To the Moon Baboon

Donkey Kong Country episode
"To the Moon Baboon"
Season	2
Episode	12
Airdate	February 19, 1997[?] December 6, 1998[?]
Writer(s)	Erika Strobel
Song(s)	"What Do You Love the Most?" "The Island of Kongo Bongo"
<< List of episodes >>

"To the Moon Baboon" is the twenty-fifth episode of the Donkey Kong Country television series and the twelfth episode of season 2. It was the twenty-first episode to air in North America. During the episode, Donkey Kong thinks of an idea to put Kongo Bongo Island in a place of history: send a time capsule to the moon with several artifacts from the island so those living there in future generations can learn about the island and how great it really was. Unfortunately, Bluster Kong is put in charge of this task, and Donkey Kong cannot choose anything important to put in the capsule that is not similar to other islanders' items.

Plot synopsis

Cranky is up late using his telescope to study the moon, while Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are asking him questions about it. At one point, they begin to discuss the plot of a movie they saw, Maniac Monkeys on the Moon. Part of it involves the protagonists finding a time capsule sent there by a past generation. The monkeys then begin wondering what it would be like on the moon, and, upon hearing Donkey Kong say if "it were cool if [they] could take a picture of [themselves] and send it to the moon!" Cranky states that a time capsule is a good idea.

The next morning, the Donkey and Diddy are heading toward Bluster Barrelworks to tell Candy and Bluster about the time capsule. The two are heading outside and Candy, upon being asked where she is going, states that she was given the afternoon off to get a donation for the time capsule. DK asks how Bluster knew about it, and he tells him that he was placed in charge. He states that he offered his facilities and transportation for free, explaining that it was his contribution to the capsule. Bluster then insults Donkey Kong by insinuating that his contribution to the time capsule would be laughable, and when Donkey Kong tries to respond, he finds himself unable to make a comeback. DK leaves, hoping to find something "big and important" to donate, and K. Rool and Klump emerge from behind a fake bush, having overheard their conversation.

Heading back to base in a mine cart, K. Rool rants about how insulted he feels over not being invited to contribute to the capsule, when he is stopped by a Klap Trap named Jr. Klap Trap, who asks the king for his dentures back, but he refuses, ordering the Klaptrap off the tracks. Inside the tunnels, he continues to express his anger, but is hit on the head by a low-hanging lantern.

K. Rool eventually regains consciousness thanks to Klump and Krusha, and is reminded about the Kong's time capsule. He then comes up with a plan; Klump thinks he wishes to destroy the rocket (which is the capsule), but K. Rool angrily demands that they search the vault for a truly diabolical device, stating that he wishes to make a contribution.

Back at Bluster Barrelworks, Bluster is admiring the design of the rocket barrel when Donkey Kong comes in with a pair of dumbbells. Bluster asks what future generations would do with them, and DK states that they would "work out". Bluster says that the launching of the time capsule is a historic event and not a garage sale, leading Donkey Kong to falsely claim that the weights were a joke. He instead offers his tie as a donation, but Bluster remarks that he has nothing to give to the future. DK still denies this, saying that he has something really amazing to contribute to the capsule, but he needs to find out what it is.

At his house, Donkey Kong is rummaging through a chest of stuff when the elevator comes up; it is Diddy, holding a custom-made conga that he is going to give to the time capsule. Donkey Kong still does not know what to give, but, with the help of Diddy (through song), Donkey Kong is given an idea. He returns to the site, Bluster insulting him again, but Donkey Kong tells him that he has gotten something special, his favorite part about the island: bananas. Upon revealing he has a whole bunch of them, Bluster points out that the bananas will rot inside the capsule and turn to mush. Candy and Dixie then arrive, Dixie giving Bluster her donation. He throws it in the rocket barrel and insultingly tells them about Donkey Kong's idea to send bananas. Candy, however, stands up for him, telling Bluster that it is a good idea for DK to send something that means so much to him. Bluster then wishes to see what is so special about Dixie's donation, though the female apes threaten him before he can open it, and order Bluster to accept DK's bananas. However, even after this, Bluster still refuses the bananas.

Over at Funky's Flights, Diddy is surprised to see that Funky will be donating his prize-winning surfboard. Donkey Kong states that it is a special contribution, though Funky and Diddy tell him that the bananas he thought about donating were more special, as it is because of them that he has the strength to take on K. Rool and his minions. This makes DK start questioning why someone like Bluster gets to run the whole operation.

Cranky is rummaging through his belongings, searching for something specific, when he hears a knock on the door. When he hears it is Donkey Kong, he attempts to have him help, but DK forces him to hear what he has to say. He asks why Bluster was chosen when the capsule was Donkey Kong's idea, but Cranky rhetorically asks DK if he has a rocket ship and barrels to send to the moon. DK can only answer "No". Cranky quickly changes his tone, and excitedly asks them to help him set up what he was looking for: a film projector. Meanwhile, Klump and Krusha are outside, watching the events play out. They play the film, and it shows various clips of K. Rool's failures, including the time he tried to steal the Crystal Coconut live on TV, the time Klump sabotaged his supersonic satellite, the time he and his minions were flung off by the wooden boards on the bridge to Cranky's hut and the time Donkey Kong punched him in the eye. He then has Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong guard the Crystal Coconut while he takes the film to Bluster. While doing so, Diddy is messing with various elixirs while also trying to help Donkey Kong think of an idea. When he sees the Crystal Coconut, he suspiciously tells Diddy to hurry along with his donation, and that he has thought of an idea.

On the way back to K. Rool's lair, Klump and Krusha are stopped by Jr. Klap Trap, still requesting that they return his dentures. However, his request is once again denied and Klump and Krusha continue on their way to the king. They excitedly report to him that the apes are sending the clips of his failures to the moon, which angers K. Rool. In order to ensure that the future generations do not see him as a failure and a fool, he orders the two minions the two minions to blow up the rocket.

Bluster, in the meantime, is excited that, in a few minutes, his name will go down in history when Donkey Kong shows up, carrying what he believes to be a worthy donation; however, it is in a wrapped box and he will not show it to Bluster. As he puts the box in the rocket, Klump and Krusha arrive, telling Bluster that they are going to blow up the rocket. Bluster cowers but upon seeing Donkey Kong the crocodiles run away, still carrying the bombs. They explode, and the minions are disoriented until Donkey Kong begins to chase them.

Cranky and Diddy return to his cabin, only to find both Donkey Kong and the Crystal Coconut are gone. Cranky wonders who could have taken it, but is surprised to hear from Diddy that it must have been DK; he had thought of a perfect idea, and figures he was referring to the coconut.

At K. Rool's hideout, Donkey Kong knocks out his minions, and requests K. Rool's presence. He tells the king to stay away from the capsule, but K. Rool instead rushes to a mine cart with Jr. Klap Trap, now with his dentures returned, and heads to the site of the capsule's launch, with Donkey Kong chasing after him. Klump and Krusha wake up, but decide not to follow. Donkey Kong is following K. Rool by swinging from vines and eventually jumps into a mine cart. They continue the race to the site until they reach a track intersection; K. Rool's cart knocks DK's off the tracks, a dazed Donkey Kong emerging seconds later.

At the Barrelworks nearby, the rocket barrel is about to launch, but Diddy and Cranky abort just in time. K. Rool then arrives, and sends Jr. Klap Trap to devour the rocket; however, K. Rool is then told by Cranky that the Crystal Coconut is inside. He is surprised to hear this and frantically orders Jr. not to eat. He kicks a barrel at Jr. Klap Trap to distract him from the rocket. He begins to eat it, and he orders the other Kongs to join in by sending several other barrels his way. Donkey Kong then arrives, intent on continuing the launch. Cranky tells him not to, but is too late; Donkey Kong presses the button, and the rocket blasts into the air. After some seconds, K. Rool asks Cranky why he would do such a thing, but Cranky answers that he did not do it, instead signaling DK. The islanders lambast DK for putting the Crystal Coconut on the rocket ship. However, Donkey Kong is confused as to what they are talking about. Upon realizing the misunderstanding, he clarifies that he hid it somewhere for safe keeping while he went to work on a song he was writing. K. Rool is angered that he foiled his own operation for no reason and that his greatest failures are now stored for future generations, and announces that Jr.'s dentures are confiscated once again as he storms home. DK then explains to the others that the song was inspired by the Crystal Coconut, and proceeds to sing it. Afterward, Bluster notices the rocket; he explains that it delivered the capsule, and is flying back to the island. However, instead of landing, it flies towards K. Rool's lair and crashes, resulting in the vehicle exploding.

Animation and continuity errors

• In the English dub, one of the numerous scenes of the past episodes in Cranky's film has Barrel, Barrel... Who's Got the Barrel (episode 25) and Double Date Trouble (episode 22), despite these episodes airing after "To the Moon Baboon." (episode 21)

Quotes

K. Rool: Why on Earth did you put The Crystal Coconut on the rocket ship?! [sobbing] Oh, how will I ever become dictator now without it?!
Cranky: I didn't put it there, you twit!
K. Rool: Then who did?! I should have guessed. You Neanderthal numbskull!
Diddy: DK! What were you thinking?!
Cranky: Have you lost your mind?!
K. Rool, Diddy and Cranky (simultaneously): Why did you put it in a rocket ship?!
DK: I thought it was a good idea.
Cranky: Putting The Crystal Coconut on a rocket ship and blasting it to the moon is a good idea?!
DK: Are you crazy, Cranky? That's a bad idea. You didn't put it on there, did you?
Diddy: No, DK, you did!
DK: No, I didn't. I hid it somewhere for safekeeping while I went off to write my song.
Diddy: Your song?
Cranky: You mean it wasn't aboard the rocket ship?
DK: No, why would I send The Crystal Coconut to the moon?
K. Rool: It wasn't in there?!?! You idiot! You moron! Thanks to you my greatest failures are up there for all time! For starters, those dentures are confiscated!
[King K Rool storms away, disgruntled while Jr. Klap Trap sobs after hearing that his dentures have been confiscated]
Diddy: So, you wrote a song?
DK: Inspired by The Crystal Coconut and now sitting on the moon for future generations.
Diddy: Huh? Must be some song, DK.
DK: It is, Diddy.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	タイムカプセル Taimukapuseru	Time Capsule
French	Lune, lune !	Moon, Moon!
Spanish	El mono a la luna	Monkey to the Moon