kong 64), running a challenge shack (in the Game Boy Color port of the first game), hosting a dance studio (in the first Game Boy Advance port), and being Swanky's assistant (in the other GBA ports).


Wrinkly Kong

"Why, if it isn't Donkey -- or is it Funky? No -- Diddy!"
Debut: Donkey Kong Country 2

Cranky Kong's wife and Donkey Kong's mother (grandmother?), Wrinkly used to run the Kong Kollege on Crocodile Isle, where she provided a haven and place of education for good Kremlings... as well as helpful tips for Diddy and Dixie on their quest to rescue Donkey. After the island sank, she retired to the Northern Kremisphere, where she spent her days enjoying her sunset years and caring for the local Banana Birds. Sadly, she died of old age not long after, but that didn't stop her from helping out the Kongs: she's now a ghost, and spends as much time with her family as ever.

Tropes associated with Wrinkly:

  • Back from the Dead: Well, not exactly Back From The Dead...
  • Cool Old Lady: In life, Wrinkly enjoyed aerobics and playing on the N64.
  • Intangible Man: Averted in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, were she can get hurt by barrels, items or attacks by other racers and ride an Animal Friend, toboggan or a minecart like everyone else.
  • Like an Old Married Couple: Before DK: King of Swing, she was never seen spending time with Cranky, only badmouthing him to the other Kongs (while he did the same).
  • The One Who Wears Shoes: Wore sneakers in Donkey Kong Country 3.
  • Our Ghosts Are Different
  • Spirit Advisor: After the third game. In DK: King of Swing, she teams up with Cranky to help teach Donkey Kong the basics of the game.
  • Women Are Wiser: She's much more sensible and temperate than Cranky.

Swanky Kong

Would you buy a used car from this ape?

"Give them a big hand folks!"
Debut: Donkey Kong Country 2

A flashy show-ape with all kinds of expensive bling, a bad afro and an unhealthy preoccupation with polyester, Swanky runs a variety of games and sideshows that give the other Kongs a chance to win some beaucoup cash and prizes. Like Candy (his occasional assistant), Swanky Kong has never been playable.

Tropes associated with Swanky:


Animal Buddies

Tropes associated with all Animal Buddies:

  • Assist Character/Powerup Mount: Most of the Animal Buddies are mounts that the Kongs ride on, with a handful of exceptions (most notably Squawks in the first Donkey Kong Country game) who simply help him navigate their levels.
  • Cool Pet: What isn't cool about a rhino who can effortlessly mow his way through the strongest baddies in the game? Or a super jump powered rattlesnake? Or a friendly neighborhood (eight legged) webslinger?
  • A Day in the Limelight: Collecting three tokens in each buddy's image will let you play a bonus game with them in the first Donkey Kong Country. In the two sequels, there are levels where you control a series of animal buddies all in one level (Toxic Tower, Animal Antics and Pot Hole Panic, respectively), and in Donkey Kong Country 2, Rambi, Squitter, Enguarde, Squawks and Rattly all get a level to themselves.

Ellie

Introduced in Donkey Kong Country 3, Ellie is an elephant with the ability to stomp on enemies, pick up and chuck barrels at enemies, and fill her trunk with water which she can then shoot at enemies.

Tropes associated with Ellie:

  • Eek! A Mouse!: Scared to death of Sneeks, a rat-like enemy. If she sees one, she'll panic and run away. In the level Stampede Sprint, nearly the entire level consists of dodging enemies while an out-of-control Ellie stampedes through the stage.
  • The Smurfette Principle: The only animal buddy whose gender is definitely established as female.

Enguarde

A cheerful-looking swordfish, Enguarde gives his rider improved speed and mobility underwater and the ability to spear enemies with his large bill.

Tropes associated with Enguarde:

Expresso

An ostrich with the abilities to jump far, run fast and fly for a small period of time. Along with Winky, he is one of Cranky's favourite animal buddies. Also notable for being the only animal buddy apart from Rambi to appear in the first Donkey Kong Land game.

Tropes associated with Expresso:

  • Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: After the first game, he disappears with no explanation (though he did reappear in the Game Boy game Donkey Kong Land, which was a different/new game from the SNES Donkey Kong Country).
  • Nice Shoes: Wears sneakers.
  • Replacement Goldfish: In the GBA port of Donkey Kong Country 2, Cranky buys another ostrich and names him Expresso, after the one seen in the first game.
  • Spoony Bard: The reason for his absence after the first game. His fast-running isn't really that fast, his flying is pretty pathetic (it's more of a low-quality glide), and he gets hurt if you try to jump on enemies' heads. At times, he was more of a hindrance than a help.

Quawks

A purple parrot, appearing in Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3. In the former, he could only fly downwards slowly like a "parrot-chute", but in the latter, he gained the abilities to fly in the same way as Squawks and to lift barrels. He made his grand return a decade later in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast where his name was finally revealed.

Tropes associated with Quawks:

  • Ascended Extra: His new abilities in Donkey Kong Country 3, along with getting two levels instead of just one.
  • Palette Swap: Of Squawks (see below).

Rambi

A rhinoceros with attitude and a need for speed. The most iconic animal buddy, Rambi has appeared in almost all of the Donkey Kong Country games (with the noticeable exception of Donkey Kong Country 3). He grants his rider increased speed, near-invincibility to enemies (as long as they don't come from above or behind), the power to break through walls, and the ability to traverse some dangerous terrain.

Tropes associated with Rambi:

Rattly

A coiled-up, goofy looking green snake with the ability to jump high.

Tropes associated with Rattly:

Squawks

The most commonly recurring Animal Buddy, Squawks is a green parrot that lives with Cranky Kong. Unlike the other Animal Buddies, Squawks has had a different use in many of the games he's appeared in. In Donkey Kong Country, he carried a lantern to light up a dark cavern; in Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3, he actually carried the Kongs and spat eggs at enemies; in Donkey Kong 64 he told the story, gave tutorials, found bananas for the Kongs, and carried a flashlight; and in Donkey Kong Country Returns, he helps the Kongs locate hidden items.

Tropes associated with Squawks:

Squitter

A giant, fuzzy spider with cool sneakers and the ability to fire webs, as either projectiles or platforms.

Tropes associated with Squitter:

  • A Day in the Limelight: Web Woods.
  • Giant Spider: Like Rattly, Squitter is an animal normally depicted as scary and evil being depicted as friendly and cute.
  • Improvised Platform: His platform webs provide temporary platforms. He uses them to climb cliffs, cross lava fields, chasms, spike pits and the like, and reach bonus barrels.
  • Nice Shoes: Eight legs and a sneaker at the end of each.

Winky

A frog with the ability to jump high, appearing in the first game and the first game alone (although he makes a cameo in Donkey Kong Country 2, in Cranky's shop). He also managed to somehow get a cameo in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts as a pre-made vehicle for Multiplayer. He and Expresso are Cranky's favourite animal buddies (coincidentally, Expresso got a cameo in a Banjo game as well).

Tropes associated with Winky:

  • Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Has been missing since Donkey Kong Country.
  • Power-Up Letdown/Spoony Bard: While being able to make high jumps was useful, Winky's hopping (as opposed to walking) movement made him very difficult to control. This problem was addressed with his replacement Rattly. Also, the GBA port greatly fixed his movement.

Other Good Guys

Mario

"Mr. Video Game" himself, the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom first earned his stripes rescuing his then-girlfriend Pauline from the rampaging Donkey Kong. Mario and DK have clashed several times since then, most notably when Mario flew off the handle in Donkey Kong Jr. and locked DK up, forcing his son to rescue him. Read more about Mario in his own character sheet.

Snide

"This isn't a joke, Kong! I NEED those blueprints, and so do you!"

A weasel of questionable honor who appears in Donkey Kong 64. Snide was a former member of the Kremling Krew and their chief engineer, but K. Rool got paranoid and suspected Snide of working against him, so he kicked the weasel out. Snide created the Blast-O-Matic superweapon that the Kremlings intended to use to destroy DK Isle; as his revenge, he helped the Kongs by giving them back some of the Golden Bananas K. Rool stole from them, as well as by holding of the Blast-O-Matic's firing sequence so that the Kongs could disable it.

  • The Atoner: He's trying to make up for helping the Kremlings make a doomsday device by helping the Kongs stop it.
  • Being Evil Sucks: Working for K. Rool didn't work out so well for him, so he turned to the Kongs' side.
  • Heel Face Turn

Stanley the Bugman

A human bug-exterminator. Stanley fought against Donkey Kong [2] in Donkey Kong 3, but the big ape had it coming: DK invaded a greenhouse and got the local bugs all riled up, so Stanley had to go in there and perform some pest control. Stanley originally appeared in the Game and Watch game Greenhouse before his brief trip to the NES, and had a handful more Game and Watch appearances afterwards.

  • Cool Gun: A spray gun filled with insecticide.
  • Expy: Of Mario.

Timber the Tiger

An anthropomorphic preteen tiger who lives on a tropical island (presumably not far from DK Isle). When his parents went on vacation, Timber's island was invaded by the evil super-Jerkass sorcerer Wizpig, so he called on Diddy Kong and a bunch of other friends (including Banjo and Conker) to help rescue the island.

Tutorial Pig

An anthropomorphic pig introduced in Donkey Kong Country Returns, he assist Donkey and Diddy in their quest by dispensing advice, acting as a midway point, and by summoning Super Kong if they fail one too many times in a level.

Bad Guys

King K. Rool

"'Fatso', is it? I'd choose my last words more carefully if I were you."
Debut: Donkey Kong Country

An obscenely rich (and fat) crocodile who lords over the Kremlings, just as Bowser does for the Koopas. K. Rool is Donkey Kong's Arch Enemy in the Donkey Kong Country games, much as Bowser is to Mario. Prone to adopting new personas (Kaptain K. Rool, Baron K. Roolenstein, etc) at the drop of a hat. Given how stupid and short-sighted he is, it's a wonder that he keeps coming back for more.

Tropes associated with K. Rool:

  • Acrofatic: Can outrun Donkey Kong and jump across the screen.
  • Adipose Rex: He is clearly fat.
  • Authority Equals Asskicking: He is the final boss in each game he appears in.
  • Berserk Button: There was this time in the cartoon when Klump's video conference messed him up in the computer game he was playing. It angered him so much, he let out an epic Big No and smashed the computer.
  • BFG: In the 2nd game.
  • Big Bad: Of all the games he appears in.
  • The Caligula
  • Cold-Blooded Torture: The first time you fight him on the Flying Krock in Donkey Kong Country 2, he is seen beating Donkey Kong.
  • Dangerously Genre Savvy: He summons a fake credits roll after it seems like you beat him, therefore making the player think the game is over and not seeing the real ending.
  • Determinator: The one consistent thing between his many personas is the fact that they all take immense amounts of effort to put down, usually being multi-stage bosses. In Donkey Kong 64, he goes through multiple rounds of being hammered by every Kong, and it still takes high explosives to merely get rid of him.
  • Evil Is Hammy: Particularly in the cartoon.
  • Evil Sounds Deep: In Donkey Kong 64.
  • Eye Squick: It's so bulgy and veiny...
  • Fat Bastard: He might look like a silly overgrown lizard, but he's a ruthless villain who will resort to very evil actions to get what he wants, including kidnapping Donkey Kong himself in two games and planning to destroy DK Isles in Donkey Kong 64.
  • Helicopter Pack: In the third game.
  • Large and In Charge: Among the largest Kremlings, though some of the monster bosses are huge even compared to him.
  • Lightning Bruiser/Mighty Glacier: See Bowser.
  • Mad Scientist: In Donkey Kong Country 3.
  • Pirate: In Donkey Kong Country 2.
  • Politically-Incorrect Villain: In Donkey Kong 64, he attempted to essentially commit genocide against the Kongs. If the Rare commentary is anything to go by, his stealing the banana hoard may have to do with starving the Kongs.
  • Red Eyes: Mainly because they're bloodshot.
  • Stout Strength: K. Rool is very fat, but also very strong. Oftentimes, he's even faster than DK is!

The Kremlings

Debut: Donkey Kong Country

The minions of King K. Rool, the Kremlings are a clan of nasty-tempered, dim-witted reptiles from Crocodile Isle. They have a seafaring culture with an emphasis on piracy. Despite their generally evil disposition, a few Kremlings have switched sides to help out the Kongs.

Tropes associated with the Kremlings:

KAOS

Bzzzzt... Click... Kongs enemy. You must be... DESTROYED!!!

The apparent new leader of the Kremlings in Donkey Kong Country 3, and a killer robot intent on world conquest, it's found to be secretly under the control of K Rool in his latest guise and powered by the captured Donkey and Diddy Kong. Has multiple heads that appear when each is destroyed.

Tropes applying to KAOS:

Wizpig

An evil, racing-obsessed pig wizard from the planet Future Fun Land, he invades and conquers Timber's Island in Diddy Kong Racing, hypnotizing some of the inhabitants to act as his minions.

The Cactus King

A huge cross between a gorilla and a cactus, the evil Cactus King ruled the distant Fruit Kingdoms with an iron fist by controlling the minds of the four Kong kings and other powerful creatures. He was overthrown when Donkey Kong came to the kingdoms' aid.

Tiki Tak Tribe

The villains of Donkey Kong Country Returns, replacing King K. Rool and the Kremling Krew. Led by the giant Tiki Tong and his instrument-shaped lieutenants, they hypnotize the animals of Donkey Kong Island into stealing DK's treasured Banana Hoard, which they use to bolster their forces (the bananas can bring inanimate Tiki masks to life... for some reason).


Canon Foreigners

Bluster Kong

"I'm just one sneaky, peeping, two-bit step away from becoming an even richer richest ape on Kongo Bongo Island - and that's rich."

The boss of DK Island's barrel factory (owned by his mother), and Donkey Kong's rival for Candy's affections. Appeared in the Donkey Kong Country cartoon.

Tropes associated with Bluster:

Kaptain Skurvy

A pirate captain featured in the Donkey Kong Country cartoon. He believed that he was the rightful owner of the Crystal Coconut and would sometimes come to DK Island to take it, accompanied by his two mates, Green Kroc and Kutlass. Skurvy is actually Klump's twin brother, as revealed in the Christmas Festival of Lights Episode.

Tropes associated with Skurvy and his men:

  • Belated Backstory: Skurvy in "The Kongo-Bongo Festival of Lights".
  • Expy: Of Kannon from Donkey Kong Country 2, with a bit of Kaptain K. Rool.
  • Long Lost Sibling: Skurvy separated from Klump during their childhood when Klump accidentally burnt down their home in the swamp with fireworks and Skurvy took the blame for it.
  • Pirates

Eddie The Mean Old Yeti

A white-furred Kong living up in the snowcapped White Mountains of the Donkey Kong Country cartoon. Armed with a big club and the distinction of being even dumber than DK, Eddie is a wild force in Kongo-Bongo Island.

Tropes associated with Eddie:

Polly Roger

A sarcastic, talking parrot from the Donkey Kong Country cartoon. He sometimes helps K.Rool or Scurvy with their plots to take the Crystal Coconut, but seems content to sit on the sidelines and dispense snarky comments.

Tropes associated with Polly:

Polly: You want loyalty? Get a cockerspaniel!

  1. ↑ And so do Mario and Baby Mario. Don't look too deep into this. DK Jr. was in because, at the time, Nintendo wasn't sure they could use Diddy, as he was owned by Rare.
  2. ↑ Footnote: Or maybe Cranky Kong, depending on how you interpret the timeline.
This article is issued from Allthetropes. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.