Editing Banjo

|species=Honey Bear<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-64/Banjo-Kazooie-269415.html|title=Banjo-Kazooie {{!}} Nintendo 64 {{!}} Games {{!}} Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo UK|language=en-gb|accessdate=May 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=Rareware|date=1997|title=''Diddy Kong Racing'' instruction booklet|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=24}}</ref>

|portrayed_by=[[Chris Sutherland]] ([[List of games by date#1997|1997]]–present)<ref>{{cite|author=Christopher Niosi|url=youtu.be/Q83W5_srddA?t=6m37s|title=Talkin' Rare & Playtonic Games w/ Chris Sutherland (feat. Shadyvox) - Kirblog 6/17/17|timestamp=00:06:37|publisher=YouTube|language=en|accessdate=May 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>Credited in the sound test menu in the Japanese version of ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.</ref>

{{quote|Anybody seen a [[Kazooie|Red-crested Bree Gull]]{{sic}} around here?|[[Banjo]]|''[[Nintendo Power]]'', volume 102 (''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' section)<ref>{{cite|date=November 1997|title=''Nintendo Power'' Volume 102|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=29}}</ref>}}

'''{{wp|Banjo & Kazooie|Banjo}}''' is one of the two protagonists of former [[Nintendo]] partner [[Rare]]'s {{wp|Banjo-Kazooie|''Banjo-Kazooie'' series}}, along with his best friend, [[Kazooie]]. He is characterized as a honey bear with light-brown fur, tan skin, blue eyes, and a black nose, and he wears a shark-tooth necklace, yellow shorts, and a blue backpack that houses Kazooie. Banjo made his debut, both overall and in the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise, as a playable character in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'', and he and his series were owned by Nintendo up until the acquisition of Rare by Microsoft in 2002, with ''Banjo'' characters making some appearances in the ''Mario'' franchise during that period. In exchange for Rare obtaining full rights to Banjo, [[Nintendo]] gained full rights to Rare's ''[[Donkey Kong (franchise)|Donkey Kong]]'' additions, such as the various [[Kong|Kong Family]] members and the [[Kremling]]s.

Prior to Banjo's inclusion in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', he and Kazooie were among the most requested ''Super Smash Bros.'' characters of all time. A Rare employee wrote on their website back in 2009, that although they had not been considered for ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', many Rare franchise trophies were originally in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''.<ref>{{cite|author=Lerako|date=September 18, 2009|url=www.raregamer.co.uk/scribes-september-18th-2009|title=Rare Scribes|accessdate=October 30, 2020}}</ref> Vice President of Microsoft's gaming division, {{wp|Phil Spencer}}, made a Tweet in 2015, stating "it would be cool" to see Banjo and Kazooie appear as DLC fighters in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' / ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U|Wii U]]''.<ref>{{cite|author=Campbell, Evan|date=April 3, 2015|url=www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/03/xbox-head-phil-spencer-says-it-would-be-cool-to-see-banjo-in-super-smash-bros-for-nintendo-3ds-and-wii-u Xbox Head|title=Xbox Head Phil Spencer Says 'It Would Be Cool' to See Banjo in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|publisher=IGN|accessdate=May 11, 2024}}</ref> He doubled down on the comments in 2018, a year before Banjo and Kazooie's reveal in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.<ref>{{cite|author=Winslett, Ryan|date=March 21, 2018|url=www.cinemablend.com/games/2391161/microsoft-is-willing-to-put-banjo-in-smash-bros|title=Microsoft Is Willing To Put Banjo In Smash Bros.|publisher=Cinemablend|language=en|accessdate=May 11, 2024}}</ref>

*'''Instruction booklet bio:''' "''(Low acceleration, heavy weight, good handling, high top speed) Even before the start of his future partnership with Kazooie, Banjo isn’t one to turn down the chance of an adventure. So when Squawks brings the message from his pal Diddy Kong, the Honey Bear stuffs a few things into his trusty backpack and takes to his heels.''"<ref>{{cite|date=1997|title=''Diddy Kong Racing'' instruction booklet|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=24}}</ref>

*'''[[Nintendo Power#Player's Guides|Player's Guide]]:''' "''When Squawks brought Diddy’s call for help, Banjo didn’t hestitate—he strapped on his trusty backpack and hit the road immediately. He has also agreed to take on a totally different adventure with his partner, Kazooie, so this busy bear will have a lot to keep him occupied for some time to come.''"<ref>{{cite|author=Swan, Leslie|date=1997|title=''Diddy Kong Racing'' Player's Guide|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=7}}</ref>

*'''''[[Nintendo Power]]'' Volume 103:''' "''Like Conker, Banjo is sort of hanging out on Timber’s Island while his own game gets polished for release. The happy-go-lucky honey bear has good handling for a heavy guy, but his acceleration is what you would expect from a bear. On the other hand, Banjo has excellent top-end speed for straightaways.''"<ref>{{cite|date=December 1997|title=''Nintendo Power'' Volume 103|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=14}}</ref>

*'''Diddy's Drivers Ed''': "''Banjo is another heavyweight racer, but his acceleration and handling are acceptable. He's a great choice for piloting a hovercraft. In many instances, Banjo will have to use the sharp turn technique to take corners cleanly.''"<ref>{{cite|archive=web.archive.org/web/19981206065714/http://www.dkr.com/driversed.html|title=Diddy's Driver Ed|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en}}</ref>

*'''''Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition'' [[Prima Games|Prima]]'s Official Strategy Guide:''' "''Banjo is one of the harder characters to control, and his acceleration is low. Of course, his heavier weight also means that, once he builds up some momentum, his top speed is second only to Krunch. On a tightly turning course, however, there’s little chance for his extra speed to come into play: He’s always in the process of accelerating, and then skidding through the next turn.''"<ref>{{cite|author=Prima Bath|date=April 7, 1999|title=''Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition Prima's Official Strategy Guide''|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|language=en-us|isbn=0-7615-2103-7|page=37}}</ref>

*'''Rarewhere''': "''Even before the start of his future partnership with Kazooie, Banjo isn’t one to turn down the chance of an adventure. So when Squawks brings the message from his pal Diddy, the Honey Bear stuffs a few things into his trusty backpack and takes to his heels.''"<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/19990902205540/http://www.rareware.com/recent/games/racing/castlist/cast_banjo.html|title=DKR Cast List {{!}} Banjo|publisher=Rarewhere|language=en-gb|accessdate=May 11, 2024}}</ref>

*'''[[Smash Taunt#Viridi|Viridi]]:''' It must be an intruder from another dimension!

|Jpn=バンジョー

|JpnR=Banjō

|JpnM=According to [[Gregg Mayles]], Banjo's name is based on the name of Banjō Yamauchi ({{ruby|山|やま}}{{ruby|内|うち}}{{ruby|万|ばん}}{{ruby|丈|じょう}}), [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]]'s grandson; both names have the exact same pronunciation.

|Chi2=阿邦

==Notes==

*A portrait of [[Donkey Kong]] appeared in Banjo's house in prototype versions of ''Banjo-Kazooie''.<ref>{{cite|author=TCRF|title={{iw|tcrf|Prerelease:Banjo-Kazooie}}|publisher=The Cutting Room Floor|language=en|accessdate=May 12, 2024}}</ref>