Editing Cranky Kong

{{about|the character often recognized as the elderly form of the original Donkey Kong from the [[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong game]]|the character in general|[[Donkey Kong]]}}

{{character infobox

|image=[[File:Cranky Kong Artwork - Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze.png|300px]]<br>Artwork from ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''

|full_name=Donkey Kong Sr.<ref>{{cite|quote=''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. Makes sense, right?|title=''Playing With Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics eGuide'', ''Super Mario Kart'' 16 Bits Tab}}</ref>

|first_appearance=''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' (as Cranky Kong) ([[List of games by date#1994|1994]]) <br> ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]'' (as Donkey Kong) ([[List of games by date#1981|1981]])

|latest_appearance=''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'' (as Cranky Kong) (2023)<br>''[[Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition]]'' (as Donkey Kong) ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])

|latest_portrayal=[[Takashi Nagasako]] ([[List of games by date#2007|2007]]–present) <br> [[Fred Armisen]] (English, 2023)

{{quote|You young apes wouldn't know a real adventure if it jumped up and bit you on the nose!|Cranky Kong|Donkey Kong Country: Rumble in the Jungle}}

'''Cranky Kong''' is a [[Kong]] who is depicted as a paternal figure to [[Donkey Kong]], though [[#Identity confusion|their exact relation varies]]. He is characterized by frequently breaking the [[fourth wall]] and constantly complaining and rambling (especially in [[Rare Ltd.|Rare]]-made games), although he proves to be a helpful sage in many situations, having been shown to possess much knowledge about the current location and its history and secrets.<ref>{{cite|quote=Have you been to see my husband Cranky? He complains a little, but he does know everything about this island.|author=Wrinkly Kong|title=''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''|publisher=Nintendo|date=1995}}</ref><ref>{{cite|quote=Even old Cranky Kong is getting in on the entrepreneurial spirit. He’s opened a Monkey Museum where inquisitive monkeys can go to learn about the lore of Crocodile Isle. Prepare to pay to get the best hints!|title=''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' instruction booklet|date=1995|page=26|pulisher=Nintendo of America|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite|quote=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!|author=Owsen, Dan, Terry Munson, and Paul Shinoda|title=''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble'' Player's Guide|page=4|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en|date=1996}}</ref>

 

{{quote|Whisking off maidens and chucking barrels, seven days a week I was!|Cranky Kong|Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance)}}

According to [[#Identity confusion|various pieces of official media]], starting with ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'', Cranky Kong is the original Donkey Kong from the arcade games appearing in ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong 3]]''. During his youthful prime, Cranky Kong kidnapped [[Pauline]] and took her to a construction site, was kidnapped and trapped in a cage by [[Mario]], and even battled [[Stanley]] in various greenhouses. He also implies in one of his lectures to his grandson that his kidnapping of Pauline was consistent enough that he did so "seven days a week." Not counting the "Modern" mixes in the [[Game & Watch Gallery (series)|''Game & Watch Gallery'' series]] or a cameo in ''[[Mario Clash]]'', his final role as Donkey Kong was in ''[[Donkey Kong (Game Boy)|Donkey Kong]]'' for Game Boy. He retired after he relinquished the name to his grandson.<ref>「1994年に発売された『ドンキーコング』（ゲームボーイ）を最後に、孫に“ドンキーコング”の名を譲り渡す。」 ("After the release of 'Donkey Kong' (Game Boy), he turned over the Donkey Kong name to his grandchild.") – {{cite|language=ja|publisher=Nintendo Online Magazine}}</ref>

[[File:Cranky Kong DKC.png|thumb|left|Cranky Kong, as he originally appeared in ''Donkey Kong Country'']]

Cranky first appeared in his elderly form in ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'', in which he lives in a slightly rundown shack known as [[Cranky's Cabin]]. From here, Cranky gives randomly selected advice on the game's various items and locations, mostly pertaining to the first few levels, to the new Donkey Kong and his friend [[Diddy Kong]]. Unlike in the sequels, Cranky asks no fee for his bits of advice and can be consulted as many times as the player desires. Cranky also appears in the opening cutscene before the title screen, operating a phonograph that plays the theme song from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] version of ''Donkey Kong'' atop a [[Construction Site|construction site]]. Donkey Kong disrupts his session by knocking him aside and dancing to a remixed version of the song Cranky was playing on the phonograph, which plays on a boombox he drops nearby, then the scene turns to a jungle. Cranky, irritated by this interruption, throws a [[TNT Barrel]] at Donkey Kong's boombox, destroying it.

In the game's manual, Cranky provides various commentary to try and discourage potential players from the game, such as claiming that the characters and items listed do not exist. Despite this, the back of the manual has a section titled "Cranky's Advice" where he gives some basic tips on the game.

 

Cranky Kong has an unused walking animation in the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] version of the game, which would later be used in the [[Game Boy Advance]] version.<ref>{{cite|title=[[tcrf:Donkey Kong Country (SNES)#Cranky Kong|Donkey Kong Country (SNES) § Cranky Kong]]|publisher=The Cutting Room Floor|accessdate=October 31, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:DKC2 Cranky Kong Artwork.jpg|thumb|Cranky Kong, in ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'']]

In ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'', Cranky sets up his [[Monkey Museum]] on [[Crocodile Isle]]. It appears as though, through his further aging, it has become more difficult to walk, as he stands with two canes. Once again, Cranky will give out information, this time for a price. In this game, Cranky also scatters several [[DK Coin|Video Game Hero Coin]]s throughout the game's various levels. Once [[King K. Rool|Kaptain K. Rool]] is defeated, Cranky will tally [[Diddy Kong]] and [[Dixie Kong]]'s "hero status" by how many Video Game Hero Coins they have collected. ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' also introduced Cranky's wife, [[Wrinkly Kong]].

As in the previous game, he provides snide commentary throughout the manual, such as saying that the story is even worse than the previous game's, criticizing the various items in the game as "rubbish," and betting that most of the enemies listed are not actually in the game.

 

Cranky's role remains relatively the same in the [[Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance)|remake]], although it was slightly expanded with a new sidequest. Cranky bought a racing ostrich he named [[Expresso]], which the Kongs can bulk up using [[golden feather]]s and race against other ostriches to try and achieve trophies in exchange for rewards from Cranky.

In ''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]'', Cranky makes fewer appearances. A picture of Cranky is on a wall in the background of [[Wrinkly's Save Cave]]. In [[Swanky's Sideshow]], Cranky Kong acts as Dixie and [[Kiddy Kong]]'s opponent in various ball throwing [[minigame]]s. Cranky also appears at the end of the game to criticize Dixie and Kiddy's victory over [[KAOS]] and [[King K. Rool|Baron K. Roolenstein]], resulting in Dixie and Kiddy Kong approaching him ominously while he tries to avoid an inevitable beating by putting on glasses. At the end of the post-game cutscene, Cranky will appear in the background doing a few water-skiing tricks behind [[Funky Kong]], who pulls him with a motorboat. He eventually falls in water, but comes back to the surface holding up a sign which says "THE END" in runny ink. He is also top of the All-Time Greats list at the end of the game, having beat the game in 04:22 with 103%. If the player beats the game with the TUFST code activated, thereby attaining 105%, they will get a trophy of Cranky Kong in a black belt's outfit and will be named "Immortal Monkey!"

In the [[Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance)|remake]], Cranky runs several dojos, aptly named [[Cranky's Dojo]] to prepare for his self-purported "first" game, Cranky Kong Country. He wears a similar dojo outfit as in the original game's "Immortal Monkey!" trophy. In Cranky's Dojo, players gain the ability to play as a shield-wielding Cranky during a [[Bristles]] dodging minigame. Cranky's Dojo minigame must be beaten at least once to gain a [[Banana Bird]].

[[File:DKCRCrankyKongShop.png|250px|thumb|left|Cranky Kong's shop]]

Cranky appears in ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D]]''. In the game, he runs [[Cranky Kong's Shop|a shop]] in each world and will often make sarcastic remarks over what Donkey and Diddy Kong buy. Aside from Donkey and Diddy, Cranky is the only Kong from the original trilogy to make a return appearance. According to him, the reason he made the shop was because his pension was revoked, so he has to sell items to make money. Unlike in previous games, he does not directly break the fourth wall, though he makes more subtle comments about the game's structure.

To buy items in Cranky Kong's shop, the player needs to have [[Banana Coin]]s. In his shop, there are [[Extra Life Balloon]]s bundled into groups of 1, 3, and 7 balloons. There is also a [[Heart Boost]], which gives Donkey or Diddy the ability to have three [[heart]]s for the duration of one level, [[Banana Juice]], which gives limited invincibility, and [[Squawks the Parrot]], who helps the Kongs collect undiscovered [[Puzzle Piece (Donkey Kong Country Returns)|Puzzle Pieces]] in levels. There is also a [[key]] for sale, which gives access to the locked path in each world.

[[File:DKCrankyAngry.png|200px|thumb|Cranky Kong with Donkey Kong in ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]'']]

Cranky Kong is a playable partner character in ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]'' and its Nintendo Switch [[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo Switch)|port of the same name]], marking the first time he is fully playable in a ''Donkey Kong Country'' game (his role as shopkeeper filled by Funky Kong). Cranky is able to use his cane to bounce upward, as well as on spikes, and defeat certain enemies that the other Kongs cannot. His cane can also be utilized while underwater, using a move called the Cane Swipe to attack and take down enemies that cannot be defeated by a simple [[Corkscrew (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)|corkscrew]] move, such as [[Pufftup]]s and [[Sea Urchin]]s. Despite the cane's capabilities, it cannot be used to collapse unsound underwater structures, balancing it in relation to the corkscrew action. Cranky's [[Popgun|Denture Popgun]] has unlimited ammo of dentures, which can be shot at enemies in order to stun them for a brief period of time. Cranky's use of his cane as a pogo stick to attack enemies is similar to the method of attack used by {{wp|Scrooge McDuck}}, the main protagonist of Disney's ''{{wp|DuckTales}}'', in a {{wp|DuckTales (video game)|video game adaptation}} of his show that [[Capcom]] produced for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] and [[Game Boy]].

 

''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'' is the only game in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series where Cranky does not have any written dialogue.

He also appeared in the ''[[Club Nintendo (magazine)|Club Nintendo]]'' comic "[[Donkey Kong Country (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.

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 [[Mr. President|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.

 

 

 

 

 

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 unflatering 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.

While Cranky does not physically appear in any of the ''[[Donkey Kong Land (series)|Donkey Kong Land]]'' games, the instruction booklet for the first ''[[Donkey Kong Land]]'' explains that the game happens owing to Cranky. Jealous of Donkey and Diddy's victory over [[King K. Rool]], Cranky attracts them into a bet, stating that if they can reclaim Donkey's [[banana hoard]] from King K. Rool once again, this time on an [[Game Boy|8-bit system]], he will admit that they are adequate gaming heroes. In the end, Cranky retracts his doubts when Donkey and Diddy once again defeat K. Rool and the [[Kremling Krew]].

 

[[File:Rumble Jungle Illustration - Kongs and Squawks.jpg|thumb|left|Cranky Kong with Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong and [[Squawks]], from ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Rumble in the Jungle]]'']]

Cranky Kong appears in the 1995 novel ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Rumble in the Jungle]]'', accompanying Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong across the island to reach [[Big Ape City]]. At the beginning of the novel Cranky Kong expresses his disapproval about Diddy Kong flying in [[Funky Kong]]'s [[Jumbo Barrel|barrel plane]], complaining that "if apes were meant to fly, they'd have wings", and "there's nowhere any self-respecting ape would want to go that he can't get to on his own two hairy feet". After Funky Kong leaves in his plane, the Kongs find that he has accidentally left his walkie talkie with Donkey Kong. Trying to contact him, the Kongs hear that his plane is being attacked by "[[Hogwash the Flying Pig|flying pigs]]" near Big Ape City, and that he's going to crash.

 

Donkey Kong and Diddy immediately decide to travel to the city on foot. Cranky Kong doubts that they are capable, although he wishes to join them so that they don't have to "go off on another adventure alone". After reaching [[Tree Top Town]] on the edge of the jungle, Cranky Kong trips over a vine after insisting to take the lead, which triggers an alarm that alerts the [[Kremling]]s. Attacking alongside Donkey Kong and Diddy, Cranky uses his cane to slam several Kremlings on their feet, which sent them "hobbling into the bushes". An illustration also shows him swinging on a vine.

 

After the Kongs are guided through a mountain's caves by [[Squawks]], they reach the skyline of Big Ape City. Cranky says to Donkey Kong that "I haven't been here since I was your age[...] I remember battling a short plumber named [[Mario]]", which suggests that Big Ape City is the location of the original [[Donkey Kong (game)|''Donkey Kong'']] arcade game. They find that the city has been overrun by Kremlings, who are building a large factory. Cranky Kong notably complains several times, being reluctant to continue while they are trying to locate Funky Kong's prison cell. In an illustration, Cranky Kong is even shown to be unimpressed when Donkey Kong uses a [[TNT Barrel]] to open the prison door lock.

 

While battling some Kremlings who had heard the loud explosion, [[Kritter]] tries to take Cranky Kong hostage. He shouts "stop your assault or the old ape gets it!" Cranky Kong instead elbows Kritter in the stomach, and says "I was stomping on the likes of you when you were knee-high to a salamander!". After Funky's plane is found in the factory's cargo room, Donkey Kong and Diddy both leave to retrieve a part to repair the plane, and to turn off the factory's defense system. Cranky Kong is left to keep Funky Kong company while he repairs the plane, and Cranky tells "story after story" about his youth. After the plane is repaired, the Kongs all board (although Cranky Kong is reluctant as he "hates" flying), and they escape through a hole in the factory wall created by a TNT Barrel. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong manage to plant [[King K. Rool]]'s zeppelin with TNT Barrels, which falls and destroys the Kremling's factory. Cranky Kong shares a laugh with the other Kongs as they fly back home to their [[DK's Tree House|treehouse]].

[[File:Cranky Kong DKCTV shot.png|thumb|Cranky as he appears in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' show]]

Cranky was also a main character on the [[Donkey Kong Country (television series)|''Donkey Kong Country'']] television series produced by [[Nelvana]] and [[Nintendo]], where he was voiced by [[Aron Tager]]. Here, Cranky was as grouchy and bitter as he was in the games, while also being far less arrogant and not breaking the fourth wall nearly as often. The white hair he has in the games is replaced by large white eyebrows, though he still has his beard. In addition, his sweater-vest is now a bluish-gray, and he sometimes appears without his cane, unlike in the games.

 

On the show, instead of living in a cabin on the ground like in the games, Cranky instead lives in a cabin on a tree-top village, similar to ones seen in the area [[Vine Valley (world)|Vine Valley]] from the ''Donkey Kong Country'' game, which doubles as a shelter for the [[Crystal Coconut]]. On the show, Cranky was also shown to be adept at potion-making and magic, a trait later carried over into the games. In one episode, it is revealed that he was once best friends with King K. Rool until the crocodile cheated during a bet, which turned their friendship into a bitter rivalry.

Cranky Kong returns in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', having taken up science. [[Cranky's Lab]] can be found in every area of ''Donkey Kong 64'' except [[Hideout Helm]]. At Cranky's Lab, the Kongs can pay Professor Cranky for several potions that can give them new powers and abilities. Also, if the Kongs manage to collect fifteen [[Banana Medal]]s, he will allow them to play ''[[Jetpac]]'', the first published computer game of {{wp|Ultimate Play The Game}} (Rare's direct predecessor). The Kongs must beat the ''Jetpac'' game in order to obtain the [[Rareware Coin]]. Cranky also acts as the Kongs' coach during their boxing match against [[King K. Rool|King "Krusha" K. Rool]].

Once again, he makes comments throughout the instruction booklet, such as insulting the games' formulaic approach and hoping that an arcade-inspired level design he submitted ("The Great Girder Grapple") was included as a bonus. When presenting his own character profile, he insists on being called '''Professor Cranky Kong'''.<ref>{{cite|quote='''Professor Cranky Kong''' Yep, you read it right, sonny! It’s Professor Cranky now, and you’d better show your elders some respect, as I’m your only hope in defeating those rancid reptiles.|title=''Donkey Kong 64'' instruction booklet|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en|date=1999|page=9}}</ref>

Throughout the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]], Cranky Kong makes a cameo appearance in the background of [[Jungle Japes (stage)|Jungle Japes]], where his silhouette can be seen pacing back and forth in his cabin near that of his rocking chair. The stage is accessible in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.

Cranky often appears in the form of a collectible item. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', he appears as both a [[Sticker (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)|sticker]] and a [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]]; the sticker depicts his ''Donkey Konga 3 JP'', and can be equipped to any fighter to boost the power of indirect special moves by 7. Cranky's trophy falsely states that his first playable appearance is in ''Donkey Kong Barrel Blast'', when it is actually ''Donkey Konga 3 JP''. Another trophy of Cranky appears in ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' / ''Wii U''. Cranky appears as a primary, ace, attack-type [[Spirit (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)|spirit]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', using his artwork from ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]''. In his spirit battle, the player fights a white-furred Donkey Kong on the Kongo Jungle stage in its Omega form with a Slumber Floor effect. The music during the fight is "Opening - Donkey Kong", referencing the fact that he was the Donkey Kong appearing in the original arcade game, and the opening to the original ''Donkey Kong Country'' where he is associated with the theme.

Cranky Kong is also alluded to in Solid Snake's codec call about Donkey Kong, where Colonel Roy Campbell mentioned that the Donkey Kong who fought Mario in an "epic battle" (referring to the arcade release of Donkey Kong) was the current one's grandfather, with Snake also calling the current one "a chip off the old block" upon learning that the current one also was a rival of Mario, to certain extent.

Cranky also appears in the ''[[Donkey Konga (series)|Donkey Konga]]'' series, though he is only playable in the series' third installment, ''[[Donkey Konga 3 JP]]''. This is the first game where Cranky is a playable character.

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[[File:Cranky Kong DKKoS artwork.jpg|thumb|left|x180px|Cranky, as he appears in ''DK: King of Swing'']]

In ''[[DK: King of Swing]]'' Cranky Kong, along with the ghost of his wife Wrinkly, teaches Donkey Kong how to use the games unique controls in [[Cranky's Lectures]]. Cranky, along with [[Candy Kong]], are the only Kongs who are not playable in ''DK: King of Swing's'' Jungle Jam mode.

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[[File:CrankyDKJUNGLE.jpg|thumb|Cranky, as he appears in ''DK: Jungle Climber'']]

Cranky once again appears in ''[[DK: Jungle Climber]]''. He teaches DK and Diddy how to play the game, and also appears in various levels to instruct them on new moves, power-ups, and collectibles. Cranky has a very active involvement in this game, as he follows DK, Diddy and [[Xananab]] throughout the various islands. He also makes announcements to tell the characters what they can do with the various [[Banana Coin]]s, [[DK Coin]]s, and [[oil barrel]]s they collect throughout the levels, as well as tracking their game completion. Cranky's namesake personality is substantially diminished, having a more good-natured, wise, and altruistic persona.  

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Cranky appears in ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]'' as a playable character, unlocked by completing Challenge 24 of Candy's Challenges. All three of his stats are rated four stars out of a possible five. His rival is [[King K. Rool]], who has the same stats as him. His stats essentially mean that he has high stats all around. He also has his own race course, [[Cranky's Temple]].

 

Cranky Kong also hosts [[Cranky's Flight School]], a mode that serves as a tutorial to the game.

===''Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle''===

While Cranky Kong himself does not appear in ''[[Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle]]'', a [[Rabbid]] in his likeness known as [[Rabbid Cranky]] appears in the [[Donkey Kong Adventure]] add-on.

===''Super Mario Odyssey''===

In ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'', one of the streets in [[Metro Kingdom|New Donk City]] is named "Cranky Avenue".

===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===

{{quote|All right, [[Mario|tough guy]]. You want [[Kong army|my army]] so badly? Defeat [[Donkey Kong|my son]] in the [[Great Ring of Kong]]!|Cranky Kong|The Super Mario Bros. Movie}}

[[File:CrankyKongTSMBM.png|thumb|right|Cranky Kong's appearance in ''The Super Mario Bros. Movie'']]

Cranky Kong appears in ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', voiced by [[Fred Armisen]] in the English version, his first direct appearance in ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' media. He is the ruler of the [[Donkey Kong Island|Jungle Kingdom]], and commander of his own army, the great [[Kong army]]. In this depiction, Cranky Kong is adorned with an Inca-styled crown and outfit, and unlike his game depiction, does not have wrinkles on his mouth. He is also depicted as being [[Donkey Kong]]'s father, and his personality is altered somewhat from his behavior in the games.

 

 

 

===Unused appearances===

 

{{quote|Before we start, let{{sic}} get a few things straight... you are racing for the pride of Team Kong, don't let us down... I did not suffer those interminable amounts of monotonous gameplay for you to blow it all now. Each [[Diddy Kong Pilot (2003)#Race courses|cup]] is made up of four races... If you win that then you need to go head to head against a Kremling to show them who is boss.. Look out for the Target Balloons... shoot them and a secret boost will appear... fly through it and something special will happen.. Think you can handle it? I very much doubt it.|Cranky Kong|2003 build of ''[[Diddy Kong Pilot (2003)|Diddy Kong Pilot]]''}}

Cranky is playable in every build of ''[[Diddy Kong Pilot]]''. In the Space World 2000 build, Cranky Kong piloted an old-fashioned plane with a red and light brown color scheme. Cranky Kong did not wear his spectacles and instead wore a pair of earmuffs over his head. Cranky Kong was mentioned in [[King K. Rool|Kamikaze K. Rool's]] story, "K. Rool's Gold", as having tried and failed to get the treasure of El Dorado. Cranky Kong was still a pilot in the [[Diddy Kong Pilot (2001)|2001 version]]. He retained his earmuffs and lack of glasses, but now flew a more advanced orange and yellow plane.

 

 

==General information==

The pitch that would lead to ''Donkey Kong Country'', ''[[List of Donkey Kong Country pre-release and unused content|Donkey Kong and the Golden Bananas]]'', featured a character named '''Grandpa Kong''', who was a white-furred bearded Kong who looked very similar to Donkey Kong himself. Due to [[Donkey Kong Jr.]]'s presence in the pitch, it seems that the idea of him being the original arcade Donkey Kong had not yet been written. Throughout ''Donkey Kong Country''{{'}}s development, the character would eventually be retooled to his current appearance, but unused dialogue found in the game's data suggests Cranky was initially written as a more kindly and friendly individual.<ref>{{cite|title=[[tcrf:Donkey Kong Country (SNES)#Greetings|Donkey Kong Country (SNES) § Greetings]]|publisher=The Cutting Room Floor|accessdate=May 14, 2018}}</ref> Cranky Kong's dialogue in the final game and instruction manual was primarily written by [[Gregg Mayles]],<ref>{{cite|url=x.com/Ghoulyboy/status/669612104433967105|title=Making fun of ourselves has always been part of @RareLtd games. Here's some of my #DKC2is20 Cranky script.|author=Mayles, Gregg|date=November 25, 2015|publisher=X|accessdate=February 7, 2024|archive=web.archive.org/web/20151224013549/https://twitter.com/Ghoulyboy/status/669612104433967105}}</ref> with some lines contributed by [[Tim Stamper]].<ref>{{cite|author=Mayles, Gregg|url=x.com/Ghoulyboy/status/964595629577195520|title=I wrote most of those, @InTimsWorld did a few too. Cranky originally threatening a 'thrashing' rather than a 'trashing', but no-one in the US understood what that was<!--period isn't in post-->|publisher=X|date=February 16, 2018|accessdate=May 14, 2018|archive=web.archive.org/web/20210531044139/https://twitter.com/Ghoulyboy/status/964595629577195520}}</ref>

 

Compared to his appearances in the original ''Donkey Kong'' and its two sequels (where he greatly resembled the current Donkey Kong), Cranky Kong appears to have become thinner, more diminutive, and much less muscular over the years, with his fur also becoming slightly darker. He bears facial proportions much like those of his grandson, though his head is smooth on top, his lips are more wrinkled, and he wears thick glasses with black frames. He has also grown a thick, white beard which obscures most of his torso, due to the fact that he always stands with a heavy slouch. Beneath his beard, Cranky Kong wears a taupe sweater-vest (green in ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' and ''Donkey Kong Country 3'') as his only garment. Finally, Cranky always carries an ordinary-looking wooden cane with him (though he held two in ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' and ''Donkey Kong Country 3''). His trademark pose involves him standing on both feet with a heavy slouch, his cane in one hand, and the other arm resting on his back. In addition, his gameplay in ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze'' suggests that he might wear dentures.

 

===Personality===

Cranky is generally depicted as curmudgeonly and bitter, always making sarcastic remarks about various things, pointing out flaws in the other [[Kong]]s (particularly [[Donkey Kong]]) or even the very games he appears in, and complaining about everything he does not like. He is also rather cocky, claiming himself to be among the best video game icons ever, and that he is and always will be better than his grandson despite his old and frail state. His arrogance is countered by his poor sportsmanship however. ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'' shows Cranky to be misogynistic in towards of [[Dixie Kong|Dixie]] whenever she and/or [[Diddy Kong|Diddy]] visit him in the [[Monkey Museum]].<ref>{{cite|quote=[[Dixie Kong|Girl heroes]] in video games, pah. I can't believe it! The main character should be really muscle-bound and carry a gun, [[Helicopter Spin|not twirl their hair round!]]|author=Cranky Kong, [[Monkey Museum]]|date=November 21, [[List of games by date#1995|1995]]|title=''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]''|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|accessdate=July 8th, 2024}}</ref> Aside from this, Cranky Kong is also known to display traits of stereotypical elders, such as constantly demanding sleep. Cranky can be benevolent and heroic when the situation calls for it, such as how he helps DK and his friends take back [[Donkey Kong Island]] in ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''. Cranky sometimes asks DK for help, or allows him take over in situations.  Despite his cantankerous manners, Cranky has praised his fellow Kongs on exceptional occasions (more frequently in ''[[DK: Jungle Climber]]'', where he is shown to be less irritable), such as telling Donkey Kong that "''he's nearly as good as I used to be"'' if 101% [[Completion]] is achieved in the original ''Donkey Kong Country'', or saying of Diddy that "''You're as big of a hero as they come.''" if all [[DK Coin|Video Game Hero Coin]]s are recovered in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''.

 

===Identity confusion===

[[Rare Ltd.|Rareware]] initially created Cranky Kong for a game featuring the original [[Donkey Kong]] from the earlier ''Donkey Kong'' games, then-named "Grandpa Kong", being the grandfather of the original Donkey Kong.<ref>{{cite|title=[[List_of_Donkey_Kong_Country_pre-release_and_unused_content#Donkey_Kong_and_the_Golden_Bananas|''Donkey Kong and the Golden Bananas'']]}}</ref> As Rare's game got reworked into ''Donkey Kong Country'', featuring a more distinctly different Donkey Kong, Grandpa Kong was then established as the original Donkey Kong at an elderly age. Due to this, his exact relation to the current Donkey Kong has been inconsistent. Before the release of ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'', footage from a promotional video titled ''Donkey Kong Country: Exposed'' called Cranky Kong his "dad or grandfather", and Cranky Kong refers to Donkey Kong as "Junior" in the review of ''Donkey Kong Country'' by the ''Nintendo Magazine System''.<ref>{{cite|quote=I am the original Donkey Kong and, as such, command barrel loads of due respect from my proteges Junior (the Donkey Kong of this game) and Diddy.|author=Cranky Kong|title=''Nintendo Magazine System'' (UK) #26, Special|publisher=EMAP|language=en-gb|page=6}}</ref> Upon release, Cranky Kong being Donkey Kong's grandfather was the consistent backstory throughout the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] [[Donkey Kong Country (series)|series]].<ref name=DKC/> While their relation was not explicitly stated in the [[Donkey Kong Country (television series)|television series]], Cranky acted as a father figure to Donkey Kong and [[Message in a Bottle Show|once said]] that he considered him like a son. Rare seemingly started to retcon their relationship in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', in which Cranky Kong consistently addresses Donkey Kong as "son",<ref>{{cite|author=Cranky Kong|quote=That darn Donkey has all the luck! His girl Candy waits around in her hut, always willing to offer her musical help to that undeserving son of mine and his fancy polygonal friends. Pah!|title=''Donkey Kong 64'' instruction booklet|page=9}}</ref> implying a more direct parental role. [[Leigh Loveday]] stated in a 1999 online Q&A that the current Donkey Kong was intended to be Cranky Kong's son and thus an adult [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] as far as he was aware, and requested fans to completely ignore instances claiming Cranky to be his grandfather.<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|title=Scribes - April 25, 1999|archive=web.archive.org/web/20020805184158/rareware.com/the_site/talk_to_us/scribes/aug25_99/aug25_99.html|publisher=Rarewhere|language=en-gb|accessdate=February 7, 2024}}</ref> Whether or not this statement was intended to be taken seriously, the Nintendo of Europe website for the [[Game Boy Advance]] version of ''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' supported this notion.<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Game-Boy-Advance/Donkey-Kong-Country-266551.html|title=Donkey Kong Country|publisher=Nintendo.co.uk|accessdate=April 13, 2017|archive=archive.ph/DAsmM|archivedate=July 2, 2022 18:13:39 UTC}}</ref> According to [[Gregg Mayles]] in 2017, Cranky Kong is Donkey Kong's grandfather and called him "son" during the events of ''Donkey Kong 64'' because he was so senile by then that he could not remember their actual relationship.<ref>{{cite|author=Mayles, Gregg|url=x.com/Ghoulyboy/status/859502066225606656|date=May 2, 2017|title=I'm pretty sure when I made this stuff up nearly 25 years ago that he was his grandson. By DK64 he was so senile he couldn't remember<!--source doesn't include a period-->|publisher=X|accessdate=February 7, 2024|archive=web.archive.org/web/20210504014556/https://twitter.com/Ghoulyboy/status/859502066225606656}}</ref> The Italian ''[[Club Nintendo (Italian magazine)|Club Nintendo]]'' magazine also states that Cranky is the father of Donkey Kong,<ref>«Su un'isola nella vasta foresta tropicale vive Donkey Kong, Re delle Scimmie e Re della Giungla. Ma non si tratta del Donkey Kong delle battaglie passate: questo super gorilla è il figlio dell'eroe dei giochi classici, con un aspetto completamente diverso, nuove pose e nuove mosse.<br>«Anche il padre di Kong, Cranky Kong, vive sull'isola, ma adesso è vecchio e un po' triste.»<br>("On an island in the vast tropical forest lives Donkey Kong, King of the Monkeys and King of the Jungle. But this is not the Donkey Kong of past battles: this super gorilla is the son of the hero of the classic games, with a completely different appearance, new poses and new moves.<br>Kong's father, Cranky Kong, also lives on the island, but now he's old and a little sad.") – {{cite|date=1994|url=archive.org/details/ClubNintendo-1994-6/page/n3/mode/2up|title=''Club Nintendo'', issue #6|page=4|accessdate=April 10, 2024|language=it|publisher=Linea GIG|website=Internet Archive}}</ref> despite the Italian instruction booklet stating that he is the grandfather.<ref>«era la faccia di suo nonno Cranky Kong che lo osservava! In gioventù, Cranky era stato l'originale Donkey Kong che aveva combattuto contro Mario in tanti videogiochi.» ("it was his grandfather Cranky Kong's face who was watching him! Back in his days, Cranky was the original Donkey Kong that faced Mario in many videogames.") – {{cite|title=''Donkey Kong Country'' Italian instruction booklet|page=6|date=1994|publisher=Nintendo|language=it}}</ref>

 

 

The 2017 book ''Playing With Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics'' by [[Prima Games]] contains two contradictory notes. In one section, it is explained that Donkey Kong Jr. is a separate character from both Cranky Kong and Donkey Kong and is actually the father of the current Donkey Kong and the son of Cranky Kong (who is further explained to be the original Donkey Kong, "Donkey Kong Sr.").<ref>{{cite|quote=''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. Makes sense, right?|title=''Playing With Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics eGuide'', ''Super Mario Kart'' 16 Bits Tab}}</ref> Another section, however, notes that the current Donkey Kong is in fact a grown-up Donkey Kong Jr.<ref>{{cite|quote=As the marketing noted, “This isn’t your father’s Donkey Kong!” He is, in fact, Donkey Kong Jr., all grown up. For his 16-bit revival, Donkey Kong was redesigned, with his original creator Shigeru Miyamoto providing Rare with a sketch that included the now-iconic red tie. Mr. Miyamoto also suggested Donkey’s ape-inspired “hand slap” move, which allowed him to defeat nearby enemies and reveal certain secrets. Rare was able to implement the move just weeks before the deadline for the game.|title=''Playing With Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics eGuide'', ''Donkey Kong Country'' Characters Tab}}</ref> The Prima Games Twitter account clarified and elaborated upon the apparent contradiction, stating that the latter is meant to be taken as a metaphor for the original design process, whereas the former is the official interpretation of the characters' familial ties.<ref>{{cite|author=TTJ94|date=October 4, 2017|url=www.dkvine.com/interactive/forums/index.php?showtopic=13535|title=Post #45 in the thread titled "Official Nintendo Book confirms DK is the son of DK Jr.", showing the statement from Prima Games|publisher=dkvine.com|accessdate=September 12, 2024|archive=web.archive.org/web/20230313210123/http://www.dkvine.com/interactive/forums/index.php?showtopic=13535|deadlink=y}}</ref> This is the only published work that has directly stated that Donkey Kong Jr. is the father of the current Donkey Kong.

 

!width=40%|Title

!width=25%|Description

!width=15%|Release date

!width=20%|System/format

|[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]

|Mentioned in plotline found in the instruction booklet

|Super Nintendo Entertainment System

|Opponent in minigame

|Super Nintendo Entertainment System

|Cameo in [[Wrinkly's Save Cave]]

|Game Boy

|''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)|Donkey Kong Country]]''

|Cameo walking around in the hut in [[Jungle Japes (stage)|Jungle Japes]]

|[[Nintendo GameCube]]

|''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country]]''

|Nintendo GameCube

|Nintendo GameCube

|''[[Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country 2]]''

|Game Boy Advance

|Game Boy Advance

|''[[Donkey Konga 3 JP]]''

|Playable Character  

|Nintendo GameCube

|''[[Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country 3]]''

|Playable Character in minigame

|2005

|Game Boy Advance

|Cameo as a [[trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]] and [[sticker (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)|sticker]], as well as an appearance in [[Jungle Japes (stage)|Jungle Japes]]

|Wii

|Wii

|''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''

|Playable Character

|''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]] / [[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U|Wii U]]''

|Cameo as trophy, as well as an appearance in [[Jungle Japes (stage)|Jungle Japes]] in the Nintendo 3DS version

|''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo Switch)|Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''

|Playable Character

|2018

|[[Nintendo Switch]]

===''Donkey Kong 64''===

*'''Instruction booklet bio from [[Cranky Kong|Professor Cranky Kong]]:''' "''Yep, you read it right, sonny! It’s Professor Cranky now, and you’d better show your elders some respect, as I’m your only hope in defeating those rancid reptiles. My powerful potions will give you abilities you’ve never dreamed of and certainly don’t deserve, assuming of course you can afford my modest asking fee. Now don’t you go asking me for a potion of gameplay, as even my genius can’t rescue this game from its rightful destiny in the bargain bin.''"<ref>{{cite|language=en|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=1999|title=''Donkey Kong 64'' manual|page=9}}</ref>

 

|image=[[File:DKBBCrankyKongIcon.png]]

|rival=[[King K. Rool]]

|boost=4

|speed=4

|agility=4

|unlock=Win [[Candy's Challenges|Candy's Challenge 24: Challenge Cranky!]]

 

|no=140

|name=Cranky Kong

|image=[[File:CrankyDKCR.png|100px]]

|series=''Donkey Kong'' Series

|slots=3

|effects='''{{color|red|Attack}}'''<br>Speed ↓

|opponents=[[Donkey Kong]]

|conditions='''Hazard:''' Slumber Floor

*The floor is sleep-inducing

|stage=[[Jungle Japes (stage)|Jungle Japes]]

|song=Opening - Donkey Kong

}}

{{main-gallery}}

==Theme==

{{media table

|file5=DKC2 GBA Cranky's Conga.oga

|description5=The theme that plays in the Monkey Museum in the Game Boy Advance version of ''Donkey Kong Country 2''

|file7=Cranky Kong (DK Jungle Climber).oga

}}

*"''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!''"

*"''Look!...look at this!...as I rock, my beard swings! Waste of frames in my opinion!''"

*"''Whisking off maidens and throwing barrels around the place seven days a week, I was. That's how I got where I am today, you know. Hard work.''"

*"''You're only reading this because you're bored!''"

*"''Tired of me? You're lucky I'm here to brighten up this boring manual!''"

*"''I've never seen so much worthless rubbish! I'm surprised they don't give you a special 'trash barrel' to haul it all around in!''"

==Names in other languages==

{{foreign names

|Ger2=Bubbles

|ThaM=Cranky Kong

*In the original [[Nintendo 64]] version of ''[[jiggywikki:Banjo-Kazooie|Banjo-Kazooie]]'', Cranky Kong and Donkey Kong's names are each an answer to one of the Grunty's Furnace Fun questions.<ref>{{cite|author=CountBleck2009|date=January 3, 2009|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ei79MB9ig|title=Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Furnace Fun Part I|publisher=YouTube|language=en|accessdate=February 7, 2014}}</ref>

*In the ''[[Donkey Kong Land 2]]'' coverage of both the 47th and 49th issues of the Australian ''Nintendo Magazine System'', a [[DK Coin]] is described as being a prize of "Kranky Kong",{{sic}} even though he does not appear in the game.<ref>{{cite|date=April 1997|title=''Nintendo Magazine System'' (Australia) issue 49|publisher=Catalyst Publishing|language=en-au|page=51}}</ref><ref>{{cite|date=February 1997|title=''Nintendo Magazine System'' (Australia) issue 47|publisher=Catalyst Publishing|language=en-au|page=48}}</ref>

 

{{navboxes|

{{Kongs}}

{{DKC TV}}

{{DKKOS}}

{{TSMBM}}}}

[[Category:Married characters]]

[[Category:Scientists]]

[[Category:DK: Jungle Climber characters]]

[[Category:DK: King of Swing]]

[[Category:Donkey Kong 64 characters]]

[[Category:Donkey Kong Barrel Blast characters]]

[[Category:Donkey Kong Country characters]]

[[Category:Donkey Kong Country (television series) characters]]

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

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

[[Category:Donkey Kong Country Barrel Maze]]

[[Category:Donkey Kong Country Returns characters]]

[[Category:Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze characters]]

[[Category:Donkey Kong Land characters]]

[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophies]]

[[Category:Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]

[[Category:Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS trophies]]

[[it:Cranky Kong]]