Cranky Kong

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Cranky Kong

Donkey Kong Country artwork
Full name Donkey Kong Sr.
Species Kong
First appearance Donkey Kong (1981)
Latest appearance Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014)
Latest portrayal Takashi Nagasako (2007-2014)
“I didn't! Whisking off maidens and chucking barrels, seven days a week I was!”
—Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Cranky Kong (also named Donkey Kong Sr.)[1] is an elderly Kong and the paternal figure of the Donkey Kong franchise. He made his debut appearance in the Donkey Kong arcade game as Donkey Kong, which was his name during his youth, and he has a son named Donkey Kong Jr.. As Cranky Kong, he debuted in Donkey Kong Country, developed by Rare, who created his grandson, Donkey Kong, as the main Kong bearing the "Donkey Kong" title ever since.

Cranky when he was Donkey Kong, was Mario's main foe in the games until he gave up on villainy.[2][3] Because of his experiences as Donkey Kong original, Cranky has a huge knowledge that other Kongs never knew before.[4][5][6][7][8]

Characteristics

Cranky is a gorilla with pale-pink skin and brown fur. In his youth, Cranky was muscular and disheveled. In his old age, Cranky has a white beard, glasses, wears a reddish gray/green shirt. At the end of the Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Cranky wears a white karate outfit and a black belt. In Donkey Kong 64, Cranky wears a scientist's lab coat and dive mask.

History

Canon

Youth

In Donkey Kong, Cranky was the pet Mario taken from his island who escapes the cage and captures Pauline in a construction site.[9] He tries to attack Mario with barrels and other obstacles, but is completely defeated by Mario when he removes all the screws that held the beams and falls to the ground.

In Donkey Kong Jr., Cranky is trapped in the cage by Mario and taken to Mario's hideout until he is freed by his son Donkey Kong Jr. where he unlocks 6 padlocks.

In Donkey Kong 3, Cranky invades Stanley's greenhouse which releases the biggest pests to destroy the plants. He tries to go down to enter and throws coconuts to hit Stanley; but is defeated by the same expels him up with the spray.

In Donkey Kong '94 as villain for the last time, Cranky repeats the same stunt in kidnapping Pauline at the construction site. Defeated as in the first, this time Cranky doesn't give up, fleeing with Pauline to other places even in the DK Isles. In the battles he appears in, Cranky tries to attack Mario (who is now a plumber) with rubble when he makes an earthquake, throwing enemies, throwing things, and activating traps until he escapes. In battles, Cranky throws barrels and enemies at Mario until he is defeated when he is hit by them. Once in the jungle to his Tower, he is helped by his son Donkey Kong Jr.[10] to hinder Mario's progress. In the final battle as a giant, Cranky tries to attack Mario with his bare hands and knocks over the rubble until he is finally defeated for the last time when he is hit with barrels several times and knocked off his tower.

Elder

In Donkey Kong Country, Cranky lives in his cabin where he gives randomly selected advice on the various items and locations in game to his grandson DK and his great-grandnephew Diddy. When his grandson retrieved the Banana Hoard and drove out the Kremlings, Cranky was impressed by his grandson's ability.

In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Cranky has set up his museum where he sells his advice for any Banana Coin (the insults are free).[11] He also hides all the DK Coins in every corner of Crocodile Isle for Diddy & Dixie to collect them in order to be the true video game heroes.[12]

In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble, Cranky spent his money on Swanky's Sideshow where he was Dixie Kong or Kiddy Kong's competitive opponent.[13] He appears at the end of the battle against K. Rool criticizing Dixie & Kiddy's fight and puts on glasses so he doesn't get hit. In the real ending, Cranky will do some waterskiing tricks until Funky Kong hits something, then Cranky Kong reemerges from the water with a sign that says THE END with ink spilling.

In Donkey Kong 64, Cranky sets up his lab where he sells the Kongs the Simian Slam power to activate the Kong Switches, Kong Pads and Kong Barrels abilities all through his formulas. But of course he offers a challenge to play a game on his computer called Jetpac to earn the Rare Coin. In battle against K. Rool when time is up, Cranky appears to want to face him when one of the 5 Kongs loses.

In DK: King of Swing, Cranky Kong and his deceased wife Wrinkly Kong teach Donkey Kong how to use the unique controls in his lectures. Cranky along with Candy Kong is a unplayable character on Jungle Jam.

In DK: Jungle Climber, Cranky appears in various levels teaching DK & Diddy more moves. He also tells the characters what they can do with the Banana Coins, DK Coins, and Oil Barrels they find throughout the levels they are collected.

In Donkey Kong Country Returns, Cranky Kong sets up his shop due to his pension debts being revoked, so he has to sell things to make money.[14] Here he sells Extra-Life Balloons, Heart Boosts, Squawks, Banana Juices and Map Keys to open paths scattered throughout the submaps.

In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Cranky was the last to be found by DK on Canopy Chaos when he and other Kongs were driven off from own island by the Snowmads during the DK's birthday party. He jump with his cane, uses his Denture Popgun when he's separated, enemies are turned into Banana Coins using Kong POW along with DK and has his own barrel with the initials CK. After Lord Fredrik's expulsion, Cranky joined the victory band in which he plays a electric bass.

Spin-off

In Donkey Konga, Cranky appears as dancer on Challenge and Jam Session. In Donkey Konga 2, Cranky appears on Battle as judge. In Donkey Kong 3, Cranky appears as playable character.

In Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, Cranky is eighth playable character from selection in which his Boost, Speed and Agility are 4 out of 5. His counterpart is K. Rool. If the player complete the Challenge 24 of Candy's Challenges, he will be unlocked. He hosts Cranky's Flight School too.

Appearances in other media

Club Nintendo

"Donkey Kong Country"

He also appeared in the Club Nintendo comic "Donkey Kong Country". He is the first one to discover that King K. Rool has stolen the Kongs' banana hoard, which follows the story of the game. Cranky's appearance in the comic differs slightly from his standard look, as he is wearing a blue shirt instead of a gray or brown one.

"Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24"

In the comic "Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24", published in the same magazine, he supported Donkey, Diddy, Dixie and Kiddy on their mission to save the Earth from being pulled away from the sun by a giant UFO. It was his idea to carry on negotiations with the aliens so they would release the Earth. The President of the United States puts a space shuttle at the Kongs' disposal, and Cranky is the one to navigate it. He beams Donkey, Diddy and Dixie into the UFO and stays in the Kongs' space shuttle meanwhile. When their mission succeeds, he navigates the space shuttle back to Earth, where the Kongs are being hailed by the people. Euphorically, Cranky tries to kiss a random girl, much to her disgust. After returning to their jungle, Cranky gets in trouble with his wife Wrinkly because of this. During the events of this story, Cranky did not show much of his grouchy traits as often discovered in the games, but instead appears as a helpful person.

Donkey Kong Jungle Action Special

File:DKJAS Cranky Kong six fingers.jpg
Cranky is angered by Pauline's book

Cranky is featured in the Donkey Kong Jungle Action Special comic "The Big Banana Robbery". At the beginning of the comic, Crankey yells at sleeping Donkey Kong and invites him to check the empty Banana Hoard. As Donkey Kong heads off to find the missing bananas and rescue the missing Diddy Kong, Cranky stays behind, saying he "can't be bothered" to help.

Cranky later stars in the comic "A Blast From The Past". While unclogging a pipe at his treehouse, Cranky is disrupted by a human reporter, who introduces himself by asking Cranky if he remembers anything about Pauline. Recalling it as "a long time ago", Cranky proceeds to tell the tale of when he last saw her.

In a flashback, a younger Cranky Kong, back when he bore the "Donkey Kong" title, is climbing a construction site, telling Pauline it's "something I saw in a movie once". The commotion attracts a nearby electrician, who tries to rescue Pauline. Donkey Kong throws a barrel at the individual, but he manages to get to the top of the construction site. Donkey Kong hits him with another barrel, but the electrician gets back up yet another time and taunts Donkey Kong, who retaliates by throwing ton of barrels at him and seemingly knocking the man out of sight.

Donkey Kong is concerned, saying he didn't want to harm the man. The electrician pops out of the barrel Donkey is holding, scaring him. A furious Pauline kicks Donkey Kong, admonishing him for his antics and promising to get even.

Finishing his tale, Cranky said the event made him get out of the city. The reporter goads him into telling more by showing Pauline got movie and book deals out of her side of the story, whose unflattering depictions of Cranky make him furious. Cranky claims to have the ugly truth about Pauline, starting his new tales with the words "The first time I carried her to the top of a building..." before the story ends.

Television series

In Donkey Kong Country television series, Cranky Kong has the same role as the games. But his personal life is revealed in the episode Best of Enemies in which Cranky and K. Rool were best friends acting as pranksters until the friendship is broken because of contest where K. Rool cheated.[15][16]

Quotes

Main article: List of Cranky Kong quotes

Profiles

Main article: List of Cranky Kong profiles and statistics

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Cranky Kong/gallery.

Music themes

Title Theme - The title theme from Donkey Kong.
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Theme - The title theme from Donkey Kong Country.
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Cranky Kong's Theme - The theme that plays in Cranky's Cabin in Donkey Kong Country.
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Steel Drum Rhumba - The title theme from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
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Cranky's Conga - The theme that plays in Monkey Museum in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
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Game Over - The game over theme from Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA).
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Donkey Kong Court - Donkey Kong Court from Mario Tennis which is an arrangement of DK Island Swing.
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Cranky's Theme - His theme in DK: King of Swing.
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Cranky's Flight School - His theme in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast.
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Cosmic Highway - Cosmic Highway theme from Donkey Kong Barrel Blast which is an arrangement of Opening.
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Cranky's Theme - His theme in DK: Jungle Climber.
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Results - Results music in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! which is an arrangement of Opening.
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Main Title - The title theme from Donkey Kong Country Returns.
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Cranky Kong's Shop - The theme that plays in Cranky Kong's Shop in Donkey Kong Country Returns.
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Triva

  • The fact that he called DK "son", because he was senile.[17]

References

  1. ^ Playing with Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics Prima Games, p. 112 - "THE DK LINEAGE: 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. Make sense, right?"
  2. ^ "Donkey Kong Country Instruction Booklet, Nintendo, 1994, p. 6 - "IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NITE...: In his heyday, Cranky was the original Donkey Kong who battled Mario in several of his own games."
  3. ^ "Donkey Kong Country Instruction Booklet, Nintendo, 1994, p. 27 - "CRANKY KONG: Donkey Kong's grouchy pappy is actually the original Donkey Kong who starred in the many Donkey Kong arcade classic of the eighties."
  4. ^ "Cranky Kong: Surely K. Rool can come up with better than that, maybe a bucket or perhaps a really nasty fridge!" - Donkey Kong Country (GBA)
  5. ^ "Wrinkly Kong: Have you been to see my husband Cranky? He complains a little, but he does know everything about this island." -Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest"
  6. ^ "Cranky Kong: I reckon I'd found all the Kremkoins and completed the so called 'Lost World'. Oh well, can't expect everything from our first game, can we?" - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
  7. ^ Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble Player's Guide, Nintendo, 1996, p. 4 - "NORTHERN KREMISPHERE: Rumor has it — and it might just be simian senility — that Cranky Kong covered all the levels and found everything in five hours and fifteen minutes!"
  8. ^ "Cranky Kong: Tell those Tikis to keep it down! I'm an old ape, and I need my rest." - Donkey Kong Country Returns
  9. ^ Chris Kohler. How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life, 2005, pg. 39
  10. ^ Donkey Kong '94 Instruction Booklet, Nintendo, 1994, p. 2 - HE'S BACK: Hunt down Donkey Kong as he escape from the Big-City, traveling on the Ship, though the Jungle, the Desert, Rocky Mountain and on to his home."
  11. ^ "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Instruction Booklet, Nintendo, 1995, p. 15 - "BANANA BUNCH COIN: Even old Cranky charges for his words of wisdom (although the insults are still free)."
  12. ^ "Wrinkly Kong: A very large coin with 'DK' on it, each level has one, cunningly hidden by Cranky. Collect these to increase your status as a video game hero." -Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest"
  13. ^ "Wrinkly Kong: If you bump into Cranky, tell him to stop wasting his money on Swanky's bonus games." - Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!"
  14. ^ "Cranky Kong: They stopped paying my pension ages ago. Now I'm reduced to selling junk out of this old shack." -Donkey Kong Country Returns"
  15. ^ Cranky Kong: What always happens with K. Rool. We were competing to find out who was the island champion. We were down to the last event, the most dangerous one of all. But since K. Rool could never stand losing, he cheated. - Best of Enemies
  16. ^ K. Rool: It is from Cranky. My, that brings back memories. Oh, I remember our halcyon days spent in the endless pursuit of our next frivolous escapade. No challenge was too great for us back then. - Best of Enemies
  17. ^ Gregg Mayles on Twitter (retrieved on May, 2, 2017)
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