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Cranky Kong (Donkey Kong Senior) is a character in the Donkey Kong series. This elderly Kong first made an appearance in the 1994 video game Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, where he gave small tips for certain situations, like how to access a bonus level. He was married to Wrinkly Kong, who died in between Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and Donkey Kong 64. It is often stated that he is supposedly the original Donkey Kong from the 1981 arcade game and that the current Donkey Kong is really the grandson (son in The Super Mario Bros. Movie) of Cranky and the son of Donkey Kong Jr. according to Rare, but recent games rarely mention this factoid anymore until Donkey Kong Country Returns. He is constantly breaking the fourth wall. For example, when you go to his cabin in Donkey Kong Country, he will say that if he himself was playing the game, he would have finished much faster. He is cranky as mentioned by his game.
History in Games[]
Young[]
According to Rareware and himself, Cranky first appeared in the arcade game of his real name, Donkey Kong. He has kidnapped Pauline and climbed a construction site. He throws barrels and other objects at Mario, who is trying to rescue Pauline. Eventually, Mario knocks down the girders Donkey Kong is standing on, causing him to fall and get knocked unconscious.
Next, he is locked in a cage by Mario for kidnapping Pauline. His son Donkey Kong Jr. tries to grab the key and rescue his dad. He succeeds and Donkey Kong is freed.
In his next appearance, he breaks into a greenhouse, bringing in insects with him. Stanley the Bugman must kill all the bugs and rid the place of Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong attacks by releasing the insects from hives. Eventually, Stanley is able to kill all the bugs and kick Donkey Kong out of the greenhouse.
Old[]
After many years, old age hits Donkey Kong and he takes the name Cranky Kong while his grandson takes his former name Donkey Kong. In Donkey Kong Country, the once-mighty Kong gives advice at his cabin about the levels of the game.
In the revival when the Tiki Tong tribe takes over Donkey Kong Island, Cranky Kong sets up shop for the Kong as well as provides some advice as the Kongs traverse the islands.
In Tropical Freeze, when the crew gets launched off the island by the Snowmads while celebrating Donkey Kong's birthday, Cranky Kong joins Donkey Kong as a sidekick in the quest to get back to their island and take it back, offering his cane and denture gun to help him.
Super Smash Bros.[]
He appears in the house of the background of the stage Jungle Japes as a silhouette. He has also appeared as a trophy in a few entries.
Trophy Descriptions[]
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U
- This old man could teach you a thing or two! Cranky Kong has always been willing to share some words of wisdom, but in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, he decides to help directly and brings his cane-Swinging style to the field. What a crazy old... Ahem. What a gentleman!
- Super Nintendo - Donkey Kong Country - 11/1994
- Wii U - Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - 02/2014
In other media[]
Cranky was a common character on the Donkey Kong Country TV series. Cranky lives in his cabin in the trees. Cranky keeps the Crystal Coconut in his cabin. Cranky is old, cranky, and sometimes harsh, but he can still joke around and show other emotions. He was also old friends with King K. Rool until K. Rool cheated in a contest.
Cranky Kong appeared in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, voiced by Fred Armisen. Compared to other appearances, Cranky is portrayed as a king in his monkey kingdom, and is confirmed to be Donkey Kong's father.
Game Appearances[]
| Years | Video Games | Consoles | Notes | Playable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Donkey Kong Country | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | First appearance | No |
| 1995 | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | Second appearance | No |
| 1996 | Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | Third appearance | No |
| 1999 | Donkey Kong 64 | Nintendo 64 | Only appearance on the Nintendo 64. | No |
| Donkey Kong Coconut Crackers | Game Boy Advance | Unreleased work that was originally intended to be the first appearance on the Game Boy Advance. | Unknown | |
| Diddy Kong Pilot | Game Boy Advance | Unreleased work that was originally intended to be the second appearance on the Game Boy Advance. | Yes | |
| 2003 | Donkey Konga | Nintendo GameCube | First appearance on the GameCube. | No |
| 2004 | Donkey Konga 2 | Nintendo GameCube | Second appearance on the GameCube. | No |
| 2005 | DK: King of Swing | Game Boy Advance | Final appearance on the Game Boy Advance. | No |
| 2007 | Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast | Wii | First appearance on the Wii. | Yes |
| 2007 | DK: Jungle Climber | Nintendo DS | Only appearance on the Nintendo DS. | No |
| 2008 | Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Wii | Appears as a Trophy and Sticker in the game. | No |
| 2010 | Donkey Kong Country Returns | Wii | Appears once again as a supporting character. | No |
| 2011 | Diddy Kong Pilot (2003 iteration) | Game Boy Advance (leaked as a computer ROM) | Has the highest stats in the game. In Banjo-Pilot, Cranky was replaced with Mumbo Jumbo, as shown with their shared statistics. | Yes |
| 2014 | Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | Wii U/Nintendo Switch | One of the 3 sidekicks (4 in the Switch port), uses the cane as a pogo stick to avoid hazards | Yes |
| 2014 | Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U | Nintendo 3DS/Wii U | Appears as a Trophy in the game. | No |
Quotes[]
Gallery[]
| Characters in Donkey Kong | |
|---|---|
| Major Kongs | Candy Kong • Chunky Kong • Cranky Kong • Diddy Kong • Dixie Kong • Donkey Kong • Donkey Kong Jr. • Funky Kong • Kiddy Kong • Lanky Kong • Swanky Kong • Tiny Kong • Wrinkly Kong |
| Other Kongs | Manky Kong • Bluster Kong (Leo Luster) • Dread Kong • Eddie the Mean Old Yeti • Karate Kong • Kong Fu • Ninja Kong • Sumo Kong |
| Kremlings | King K. Rool • Kaptain Skurvy • Green Kroc • Kalypso • Kasplat • Kass • Kerozene • Kip • K. Lumsy • Klubba • Kludge • Klump • Kopter • Krusha • Kudgel • Kackle • Kritter • Klaptrap |
| Tiki Tak Tribe | Kalimba • Maraca Gang • Gong-Oh • Banjo Bottom • Wacky Pipes • Xylobone • Cordian • Tiki Tong |
| Snowmads | Pompy • Skowl • Ba-Boom • Fugu • Bashmaster • Lord Fredrik |