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Not to be confused with Donkey Kong (character).

Cranky Kong (also known as Donkey Kong Sr.)[1] is one of the main characters from the Donkey Kong games and the grandfather of Donkey Kong. While Donkey Kong Country is his first appearance as Cranky Kong, a creation of Rare, Cranky bore the title "Donkey Kong" in prior releases, so his actual debut is in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong, in which he is the main antagonist.

History[]

Donkey Kong[]

Cranky Kong is the original Donkey Kong who was seen in the Donkey Kong arcade games, something that has been established since Cranky was introduced in Donkey Kong Country.

Donkey Kong Country/Land games[]

Donkey Kong Country[]

Cranky Kong (Donkey Kong Country)

Donkey Kong Country artwork

Cranky made his first official appearance as "Cranky Kong" in Donkey Kong Country.

In the game itself, he resides in his cabin where he is willing to give Donkey and Diddy advice for items, levels and such. He has many unused level-related quotes deleted from the final build, thus only having Kongo Jungle and early Monkey Mines level tips. He also can be seen at the end of every boss battle after a boss is defeated in the Game Boy Advance version.

Unlike the sequel, his advice randomly pops up and cannot be chosen by Donkey and Diddy on which advice they want to hear. Also, no currency is used in Donkey Kong Country so his tips can be heard for no money.

Donkey Kong Land[]

While Cranky does not appear in Donkey Kong Land itself, he is the one whom has caused the events of the game to happen. He made a bet to King K. Rool to once again steal the bananas from the hoard as he was jealous of all of the two monkeys' success to see if the two may complete the game on an 8-bit system.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[]

Cranky reappears in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.

In the game, he once again gives the two monkeys advice, thus making him still the same, but is now located inside of his hut now called the Monkey Museum. Also, he gives out advice, but can now be chosen by Diddy and Dixie. Also, Banana Coin currency is also in the game, meaning that some tips cost money. This is similar to how Kong Kollege has it. He also hosts a Video Game Heroes competition with Mario, Yoshi and Link making cameos after The Flying Krock is completed. Diddy needs all of the DK Coins to be ranked first place in the Video Game Heroes competition.

In the Game Boy Advance version, feathers were included as new elements in this version for Cranky's new minigame titled Expresso's Racing. Here, Diddy and Dixie must power up Expresso as much as possible so that he may race against other birds. The more feathers, the more power Expresso gets. Alternatively, Cranky also discusses to the monkeys after defeating a boss.

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![]

Cranky reappears in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!.

In this game, Cranky does not make much of actual appearances and are more or less minor. In Swanky's Sideshow, he is once again an enemy in the game like he was in the arcade games and says comments that are deemed unkind.

Afterwards, he mainly makes an appearance near the ending. Here, he criticizes Dixie and Kiddy for winning against KAOS. The two then approach him in an ominous sort of way and attempt to pummel him. If one manages to get the ending with the Banana Birds and 105%, Cranky will do water skiing tricks and then hold up an inked sign saying THE END. He also is ranked the all time greatest at the game before Dixie and Kiddy completes it fully. If they complete it in 105%, they also gain a Cranky trophy labelled "immortal monkey".

In the Game Boy Advance version, Cranky no longer competes in Swanky's Sideshow as the place itself is converted to a virtual reality area named Swanky's Dash. Instead, Cranky now runs an area called Cranky's Dojo. Here, he has to train himself for his "first game", as he states called Cranky Kong Country. Here, he has to defeat thirty Bristles so Dixie and Kiddy may gain a Banana Bird on the first try. Also, he once again talks after a boss is defeated.

Donkey Kong Country Returns[]

Cranky actually seemed much less critical in this game as he doesn't insult the player at all. In this game he owned a shop where players could buy lives, power-ups, and even Squawks the Parrot to aid them on their journey with the use of Banana Coins.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[]

Cranky Kong is set to appear in this game, but this time, as a playable character rather than a supporting character as he was in the previous games.

Donkey Kong 64[]

Cranky turned into a mad scientist and made potions for the five Kongs to buy, necessary to beat the game. He also owned Rare's first game, Jetpac, that could be accessed after earning fifteen Banana Medals. When the player score 5,000 points, they earn the Rareware Coin necessary to beat the game.

Diddy Kong Racing games[]

Diddy Kong Pilot (2001)[]

Cranky was to appear as a playable character in the now cancelled 2001 build of Diddy Kong Pilot. Nothing else is known, except that he seems to pilot a wooden plane.

Diddy Kong Pilot (2003)[]

Cranky appears in the only ROM-available 2003 build of Diddy Kong Pilot. Here, he is the replacement for Bottles from Banjo-Pilot. He also resides in his cabin and complains a lot about Team Kremling. He also considers the player a bad pilot until defeating King K. Rool in a dogfight battle. As well as all that, he explains the game to the player.

Once Donkey Kong is defeated by Team Kremling in a dogfight battle, Team Cranky, only having Cranky in the team himself, is unlocked.

In DK series[]

DK: King of Swing[]

Cranky taught players how to play the game, along with Wrinkly Kong.

In other media[]

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[]

This article or section contains information about a subject that is part of a game, show or movie that is releasing soon.
Upcoming game The article's information may change substantially as more information becomes available. Users may help edit this article, but must abide by the MarioWiki:The Upcoming Rule.
Cranky Kong cropped TSMBM

Cranky Kong in the movie.

Cranky Kong will appear in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.[2]


Gallery[]

Hat mario To view Cranky Kong's
image gallery, click here.


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. Illumination (2022-11-30). The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Retrieved on 2022-11-30.
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