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|latest_appearance=''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' ([[List of games by date#2018|2018]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' ([[List of games by date#2018|2018]])
|latest_portrayal=[[Toshihide Tsuchiya]] (2007–2008)
|latest_portrayal=[[Toshihide Tsuchiya]] (2007–2008)
|member_of=[[Kremling Krew]] (leader)<br>[[DK Wilds]]
}}
}}
{{quote2|I've been waiting a long time for this moment. Soon, [[Donkey Kong]] and his pretty little [[Donkey Kong Island|island]]... will be no more.|King K. Rool|[[Donkey Kong 64]]}}
{{quote|I've been waiting a long time for this moment. Soon, [[Donkey Kong]] and his pretty little [[Donkey Kong Island|island]]... will be no more.|King K. Rool|[[Donkey Kong 64]]}}
'''King K. Rool''' (sometimes shortened as simply '''K. Rool'''), who has gone by many aliases, is the malevolent king of the [[Kremling]]s and the main antagonist in the [[Donkey Kong (franchise)|''Donkey Kong'' franchise]], as well as the archenemy of [[Donkey Kong]], [[Diddy Kong]], and their [[Kong#Kong Family|allies]]. King K. Rool has repeatedly tried to steal the [[Kong]]s' [[banana hoard]]. It has been suggested that he takes the hoard in order to starve the Kongs, in addition to simply liking bananas.<ref name="rareware">[http://web.archive.org/web/20020805184158/rareware.com/the_site/talk_to_us/scribes/aug25_99/aug25_99.html] Scribes - August 25, 1999. rareware.com. Retrieved August 5, 2002 by the Wayback Machine.</ref><ref>''Donkey Kong Country'' instruction booklet, page 4. "''The Kremlings were out there, this much was certain. They coveted Donkey Kong’s banana stockpile, the largest on the island, and probably in the world. A treasure in potassium and Vitamin A. The perfect food. “Ahhh... delicious bananas...” The thought of DK’s golden horde almost made Diddy forget his uncomfortable situation.''"</ref> He has even kidnapped members of the [[Kong]] family on various occasions.
'''King K. Rool''' (sometimes shortened as simply '''K. Rool'''), who has gone by many aliases, is the malevolent king of the [[Kremling]]s and the main antagonist in the [[Donkey Kong (franchise)|''Donkey Kong'' franchise]], as well as the archenemy of [[Donkey Kong]], [[Diddy Kong]], and their [[Kong#Kong Family|allies]]. K. Rool has repeatedly tried to steal the [[Kong]]s' [[banana hoard]]. According to the Scribes section on [[Rare Ltd.|Rareware]]'s website, he takes the hoard in order to starve the Kongs so he can take over their island, in addition to simply liking bananas.<ref name="rareware">{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20020805184158/rareware.com/the_site/talk_to_us/scribes/aug25_99/aug25_99.html|title=Scribes - August 25, 1999|publisher=Rarewhere|language=en-gb|accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite|date=1994|title=''Donkey Kong Country'' instruction booklet|page=4|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|quote=The Kremlings were out there, this much was certain. They coveted Donkey Kong’s banana stockpile, the largest on the island, and probably in the world. A treasure in potassium and Vitamin A. The perfect food. “Ahhh... delicious bananas...” The thought of DK’s golden horde almost made Diddy forget his uncomfortable situation.}}</ref> He has even kidnapped members of the [[Kong]] family on various occasions.


His name is a pun on the word "cruel", which often describes his actions and his personality, as well as an intentional misspelling of the word "rule".
His name is a pun on the word "cruel," which often describes his actions and his personality, as well as an intentional misspelling of the word "rule."
==History==
==History==
===''Donkey Kong Country'' series===
===''Donkey Kong Country'' series===
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In ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'', K. Rool (under the alias of '''Kaptain K. Rool''') kidnaps Donkey Kong and stows him away in [[Crocodile Isle]], demanding the banana hoard as a ransom. After discovering that Donkey Kong has been kidnapped, Diddy Kong and his girlfriend, [[Dixie Kong]], rush off to save him from Kaptain K. Rool. The Kongs eventually find Donkey Kong tied up in [[Stronghold Showdown]], located at the end of [[K. Rool's Keep]], but before they can rescue Donkey Kong, K. Rool pulls him up into his airship, the [[Flying Krock]]; in the [[Game Boy Advance]] remake, Donkey Kong does not appear there, and K. Rool instead sends a massive Kremling, [[Kerozene]], to battle Diddy and Dixie.
In ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'', K. Rool (under the alias of '''Kaptain K. Rool''') kidnaps Donkey Kong and stows him away in [[Crocodile Isle]], demanding the banana hoard as a ransom. After discovering that Donkey Kong has been kidnapped, Diddy Kong and his girlfriend, [[Dixie Kong]], rush off to save him from Kaptain K. Rool. The Kongs eventually find Donkey Kong tied up in [[Stronghold Showdown]], located at the end of [[K. Rool's Keep]], but before they can rescue Donkey Kong, K. Rool pulls him up into his airship, the [[Flying Krock]]; in the [[Game Boy Advance]] remake, Donkey Kong does not appear there, and K. Rool instead sends a massive Kremling, [[Kerozene]], to battle Diddy and Dixie.


In the final world, also named The Flying Krock, Diddy and Dixie engage in a boss fight against K. Rool in [[K. Rool Duel (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest)|K. Rool Duel]]. The first time that Diddy and Dixie enter the boss level, they briefly witness K. Rool whacking Donkey Kong with his [[blunderbuss]] and shooting [[Cannonball|kannonball]]s at him; the battle then starts. For the entire battle, K. Rool uses his blunderbuss to fire kannonballs (including spiked ones) at the Kongs. He also uses it to release exhaust gas and travel back and forth quickly. During the last phase of the battle, K. Rool turns invisible and shoots out various poisonous gases: the blue gas freezes Diddy and Dixie, the red gas makes them move slowly, and the purple gas reverses the D-Pad controls. Kaptain K. Rool takes damage when the Kongs throw a kannonball into his blunderbuss, and is defeated after nine hits.
In the final world, also named The Flying Krock, Diddy and Dixie engage in a boss fight against K. Rool in [[K. Rool Duel (Donkey Kong Country 2)|K. Rool Duel]]. The first time that Diddy and Dixie enter the boss level, they briefly witness K. Rool whacking Donkey Kong with his [[blunderbuss]] and shooting [[Cannonball|kannonball]]s at him; the battle then starts. For the entire battle, K. Rool uses his blunderbuss to fire kannonballs (including spiked ones) at the Kongs. He also uses it to release exhaust gas and travel back and forth quickly. During the last phase of the battle, K. Rool turns invisible and shoots out various poisonous gases: the blue gas freezes Diddy and Dixie, the red gas makes them move slowly, and the purple gas reverses the D-Pad controls. Kaptain K. Rool takes damage when the Kongs throw a kannonball into his blunderbuss, and is defeated after nine hits.


After his defeat, K. Rool tries to stand back up, but Donkey Kong breaks free from his ropes and uppercuts him out of the Flying Krock. K. Rool falls all the way down into [[Krem Quay]], where he is chomped on by sharks. He recovers from the shark bites and swims ashore to the [[Lost World (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest)|Lost World]]. In the Game Boy Advance version, Kaptain K. Rool is shown to be covered in seaweed in the following scene.
After his defeat, K. Rool tries to stand back up, but Donkey Kong breaks free from his ropes and uppercuts him out of the Flying Krock. K. Rool falls all the way down into [[Krem Quay]], where he is chomped on by sharks. He recovers from the shark bites and swims ashore to the [[Lost World (Donkey Kong Country 2)|Lost World]]. In the Game Boy Advance version, Kaptain K. Rool is shown to be covered in seaweed in the following scene.


When Diddy and Dixie collect every [[Kremkoin]], [[Klubba]] permits them to access an ancient Kremling Palace, [[Krocodile Kore (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest)|Krocodile Kore]], where the Kongs fight K. Rool a second time. In the rematch, K. Rool fires numerous kannonballs in succession. When he shoots out a [[barrel]], the Kongs must jump onto it to reveal a kannonball, which they must throw into K. Rool's blunderbuss. Unlike the previous battle, K. Rool is only defeated from one hit. Instead of backfiring, the gun explodes, flinging K. Rool into a geyser that acts as a power source to Crocodile Isle. K. Rool gets stuck in the geyser, which continues building up energy until it explodes.
When Diddy and Dixie collect every [[Kremkoin]], [[Klubba]] permits them to access an ancient Kremling Palace, [[Krocodile Kore (Donkey Kong Country 2)|Krocodile Kore]], where the Kongs fight K. Rool a second time. In the rematch, K. Rool fires numerous kannonballs in succession. When he shoots out a [[barrel]], the Kongs must jump onto it to reveal a kannonball, which they must throw into K. Rool's blunderbuss. Unlike the previous battle, K. Rool is only defeated from one hit. Instead of backfiring, the gun explodes, flinging K. Rool into a geyser that acts as a power source to Crocodile Isle. K. Rool gets stuck in the geyser, which continues building up energy until it explodes.


At the end of the game, right after the Lost World explodes, the entire Crocodile Isle sinks underwater. A ship sails away from the island's remains, and an ominous laugh can be heard as it sails over the horizon, suggesting that K. Rool survived the explosion. In the Game Boy Advance version, K. Rool instead curses the Kongs, vowing to return while sailing away before [[Funky Kong]] bombs the ship in his [[Gyrocopter]], after which he vows revenge.
At the end of the game, right after the Lost World explodes, the entire Crocodile Isle sinks underwater. A ship sails away from the island's remains, and an ominous laugh can be heard as it sails over the horizon, suggesting that K. Rool survived the explosion. In the Game Boy Advance version, K. Rool instead curses the Kongs, vowing to return while sailing away before [[Funky Kong]] bombs the ship in his [[Gyrocopter]], after which he vows revenge.


According to [[Wrinkly Kong]], K. Rool is enrolled as a student at [[Kong Kollege]], and she tells Diddy and Dixie that, should they encounter K. Rool, they should remind him to do his homework. According to the [[Nintendo Power#Player's Guides|Player's Guide]], K. Rool is not a skilled sailor despite being a pirate, and he is responsible for multiple shipwrecks such as the one in Krem Quay.<ref>M. Arakawa. ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' Player's Guide. Page 20. "'''''KREM QUAY''' K. Rool proves he’s pirate and not a sailor with yet another wrecked ship. Be careful or you’ll get sunk in this swamp along with it!''"</ref>
According to [[Wrinkly Kong]], K. Rool is enrolled as a student at [[Kong Kollege]], and she tells Diddy and Dixie that, should they encounter K. Rool, they should remind him to do his homework. According to the [[Nintendo Power#Player's Guides|Player's Guide]], K. Rool is not a skilled sailor despite being a pirate, and he is responsible for multiple shipwrecks such as the one in Krem Quay.<ref>{{cite|author=Miller, Kent and Paul Shinoda|title=''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' Player's Guide|page=20|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|date=1995|quote='''KREM QUAY''' K. Rool proves he’s pirate and not a sailor with yet another wrecked ship. Be careful or you’ll get sunk in this swamp along with it!}}</ref>


In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', King K. Rool's trophy states that Kaptain K. Rool is actually King K. Rool's brother. However, this is regarded as either a mistake by Nintendo, or a tongue-in-cheek joke in the vein of the [[Mr. L]] reference in Paper Luigi's trophy.
In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', King K. Rool's trophy states that Kaptain K. Rool is actually King K. Rool's brother. However, this is regarded as either a mistake by Nintendo, or a tongue-in-cheek joke in the vein of the [[Mr. L]] reference in Paper Luigi's trophy.
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[[File:K Rool in Egg DKC3.png|thumb|K. Rool trapped in the giant broken egg shell dropped on him by the Banana Queen]]
[[File:K Rool in Egg DKC3.png|thumb|K. Rool trapped in the giant broken egg shell dropped on him by the Banana Queen]]
In [[Krematoa]], if Dixie and Kiddy collect all five [[Cog (Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!)|cog]]s and give them to [[Boomer (Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!)|Boomer]], his machine awakens a volcano, causing the [[Knautilus]] to rise to the surface. Inside the Knautilus is where Dixie and Kiddy battle K. Rool a second time. In this battle, K. Rool remains in the back of his vessel for some time and occasionally enters the front, where the Kongs are at. He attacks using electric beams and a fireball launching cannon. In order to hurt K. Rool, Dixie and Kiddy must throw several [[Steel Keg]]s at his helicopter pack either directly, or through the use of a chute in the ceiling, depending on his position. After ten hits, K. Rool is defeated as he loses control of his helicopter pack as he spins out of control in the Knautilus.
In [[Krematoa]], if Dixie and Kiddy collect all five [[Cog (Donkey Kong Country 3)|cog]]s and give them to [[Boomer (Donkey Kong Country 3)|Boomer]], his machine awakens a volcano, causing the [[Knautilus]] to rise to the surface. Inside the Knautilus is where Dixie and Kiddy battle K. Rool a second time. In this battle, K. Rool remains in the back of his vessel for some time and occasionally enters the front, where the Kongs are at. He attacks using electric beams and a fireball launching cannon. In order to hurt K. Rool, Dixie and Kiddy must throw several [[Steel Keg]]s at his helicopter pack either directly, or through the use of a chute in the ceiling, depending on his position. After ten hits, K. Rool is defeated as he loses control of his helicopter pack as he spins out of control in the Knautilus.


If the Kongs manage to free the [[Banana Queen]], a short cutscene shows K. Rool attempting to flee from the [[Northern Kremisphere]] in a [[Hover Craft]]. As revenge for being imprisoned, the Banana Queen flies after K. Rool and drops an egg onto him, thus trapping him. K. Rool's eyes peek out the eggshell, perplexed.
If the Kongs manage to free the [[Banana Queen]], a short cutscene shows K. Rool attempting to flee from the [[Northern Kremisphere]] in a [[Hover Craft]]. As revenge for being imprisoned, the Banana Queen flies after K. Rool and drops an egg onto him, thus trapping him. K. Rool's eyes peek out the eggshell, perplexed.
====''Donkey Kong 64''====
[[File:K Rool DK64 art.png|thumb|left|150px|King K. Rool in ''Donkey Kong 64'']]
King K. Rool returns in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', where he appears on a large mechanical island. He plans to blow up [[Donkey Kong Island]] with a new weapon called the [[Blast-o-Matic]]. However, his new and improved [[Crocodile Isle (Donkey Kong 64)|Crocodile Isle]] ends up crashing due to the incompetence of the ship's drivers. When Crocodile Isle is about to crash, K. Rool sitting in his throne wobbles in shock. In an attempt to distract Donkey Kong while he has the Blast-O-Matic repaired, K. Rool has [[Diddy Kong]], [[Tiny Kong]], [[Lanky Kong]], and [[Chunky Kong]] imprisoned, and Donkey Kong's [[Golden Banana]] Hoard stolen.
K. Rool appears in several cutscenes with his unnamed pet [[Klaptrap]], whom he strokes similarly to the way the ''{{wp|James Bond}}'' villain {{wp|Ernst Stavro Blofeld|Blofeld}} strokes his cat, being an obvious parody. Also similar to Blofeld, K. Rool largely has his face obscured in the early cutscenes. He also breathes and speaks in a manner similar to {{wp|Darth Vader}} from ''{{wp|Star Wars}}''. He is much larger in this game than all other games; as huge as Chunky Kong when he steps into his [[Cranky's Kong Barrel|Hunky Chunky Barrel]]. Throughout the game, he watches the Kongs' progress and chastises his own minions' failures. A scene shows K. Rool demanding that nobody leaves the Blast-o-Matic until it is repaired, going as far as sending a large red [[Klaptrap]] to attack a fleeing [[Kasplat]] (albeit offscreen).
Eventually, K. Rool's henchmen succeed in repairing the Blast-o-Matic, just as the Kongs break into [[Hideout Helm]], and K. Rool demands that the weapon be fired, despite the warnings that if it is not fully tested, it could explode. After the Kongs permanently shut down King K. Rool's mechanical island and the Blast-o-Matic, he tries to escape in a large airship. The ship ends up being knocked to the ground and destroyed by a recently released [[K. Lumsy]]. Venturing inside the crashed vessel, the Kongs find a boxing arena filled with spectators and King K. Rool, as his boxer alias '''King Krusha K. Rool''', ready to battle.
After [[Chunky Kong]] delivers the seemingly final blow to K. Rool, a cutscene is shown in which K. Rool gets back up after the fight. He is about to attack Chunky from behind, but is distracted by [[Candy Kong]]. He ends up being blasted over the horizon by [[Funky Kong]]. When he lands, it is in [[K. Lumsy's Prison|his dungeon]], where he meets a very unhappy [[K. Lumsy]] who proceeds to beat King K. Rool in retaliation for locking him up before being sent flying again by the giant.
K. Rool's laugh uses a pitched-down version of the "{{media link|Evil Laugh.oga|Evil Laugh}}" stock sound effect from the ''Cartoon Trax Volume 1'' album,<ref>[https://soundideas.sourceaudio.com/#!details?id=11488964 EvilLaugh CRT023801]. ''Sound Ideas''. Retrieved January 23, 2022.</ref> which was previously used for Baron Samedi in Rare's ''{{wp|GoldenEye 007 (1997 video game)|GoldenEye 007}}''. The unaltered laugh is used for [[Kloak]]s and [[Kroc]]s in the [[Game Boy Advance]] remakes of ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' and ''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!'', respectively.
[[File:K. Rool (crystal caves).png|thumb|A portrait of Kaptain K. Rool]]
K. Rool's Kaptain persona also makes a cameo and is referenced in ''Donkey Kong 64''. Portraits of him can be found in some of [[Gloomy Galleon]]'s sunken ships, several log cabins in [[Crystal Caves]], and in [[Creepy Castle]]'s Museum; additionally, inside the sunken ship off to a corner, there is a book entitled "Kaptain K. Rool's Log Book".
=====Battle=====
The battle against King Krusha K. Rool takes place in the [[boxing arena]], where he is fought by all five Kongs during their respective round.
*'''Round 1:''' K. Rool starts off by ground pounding, which will generate shockwaves upon contact. During this, Donkey Kong must reach the corners of the ring to enter his [[Baboon Blast]] [[Barrel Cannon|cannons]] to attack K. Rool. When Donkey Kong is inside the barrel, K. Rool will begin throwing punches at the barrel. After a certain amount of punches, he will taunt for the crowd, leaving himself vulnerable to attack. Every time he is hit, he will generate more shockwaves with each ground pound, slowly becoming two rows of 4 shockwaves. After four hits, the next round will begin.
*'''Round 2:''' Now K. Rool attacks by throwing his right boxing glove as a boomerang, meaning Diddy Kong has to watch for attacks both in front of and behind him. Diddy can use his [[Rocketbarrel Boost|Rocketbarrel Barrels]] and [[Popgun]]s to attack the light fixture above K. Rool, causing a light to fall onto him. After all four lights fall on him (the last one getting stuck on K. Rool), the next round will begin.
*'''Round 3:''' The light from the previous round is still stuck to King K. Rool's head. [[Lanky Kong]] takes advantage of K. Rool's predicament by using his elastic arms to punch number buttons and grab the [[banana]]-labeled barrel that appears; it releases a banana peel when thrown. K. Rool will patrol the arena by rushing to corners. Lanky then has to use his [[Trombone Tremor]] in each corner of the arena to lure K. Rool into slipping on the banana peel. When Lanky plays the trombone, K. Rool will stop his current path and sprints towards Lanky. If the banana peel is in K. Rool's path, he should slip on it as soon as he reaches it; if not, then K. Rool will reach Lanky and squish him. After slipping on bananas four times, K. Rool falls and the next round begins.
*'''Round 4:''' Before the fourth round begins, some [[Kritter]]s come up to K. Rool to get the light off his head. Once it is off, [[Tiny Kong]] enters the ring. K. Rool will again attack by ground pounding (Tiny can only avoid the resulting shockwaves with her [[Pony Tail Twirl]]), but this time, he reacts in pain when he does, rubbing at his rear after doing so a few times. While he is occupied, Tiny Kong can use [[Mini-Monkey|her shrinking power]] to enter a hole in K. Rool's left shoe and fire her [[Feather Bow]] at his toes until they turn red. However, K. Rool will have his toes attack by pouncing at Tiny. Once all four of his toes are red, the final round will begin.
*'''Round 5:''' For the final round, [[Chunky Kong]] enters the ring. K. Rool attacks by running and rebounding off the ropes (which is a wrestling move rather than a boxing one) while invisible. By [[Simian Slam]]ming a switch in the middle of the ring, Chunky Kong can make [[Gorilla Gone]] pads appear to make himself invisible (and K. Rool and a [[Hunky Chunky]] barrel visible). To defeat K. Rool, Chunky Kong needs to jump into the barrel, which will force him and K. Rool to opposite corners. K. Rool then charges at Chunky and uppercuts him if he reaches him, which can only be avoided using a [[Primate Punch]]. When Chunky strikes him, K. Rool will become harder to strike, going invisible after the second and third hit. After four hits, K. Rool will finally be defeated and fall.


====''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' / ''Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D''====
====''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' / ''Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D''====
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====''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze''====
====''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze''====
K. Rool is once again absent in this game, but in the "Grassland Groove" level, an area in the background displays a rock formation resembling K. Rool's head, along with a shape of Banana Bunches resembling his crown.
[[File:King K. Rool reference DKCTF.jpg|thumb|A reference to King K. Rool in ''Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze''.]]
K. Rool is once again absent in ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''; however, in the [[Bright Savannah]] level [[Grassland Groove]], an area in the background displays a rock formation resembling K. Rool's head, along with a shape of Banana Bunches resembling his crown.


===''Donkey Kong Country'' book series===
===''Donkey Kong Country'' book series===
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====''Donkey Kong Land 2''====
====''Donkey Kong Land 2''====
Kaptain K. Rool reappears in ''[[Donkey Kong Land 2]]'' where he serves the same role in the storyline as in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''. He is first fought on the Flying Krock in the level [[K. Rool Duel (Donkey Kong Land 2)|K. Rool Duel]], Kaptain K. Rool's attack pattern in ''Donkey Kong Land 2'' is a simplified version of his battle strategy in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''; his blunderbuss only shoots gusts of wind instead of shooting kannonballs or a status-afflicting gas. Following K. Rool's defeat, and when Diddy and Dixie pay all 47 Kremkoins at [[Klubba's Kiosk]], Kaptain K. Rool is fought another time by them in [[Krocodile Kore (Donkey Kong Land 2)|Krocodile Kore]]. During the second battle, Kaptain K. Rool attacks the Kongs by shooting kannonballs, both normal and spiked, at them. Later in the battle, Kaptain K. Rool shoots a [[barrel]], which must be jumped on to claim the kannonball within. Like the previous game, Diddy and Dixie must throw the kannonball at Kaptain K. Rool to defeat him, causing his blunderbuss to explode and flinging him into the geyser of Krocodile Kore.
Kaptain K. Rool reappears in ''[[Donkey Kong Land 2]]'' where he serves the same role in the storyline as in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''. He is first fought on the Flying Krock in the level [[K. Rool Duel (Donkey Kong Land 2)|K. Rool Duel]], Kaptain K. Rool's attack pattern in ''Donkey Kong Land 2'' is a simplified version of his battle strategy in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''; his blunderbuss only shoots gusts of wind instead of shooting kannonballs or a status-afflicting gas. In the ending cutscene, K. Rool causes an explosion when Donkey Kong punches him into the sea.
 
Following K. Rool's defeat, and when Diddy and Dixie pay all 47 Kremkoins at [[Klubba's Kiosk]], Kaptain K. Rool is fought another time by them in [[Krocodile Kore (Donkey Kong Land 2)|Krocodile Kore]]. During the second battle, Kaptain K. Rool attacks the Kongs by shooting kannonballs, both normal and spiked, at them. Later in the battle, Kaptain K. Rool shoots a [[barrel]], which must be jumped on to claim the kannonball within. Like the previous game, Diddy and Dixie must throw the kannonball at Kaptain K. Rool to defeat him, causing his blunderbuss to explode and K. Rool to collapse. The ending cutscene then shows Crocodile Isle sinking, but unlike ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'', K. Rool is not seen escaping the island.


====''Donkey Kong Land III''====
====''Donkey Kong Land III''====
[[File:BaronKRool-DKL3.png|thumb|The first battle against K. Rool]]
[[File:BaronKRool-DKL3.png|thumb|The first battle against K. Rool]]
In ''[[Donkey Kong Land III]]'', K. Rool reappears in his ancestral<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 103, page 85. "''K. Rool has taken his ancestral title of Baron K. Roolenstein and now fancies himself some sort of mad scientist.''"</ref> baron costume, but is only ever referred to as '''K Rool''' in level titles and '''K. Rool''' in the cast roll. He and the Kremling Krew, as well as a rebuilt KAOS, appear as the main antagonists of the game, competing with the Kongs in a contest to be the first to find the legendary [[Lost World (Donkey Kong Land III)|Lost World]]. Similar to ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', K. Rool is accessible only after KAOS is destroyed permanently (the two are bosses in different worlds). His first battle takes place in [[K Rool Duel]], where K. Rool tries to attack Dixie and Kiddy by shooting electric beams at them. After a barrel is thrown at K. Rool, he bounces around trying to attack the Kongs. After three hits, K. Rool is defeated.
In ''[[Donkey Kong Land III]]'', K. Rool reappears in his ancestral<ref>{{cite|date=December 1997|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|title=''Nintendo Power'' Volume 103|page=85|quote=K. Rool has taken his ancestral title of Baron K. Roolenstein and now fancies himself some sort of mad scientist.}}</ref> baron costume, but is only ever referred to as '''K Rool''' in level titles and '''K. Rool''' in the cast roll. He and the Kremling Krew, as well as a rebuilt KAOS, appear as the main antagonists of the game, competing with the Kongs in a contest to be the first to find the legendary [[Lost World (Donkey Kong Land III)|Lost World]]. Similar to ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', K. Rool is accessible only after KAOS is destroyed permanently (the two are bosses in different worlds). His first battle takes place in [[K Rool Duel]], where K. Rool tries to attack Dixie and Kiddy by shooting electric beams at them. After a barrel is thrown at K. Rool, he bounces around trying to attack the Kongs. After three hits, K. Rool is defeated.


When the Kongs enter Lost World, K. Rool states that he underestimated them and dares them to catch him at [[K Rools Last Stand]]. In this battle, he attacks by using electrical beams and by dropping bombs on Dixie and Kiddy. The Kongs must repeatedly throw barrels at K. Rool to defeat him.
When the Kongs enter Lost World, K. Rool states that he underestimated them and dares them to catch him at [[K Rools Last Stand]]. In this battle, he attacks by using electrical beams and by dropping bombs on Dixie and Kiddy. The Kongs must repeatedly throw barrels at K. Rool to defeat him.
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===''Super Mario-kun''===
===''Super Mario-kun''===
[[File:KingKRool SuperMarioKun.jpg|thumb|King K. Rool as he appears in ''Super Mario-kun'']]
[[File:KingKRool SuperMarioKun.jpg|thumb|King K. Rool as he appears in ''Super Mario-kun'']]
King K. Rool appears in [[Super Mario-kun Volume 14|volumes 14]]-[[Super Mario-kun Volume 15|15]] of ''[[Super Mario-kun]]'' in the arcs based off ''Donkey Kong Country''. Here, his role is the same as the game: he is the main villain and he steals Donkey Kong's banana hoard, but in addition to fighting Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, he also fights Mario and Yoshi, who are also present in said arcs. In the manga he is depicted like [[Bowser]]: comical but to be feared.
King K. Rool appears in [[Super Mario-kun Volume 14|volumes 14]] and [[Super Mario-kun Volume 15|15]] of ''[[Super Mario-kun]]'' in the arcs based off ''Donkey Kong Country''. Here, his role is the same as the game: he is the main villain and he steals Donkey Kong's banana hoard, but in addition to fighting Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, he also fights Mario and Yoshi, who are also present in said arcs. Like Bowser, he is shown having a comical side, but most of the time, he is cunning and cruel.


Two special chapters in [[Super Mario-kun Volume 22|volumes 22]] and [[Super Mario-kun Volume 23|23]], based off the ''Donkey Kong Country'' TV series, K. Rool is once again the main antagonist. In the first chapter he is after the Crystal Coconut, while in the second one he ambushes DK and [[Bluster Kong]], who were trying to immortalize for [[Candy Kong]] the first sunset of 2000, on the mountains, failing miserably.
In two special chapters in [[Super Mario-kun Volume 22|volumes 22]] and [[Super Mario-kun Volume 23|23]], based off the ''Donkey Kong Country'' TV series, K. Rool is once again the main antagonist. In the first chapter he is after the Crystal Coconut, while in the second one he ambushes DK and [[Bluster Kong]], who were trying to immortalize for [[Candy Kong]] the first sunset of 2000, on the mountains, failing miserably.


===''KC Mario''===
===''Super Mario'' (Kodansha manga)===
King K. Rool reprises the main antagonist role in [[Super Mario Volume 31|volumes 31]] and [[Super Mario Volume 32|32]] of the Kodansha manga, in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' arc. He allies with [[Manky Kong]], whose information helps him conquer the island. Mario and the Kongs defeat him, trapping him in a [[Steel Barrel]] and tossing him in the ocean. The barrel drifts to the [[Mushroom Kingdom]], where [[Princess Peach]] opens it, unleashing K. Rool. The Kremling King conquers the Kingdom and forces the [[Toad (species)|Toads]] in helping him get revenge by returning to DK Isle and challenging Mario and the Kongs to a series of Picross duels. K. Rool loses and the Mushroom Kingdom is freed from his clutches.
King K. Rool is the main antagonist in ''[[Super Donkey Kong with Mario 1]]'' and ''[[Super Donkey Kong with Mario 2]]''. In the first volume, an adaptation of ''Donkey Kong Country'', he allies with [[Manky Kong]], whose information helps him conquer the island. Mario and the Kongs defeat him, trapping him in a [[Steel Barrel]] and tossing him in the ocean.
 
In the second volume, the barrel drifts to the [[Mushroom Kingdom]], where [[Princess Peach]] opens it, unleashing K. Rool. The Kremling King conquers the Kingdom and forces the [[Toad (species)|Toads]] in helping him get revenge by returning to DK Isle and challenging Mario and the Kongs to a series of Picross duels. K. Rool eventually loses against Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom is freed from his clutches.
 
===''Donkey Kong 64''===
[[File:K Rool DK64 art.png|thumb|left|150px|King K. Rool in ''Donkey Kong 64'']]
King K. Rool returns in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', where he appears on a large mechanical island. He plans to blow up [[Donkey Kong Island]] with a new weapon called the [[Blast-o-Matic]]. However, his new and improved [[Crocodile Isle]] ends up crashing due to the incompetence of the ship's drivers. When Crocodile Isle is about to crash, K. Rool sitting in his throne wobbles in shock. In an attempt to distract Donkey Kong while he has the Blast-O-Matic repaired, K. Rool has [[Diddy Kong]], [[Tiny Kong]], [[Lanky Kong]], and [[Chunky Kong]] imprisoned, and Donkey Kong's [[Golden Banana]] Hoard stolen.
 
K. Rool appears in several cutscenes with his unnamed pet [[Klaptrap]], whom he strokes similarly to the way the ''{{wp|James Bond}}'' villain {{wp|Ernst Stavro Blofeld|Blofeld}} strokes his cat, being an obvious parody. Also similar to Blofeld, K. Rool largely has his face obscured in the early cutscenes. He also breathes and speaks in a manner similar to {{wp|Darth Vader}} from ''{{wp|Star Wars}}''. He is much larger in this game than all other games; as huge as Chunky Kong when he steps into his [[Cranky's Kong Barrel|Hunky Chunky Barrel]]. Throughout the game, he watches the Kongs' progress and chastises his own minions' failures. A scene shows K. Rool demanding that nobody leaves the Blast-o-Matic until it is repaired, going as far as sending a large red [[Klaptrap]] to attack a fleeing [[Kasplat]] (albeit offscreen).
 
Eventually, K. Rool's henchmen succeed in repairing the Blast-o-Matic, just as the Kongs break into [[Hideout Helm]], and K. Rool demands that the weapon be fired, despite the warnings that if it is not fully tested, it could explode. After the Kongs permanently shut down King K. Rool's mechanical island and the Blast-o-Matic, he tries to escape in a large airship. The ship ends up being knocked to the ground and destroyed by a recently released [[K. Lumsy]]. Venturing inside the crashed vessel, the Kongs find a boxing arena filled with spectators and King K. Rool, as his boxer alias '''King Krusha K. Rool''', ready to battle.
 
After [[Chunky Kong]] delivers the seemingly final blow to K. Rool, a cutscene is shown in which K. Rool gets back up after the fight. He is about to attack Chunky from behind, but is distracted by [[Candy Kong]]. He ends up being blasted over the horizon by [[Funky Kong]]. When he lands, it is in [[K. Lumsy's Prison|his dungeon]], where he meets a very unhappy [[K. Lumsy]] who proceeds to beat King K. Rool in retaliation for locking him up before being sent flying again by the giant.
 
K. Rool's laugh uses a pitched-down version of the "{{file link|Evil Laugh.oga|Evil Laugh}}" stock sound effect from the ''Cartoon Trax Volume 1'' album,<ref>{{cite|url=soundideas.sourceaudio.com/#!details?id=11488964|title=EvilLaugh CRT023801|publisher=Sound Ideas|accessdate=January 23, 2022}}</ref> which was previously used for Baron Samedi in Rare's ''{{wp|GoldenEye 007 (1997 video game)|GoldenEye 007}}''. The unaltered laugh is used for [[Kloak]]s and [[Kroc]]s in the [[Game Boy Advance]] remakes of ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' and ''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!'', respectively.
 
[[File:K. Rool (crystal caves).png|thumb|A portrait of Kaptain K. Rool]]
K. Rool's Kaptain persona also makes a cameo and is referenced in ''Donkey Kong 64''. Portraits of him can be found in some of [[Gloomy Galleon]]'s sunken ships, several log cabins in [[Crystal Caves]], and in [[Creepy Castle]]'s Museum; additionally, inside the sunken ship off to a corner, there is a book entitled "Kaptain K. Rool's Log Book."
====Battle====
The battle against King Krusha K. Rool takes place in the [[boxing arena]], where he is fought by all five Kongs during their respective round.
*'''Round 1:''' K. Rool starts off by ground pounding, which will generate shockwaves upon contact. During this, Donkey Kong must reach the corners of the ring to enter his [[Baboon Blast]] [[Barrel Cannon|cannons]] to attack K. Rool. When Donkey Kong is inside the barrel, K. Rool will begin throwing punches at the barrel. After a certain amount of punches, he will taunt for the crowd, leaving himself vulnerable to attack. Every time he is hit, he will generate more shockwaves with each ground pound, slowly becoming two rows of 4 shockwaves. After four hits, the next round will begin.
*'''Round 2:''' Now K. Rool attacks by throwing his right boxing glove as a boomerang, meaning Diddy Kong has to watch for attacks both in front of and behind him. Diddy can use his [[Rocketbarrel Boost|Rocketbarrel Barrels]] and [[Popgun]]s to attack the light fixture above K. Rool, causing a light to fall onto him. After all four lights fall on him (the last one getting stuck on K. Rool), the next round will begin.
*'''Round 3:''' The light from the previous round is still stuck to King K. Rool's head. [[Lanky Kong]] takes advantage of K. Rool's predicament by using his elastic arms to punch number buttons and grab the [[banana]]-labeled barrel that appears; it releases a banana peel when thrown. K. Rool will patrol the arena by rushing to corners. Lanky then has to use his [[Trombone Tremor]] in each corner of the arena to lure K. Rool into slipping on the banana peel. When Lanky plays the trombone, K. Rool will stop his current path and sprints towards Lanky. If the banana peel is in K. Rool's path, he should slip on it as soon as he reaches it; if not, then K. Rool will reach Lanky and squish him. After slipping on bananas four times, K. Rool falls and the next round begins.
*'''Round 4:''' Before the fourth round begins, some [[Kritter]]s come up to K. Rool to get the light off his head. Once it is off, [[Tiny Kong]] enters the ring. K. Rool will again attack by ground pounding (Tiny can only avoid the resulting shockwaves with her [[Pony Tail Twirl]]), but this time, he reacts in pain when he does, rubbing at his rear after doing so a few times. While he is occupied, Tiny Kong can use [[Mini-Monkey|her shrinking power]] to enter a hole in K. Rool's left shoe and fire her [[Feather Bow]] at his toes until they turn red. However, K. Rool will have his toes attack by pouncing at Tiny. Once all four of his toes are red, the final round will begin.
*'''Round 5:''' For the final round, [[Chunky Kong]] enters the ring. K. Rool attacks by running and rebounding off the ropes (which is a wrestling move rather than a boxing one) while invisible. By [[Simian Slam]]ming a switch in the middle of the ring, Chunky Kong can make [[Gorilla Gone]] pads appear to make himself invisible (and K. Rool and a [[Hunky Chunky]] barrel visible). To defeat K. Rool, Chunky Kong needs to jump into the barrel, which will force him and K. Rool to opposite corners. K. Rool then charges at Chunky and uppercuts him if he reaches him, which can only be avoided using a [[Primate Punch]]. When Chunky strikes him, K. Rool will become harder to strike, going invisible after the second and third hit. After four hits, K. Rool will finally be defeated and fall.


===''Uho'uho Daishizen Gag: Donkey Kong''===
===''Uho'uho Daishizen Gag: Donkey Kong''===
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===''Donkey Kong Country'' television series===
===''Donkey Kong Country'' television series===
{{quote2|Where I come from, we do things with style, drama, flair.|King K. Rool|</span>"[[Bluster's Sale Ape-Stravaganza]]"}}
[[File:DKCTVKingK.Rool.png|thumb|left|King K. Rool, as he appears in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' television series]]
[[File:DKCTVKingK.Rool.png|thumb|left|King K. Rool, as he appears in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' television series]]
{{quote|Where I come from, we do things with style, drama, flair.|King K. Rool|"[[Bluster's Sale Ape-Stravaganza]]"}}
K. Rool is one of the main characters and the main antagonist in the [[Donkey Kong Country (television series)|''Donkey Kong Country'' animated series]], where his name is typically pronounced "Kuh-Rool"; "Kay-Rool" is only said once. In the show, his personality is relatively the same as in the games. He is bossy, loud, megalomaniacal, flamboyant, dramatic, and slightly clumsy; despite this, however, he is not without a soft side, as seen in episodes such as "[[Baby Kong Blues]]" and "[[Four Weddings and a Coconut]]".  
K. Rool is one of the main characters and the main antagonist in the [[Donkey Kong Country (television series)|''Donkey Kong Country'' animated series]], where his name is typically pronounced "Kuh-Rool"; "Kay-Rool" is only said once. In the show, his personality is relatively the same as in the games. He is bossy, loud, megalomaniacal, flamboyant, dramatic, and slightly clumsy; despite this, however, he is not without a soft side, as seen in episodes such as "[[Baby Kong Blues]]" and "[[Four Weddings and a Coconut]]".  


King K. Rool's physical appearance is slightly altered from his video game counterpart. His tail is gone and one eye is not bloodshot, unlike in the games, though it does bulge to large proportions when he is excited or irritated, and it briefly appears bloodshot after DK punches it at the end of [[Ape Foo Young]] and after he rolls K. Rool into a bowling ball in [[A Thin Line Between Love and Ape]]. His eyes also are not connected as they are in the games, and instead are separated. K. Rool's wrist bands are more detailed, instead of being plain gold, as is his crown. King K. Rool's cape is also much shorter in length in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' cartoon. K. Rool also has no combat abilities and thus can easily be defeated by Donkey Kong. K. Rool is a strategist instead of a combatant, trying to outsmart the Kongs using his army of loyal, yet dimwitted Kremlings.
King K. Rool's physical appearance is slightly altered from his video game counterpart. His tail is gone and one eye is not bloodshot, unlike in the games, though it does bulge to large proportions when he is excited or irritated, and it briefly appears bloodshot after DK punches it at the end of [[Ape Foo Young]] and after he rolls K. Rool into a bowling ball in [[A Thin Line Between Love and Ape]]. His eyes also are not connected as they are in the games, and instead are separated. K. Rool's wrist bands are more detailed, instead of being plain gold, as is his crown. King K. Rool's cape is also much shorter in length in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' cartoon. K. Rool also has no combat abilities and thus can easily be defeated by Donkey Kong. K. Rool is a strategist instead of a combatant, trying to outsmart the Kongs using his army of loyal, yet dimwitted Kremlings.


His voice, provided by [[Ben Campbell]], is radically different from the games, such as ''Donkey Kong 64''. He constantly brags about his brain and emphasizes this by using more complex jargon. Often, with the aid of his henchmen [[General Klump|Klump]] and [[Krusha (character)|Krusha]], he attempts to steal the [[Crystal Coconut]] and use its power to rule [[Donkey Kong Island|Kongo Bongo Island]] and possibly the world. He seems to always be hatching plans to steal the coconut; however, they always lead to complete failure or humiliating defeats due to a combination of the stupidity of his troops and the resourcefulness of the Kongs. K. Rool has a very low tolerance for the incompetence of both Krusha and Klump, to the point where, in one episode, he mutters to himself "Do I really want the Crystal Coconut this badly?" while Krusha and Klump try to decode a message they themselves wrote. When not scheming to take the Coconut, he otherwise plans to eliminate Donkey Kong, who is the Coconut's main protector, by incriminating him, or to take over the [[Barrel Works]] to manufacture exploding barrels. His various other plans vary from episode to episode: for example, during a heatwave, he plots to steal a bunch of Donkey Kong's "Coconut Chill" shakes to keep him and his Kremlings cool.
His voice, provided by [[Ben Campbell]], is radically different from the games, such as ''Donkey Kong 64''. He constantly brags about his brain and emphasizes this by using more complex jargon. Often, with the aid of his henchmen [[General Klump|Klump]] and [[Krusha]], he attempts to steal the [[Crystal Coconut]] and use its power to rule [[Donkey Kong Island|Kongo Bongo Island]] and possibly the world. He seems to always be hatching plans to steal the coconut; however, they always lead to complete failure or humiliating defeats due to a combination of the stupidity of his troops and the resourcefulness of the Kongs. K. Rool has a very low tolerance for the incompetence of both Krusha and Klump, to the point where, in one episode, he mutters to himself "Do I really want the Crystal Coconut this badly?" while Krusha and Klump try to decode a message they themselves wrote. When not scheming to take the Coconut, he otherwise plans to eliminate Donkey Kong, who is the Coconut's main protector, by incriminating him, or to take over the [[Barrel Works]] to manufacture exploding barrels. His various other plans vary from episode to episode: for example, during a heatwave, he plots to steal a bunch of Donkey Kong's "Coconut Chill" shakes to keep him and his Kremlings cool.


The series also expands King K. Rool's backstory slightly, with the episode "[[Best of Enemies]]" revealing that he was once friends with Cranky Kong and that the two were notorious pranksters; another episode entitled "[[The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights]]" also has King K. Rool mentioning his mother and various unnamed siblings. The ''Donkey Kong Country'' cartoon also introduces a rival of sorts to King K. Rool, a pirate named [[Kaptain Skurvy]], who also wishes to obtain the Crystal Coconut.
The series also expands King K. Rool's backstory slightly, with the episode "[[Best of Enemies]]" revealing that he was once friends with Cranky Kong and that the two were notorious pranksters; another episode entitled "[[The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights]]" also has King K. Rool mentioning his mother and various unnamed siblings. The ''Donkey Kong Country'' cartoon also introduces a rival of sorts to King K. Rool, a pirate named [[Kaptain Skurvy]], who also wishes to obtain the Crystal Coconut.
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===''Bumm-Badabumm im Urwald''===
===''Bumm-Badabumm im Urwald''===
Kaptain K. Rool is also featured as the main antagonist in an obscure German ''Donkey Kong'' comic, ''[[Bumm-Badabumm im Urwald]]''; however he is always referred to as King K. Rool. In this story, K. Rool sends several members of the Kremling Krew to steal all the bananas on Donkey Kong Island, apparently hoping to starve the Kongs to make them weaker. K. Rool himself appears only near the end of the comic in the "[[Lost World (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest)|Lost Land]]". When K. Rool notices that the Kongs are in the Lost Land, he, at first, sends several dozen Kremlings at Donkey, Diddy and Dixie Kong, thinking the sheer number of Kremlings would defeat the Kongs. Unfortunately for K. Rool, the Kongs managed to pulverize his Kremling warriors. Taking matters into his own hands, K. Rool tries to blast the Kongs with a [[pineapple|pineapple-launching]] blunderbuss. At first, it seems the Kongs are overpowered, until Donkey Kong finds and throws a nearby [[TNT Barrel]] into the pile of bananas K. Rool is standing on. The resulting explosion buries K. Rool under the huge pile of bananas. King K. Rool is last seen having made a deal with Donkey Kong: in exchange for digging him out of the giant pile of fruit, he would have all the bananas returned to the Kongs.
Kaptain K. Rool is also featured as the main antagonist in an obscure German ''Donkey Kong'' comic, ''[[Bumm-Badabumm im Urwald]]''; however, he is always referred to as King K. Rool. In this story, K. Rool sends several members of the Kremling Krew to steal all the bananas on Donkey Kong Island, apparently hoping to starve the Kongs to make them weaker. K. Rool himself appears only near the end of the comic in the "[[Lost World (Donkey Kong Country 2)|Lost Land]]". When K. Rool notices that the Kongs are in the Lost Land, he, at first, sends several dozen Kremlings at Donkey, Diddy and Dixie Kong, thinking the sheer number of Kremlings would defeat the Kongs. Unfortunately for K. Rool, the Kongs managed to pulverize his Kremling warriors. Taking matters into his own hands, K. Rool tries to blast the Kongs with a [[pineapple|pineapple-launching]] blunderbuss. At first, it seems the Kongs are overpowered, until Donkey Kong finds and throws a nearby [[TNT Barrel]] into the pile of bananas K. Rool is standing on. The resulting explosion buries K. Rool under the huge pile of bananas. King K. Rool is last seen having made a deal with Donkey Kong: in exchange for digging him out of the giant pile of fruit, he would have all the bananas returned to the Kongs.


===''Donkey Kong in When the Banana Splits''===
===''Donkey Kong in When the Banana Splits''===
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===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
{{main-external|SmashWiki|King K. Rool}}
{{main-wiki|SmashWiki|King K. Rool}}
{{SSB fighter infobox
{{SSB fighter infobox
|color=purple
|color=purple
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{{br|left}}
{{br|left}}
====''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''====
====''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''====
{{main-external|SmashWiki|King K. Rool (SSBU)}}
{{main-wiki|SmashWiki|King K. Rool (SSBU)}}
At the end of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Nintendo Direct broadcast on August 8, 2018, King K. Rool was revealed as a playable fighter in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. Outside minor cameos, this marks his first physical appearance in a decade since ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]''. This also marks the first time his underbelly has been shown as being gold-plated since the Game Boy Advance version of ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', released 13 years prior. King K. Rool overtakes Donkey Kong as the second-heaviest fighter; he is lighter than only Bowser.
At the end of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Nintendo Direct broadcast on August 8, 2018, King K. Rool was revealed as a playable fighter in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. Outside minor cameos, this marks his first physical appearance in a decade since ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]''. This also marks the first time his underbelly has been shown as being gold-plated since the Game Boy Advance version of ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', released 13 years prior. King K. Rool overtakes Donkey Kong as the second-heaviest fighter; he is lighter than only Bowser.


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=====Classic Mode route=====
=====Classic Mode route=====
King K. Rool's Classic Mode route has him fight against some of the heaviest characters in the game, including his arch-nemesis Donkey Kong and fellow ''Super Mario'' villain Bowser. The title of the route uses boxing terminology, referencing the final fight of ''Donkey Kong 64''.
King K. Rool's Classic Mode route has him fight against some of the heaviest characters in the game, including his arch-nemesis Donkey Kong and fellow ''Super Mario'' villain Bowser. The title of the route uses boxing terminology, referencing the final fight of ''Donkey Kong 64''.
{|class="wikitable"style="margin: auto;"
{|class="wikitable"style="margin:auto;"
!colspan="5"|Super Heavyweight Class
!colspan="5"|Super Heavyweight Class
|-
|-
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[[File:MSS King K Rool Artwork.png|thumb|K. Rool's new outfit from ''Mario Super Sluggers'']]
[[File:MSS King K Rool Artwork.png|thumb|K. Rool's new outfit from ''Mario Super Sluggers'']]
[[File:MSS King K Rool Gameplay.png|left|160x160px|thumb|left|King K. Rool at the pitching mound (top) and batting (bottom)]]
[[File:MSS King K Rool Gameplay.png|left|160x160px|thumb|left|King K. Rool at the pitching mound (top) and batting (bottom)]]
King K. Rool's first appearance in a ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' game is in ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]''. He can only play as a team player, and is, ironically, on Donkey Kong's team, despite the fact he hates DK and the [[Kong]]s. The explanation for this is that he was impressed with their skills, and said he was only going to team up when playing baseball. King K. Rool bats with his right hand, and fields with his left hand.
King K. Rool's first appearance in a ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' game is in ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]''. He can only play as a team player, and is, ironically, on Donkey Kong's team, despite the fact he is enemies with DK and the [[Kong]]s. The explanation for this is that he was impressed with their skills, and said he was only going to team up when playing baseball. King K. Rool bats with his right hand, and fields with his left hand.


King K. Rool is one of the most powerful batters in the entire game (tied with [[Bowser]] and [[Petey Piranha]]). His pitching is also a bit above average. However, he is tied with the [[Toad (species)|Purple Toad]] for the weakest fielding abilities of all characters and is also tied with the [[Magikoopa|Red Magikoopa]] as one of the slowest runners in the game. King K. Rool's stamina is also very low, but he takes longer to get exhausted than Petey Piranha.
King K. Rool is one of the most powerful batters in the entire game (tied with [[Bowser]] and [[Petey Piranha]]). His pitching is also a bit above average. However, he is tied with the [[Toad (species)|Purple Toad]] for the weakest fielding abilities of all characters and is also tied with the [[Magikoopa|Red Magikoopa]] as one of the slowest runners in the game. King K. Rool's stamina is also very low, but he takes longer to get exhausted than Petey Piranha.
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A minor reference to King K. Rool is made in ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'', as a street in [[Metro Kingdom|New Donk City]] is named "KROOL Av."
A minor reference to King K. Rool is made in ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'', as a street in [[Metro Kingdom|New Donk City]] is named "KROOL Av."
{{br}}
{{br}}
===Other appearances===
===Other appearances===
[[File:Kremling Krunch Gameplay.png|200px|thumb|left|King K. Rool in ''Kremling Krunch'']]
[[File:Kremling Krunch Gameplay.png|200px|thumb|left|King K. Rool in ''Kremling Krunch'']]
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K. Rool appears as a playable character in all builds of ''[[Diddy Kong Pilot]]''.
K. Rool appears as a playable character in all builds of ''[[Diddy Kong Pilot]]''.


In the earliest build seen at Space World 2000 and the [[Diddy Kong Pilot (2001)|2001 iteration]], K. Rool had a new alter-ego, Kamikaze K. Rool, who wore an aviator outfit and piloted a green plane with a sneering Kremling face painted on both sides and a nose with the [[Zinger]]'s color scheme.
In the earliest build seen at Space World 2000 and in the [[Diddy Kong Pilot (2001)|2001 iteration]], K. Rool had a new alter-ego, Kamikaze K. Rool, who wore an aviator outfit and piloted a green plane with a sneering Kremling face painted on both sides and a nose with the [[Zinger]]'s color scheme.


In the Space World 2000 build, each pilot was going to have their own story mode, and K. Rool's story would have been called K. Rool's Gold. The intro blurbs revealed K. Rool would have been searching for ElDorado, the mythical city of gold after finding a stone tablet with a map in an ancient stone temple. The tablet led K. Rool to an island with a giant magical gate to El Dorado, where a quartet announce they are the guardians of the gate and tell K. Rool that earlier Cranky had failed to go through. The first guardian, Nikki explained, only they had the magical to open the gate but first K. Rool had to complete four tests with the first being to collect the firekey from CrankPot Keep.
In the Space World 2000 build, each pilot was going to have their own story mode, and K. Rool's story would have been called K. Rool's Gold. The intro blurbs revealed K. Rool would have been searching for El Dorado, the mythical city of gold after finding a stone tablet with a map in an ancient stone temple. The tablet led K. Rool to an island with a giant magical gate to El Dorado, where a quartet announce that they are the guardians of the gate and tell K. Rool that earlier Cranky Kong had failed to go through. The first guardian, Nikki, explained that only they had the magical power to open the gate, but first K. Rool would have to complete four tests to do so, with the first being to collect the fire key from Crackpot Keep.


While nothing is known about how the plot ended due to the build being unfinished, the accompanying illustration for K. Rool's Gold depicted K. Rool greedily looking over a pile of gold while a Kong genie, emerging from a nearby magic lamp, hovered behind him.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DRAqj__5eA Video footage from Space World 2000]</ref>
While nothing more is known about the plot due to the build being unfinished, the accompanying illustration for K. Rool's Gold depicted K. Rool greedily looking over a pile of gold while a Kong genie, emerging from a nearby magic lamp, hovered behind him.<ref>{{cite|author=RareWareCentral|date=November 6, 2011|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DRAqj__5eA|title=Diddy Kong Pilot - Very Early Beta Spaceworld|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=April 21, 2024}}</ref>


In the July 2001 build, these story modes appear to have been removed, though some sprites intended for story cutscenes remain in the game's data.
In the July 2001 build, these story modes appear to have been removed, though some sprites intended for story cutscenes remain in the game's data.
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===Creation and development===
===Creation and development===
[[File:K Rool Krudd concept artwork.jpg|thumb|Original ''Donkey Kong Country'' concept artwork of King K. Rool (as Krudd)]]
[[File:K Rool Krudd concept artwork.jpg|thumb|Original ''Donkey Kong Country'' concept artwork of King K. Rool (as Krudd)]]
{{quote2|Never expected old K.Rool to make it out of DKC, let alone turn up in [[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|#SmashBros]] nearly 25 years later. Maybe I should have spent a bit more than 5 minutes coming up with his slightly rubbish name.|[[Gregg Mayles]] on King K. Rool's name}}
{{quote|Never expected old K.Rool to make it out of DKC, let alone turn up in [[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|#SmashBros]] nearly 25 years later. Maybe I should have spent a bit more than 5 minutes coming up with his slightly rubbish name.|[[Gregg Mayles]] on King K. Rool's name}}
During early production of ''Donkey Kong Country'', the character that would become King. K Rool was named "'''Krudd'''".<ref>Ghoulyboy (September 6, 2015). "[https://twitter.com/Ghoulyboy/status/640574072250867712 ''Found a couple more #DKCrevealed Kremling concepts by James Ryman, where Krudd is starting to look like K.Rool.'']" ''Twitter''. Retrieved August 10, 2018.</ref> Another proposed idea had the character named "King Klinker" and have him paired with a female Kremling named "Queen Krapp".<ref>Gregg Mayles (November 21, 2019). "[https://twitter.com/Ghoulyboy/status/1197507861678624768 What about a reptilian revelation from the #DKCArchives for #5? Some early Kremling thinking shows that #KRool could have been called 'King Klinker' and he might have had a partner named 'Queen Krapp'. Not the best names I came up with! #WorldDonkeyKongDay #DKC25"]. ''Twitter''. Retrieved November 22, 2019.</ref> Later in development, "Kommander K. Rool" was considered as the character's name.<ref>Ghoulyboy (August 10, 2018). "[https://twitter.com/Ghoulyboy/status/1027946702270021638 ''Never expected this tweet about #KingKRool in #SmashBros to be so popular. As a moderately interesting bonus follow up, an early naming sheet shows K. Rool was going to be 'Kommander' and #DKC was going to be called 'Monkey Mayhem{{'}}'']". ''Twitter''. Retrieved August 10, 2018.</ref> This planned name was given a brief nod in the fake credits during his boss fight, which mentioned him as being the "Kommander" of the game.
During early production of ''Donkey Kong Country'', the character that would become King. K Rool was named "'''Krudd'''".<ref>{{cite|author=Ghoulyboy|language=en|date=September 6, 2015|url=x.com/Ghoulyboy/status/640574072250867712|title=Found a couple more #DKCrevealed Kremling concepts by James Ryman, where Krudd is starting to look like K.Rool.|publisher=X|accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref> Another proposed idea had the character named "'''King Klinker'''" and have him paired with a female Kremling named "Queen Krapp".<ref>{{cite|language=en|author=Mayles, Gregg|date=November 21, 2019|url=x.com/Ghoulyboy/status/1197507861678624768|title=What about a reptilian revelation from the #DKCArchives for #5? Some early Kremling thinking shows that #KRool could have been called 'King Klinker' and he might have had a partner named 'Queen Krapp'. Not the best names I came up with! #WorldDonkeyKongDay #DKC25"|publisher=X|accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref> Later in development, "'''Kommander K. Rool'''" was considered as the character's name.<ref>{{cite|language=en|author=Ghoulyboy|date=August 10, 2018|url=x.com/Ghoulyboy/status/1027946702270021638|title=Never expected this tweet about #KingKRool in #SmashBros to be so popular. As a moderately interesting bonus follow up, an early naming sheet shows K. Rool was going to be 'Kommander' and #DKC was going to be called 'Monkey Mayhem{{'}}|publisher=X|accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref> This planned name was given a brief nod in the fake credits during his boss fight, which mentioned him as being the "Kommander" of the game.


When asked what the K in "K. Rool" stands for, Gregg Mayles replied "''Nothing! It was just a way of making him seem more important, that he'd added it to inflate his ego. In hindsight, it could have been something tonal like 'Kremling', or something deliberately out of character like Keith. What do you reckon it should stand for?''"<ref>Chris_Costy (August 8, 2018). "[https://twitter.com/Chris_Costy/status/1027413934100250624 ''What's the "K" stand for?'']" ''Twitter''. Retrieved October 10, 2019.</ref>
When asked what the K in "K. Rool" stands for, Gregg Mayles replied "''Nothing! It was just a way of making him seem more important, that he'd added it to inflate his ego. In hindsight, it could have been something tonal like 'Kremling', or something deliberately out of character like Keith. What do you reckon it should stand for?''"<ref>{{cite|language=en|author=Chris_Costy|date=August 8, 2018|url=x.com/Chris_Costy/status/1027413934100250624|title=What's the "K" stand for?|publisher=X|accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref>


His Baron K. Roolenstein alter ego was designed by [[Mark Stevenson]].<ref>[https://youtu.be/1TDcFCu4rJs?t=1843 Mark Stevenson talking about Baron K. Roolenstein]</ref>
His Kaptain K. Rool alter ego was designed by [[Steve Mayles]],<ref>{{cite|url=x.com/playtonicalMark/status/1774169679604453523|title=Mark Stevenson on X|publisher=X|date=March 30, 2024|accessdate=August 15, 2024}}</ref> Baron K. Roolenstein was designed by [[Mark Stevenson]].<ref>[https://youtu.be/1TDcFCu4rJs?t=1843 Mark Stevenson talking about Baron K. Roolenstein]{{dead link}}</ref>


===Physical appearance===
===Physical appearance===
{{quote2|I'm just an old dried-up lizard!|King K. Rool|</span>"[[Ape Foo Young]]"}}
{{quote|I'm just an old dried-up lizard!|King K. Rool|"[[Ape Foo Young]]"}}
[[File:KroolDKC.png|thumb|left|King K. Rool's most common appearance shows him wearing a crown, gold wrist bands and a red cape.]]
[[File:KroolDKC.png|thumb|left|King K. Rool's most common appearance shows him wearing a crown, gold wrist bands and a red cape.]]
In King K. Rool's most common appearance, he wears a red cape and a gold crown, but he is fond of adopting many other looks and costumes as well. When he takes on the alias of Kaptain K. Rool, he trades in the cape for a brown trench coat and the crown for a pirate hat. When he becomes Baron K. Roolenstein, he wears a white lab coat and a tall prosthetic forehead with a small black wig resembling {{wp|Frankenstein's monster}}, and has a Propellerpack on his back. His outfit is based on a combination of Frankenstein's Monster as portrayed by {{wp|Boris Karloff}} in the {{wp|Universal Pictures|Universal}} horror movie ''Frankenstein'' and the character of Baron Victor von Frankenstein (played by {{wp|Peter Cushing}}) from the Hammer Horror ''Frankenstein'' series. In ''Mario Super Sluggers'', K. Rool wears an Ancient Egyptian-style collar and loincloth, much like a pharaoh. Cranky Kong mentions in the ''Donkey Kong 64'' instruction booklet that K. Rool had given up his silly disguises in that game. While he has not seriously gone incognito since Baron K. Roolenstein, for the final fight he goes by the moniker "King Krusha K. Rool" as a boxer. During this fight he sports a stereotypical one-piece as well as boxing gloves with a champion's belt.
In King K. Rool's most common appearance, he wears a red cape and a gold crown, but he is fond of adopting many other looks and costumes as well. When he takes on the alias of Kaptain K. Rool, he trades in the cape for a brown trench coat and the crown for a pirate hat. When he becomes Baron K. Roolenstein, he wears a white lab coat and a tall prosthetic forehead with a small black wig resembling {{wp|Frankenstein's monster}}, and has a Propellerpack on his back. His outfit is based on a combination of Frankenstein's Monster as portrayed by {{wp|Boris Karloff}} in the {{wp|Universal Pictures|Universal}} horror movie ''Frankenstein'' and the character of Baron Victor von Frankenstein (played by {{wp|Peter Cushing}}) from the Hammer Horror ''Frankenstein'' series. In ''Mario Super Sluggers'', K. Rool wears an Ancient Egyptian-style collar and loincloth, much like a pharaoh. Cranky Kong mentions in the ''Donkey Kong 64'' instruction booklet that K. Rool had given up his silly disguises in that game. While he has not seriously gone incognito since Baron K. Roolenstein, for the final fight he goes by the moniker "King Krusha K. Rool" as a boxer. During this fight he sports a stereotypical one-piece as well as boxing gloves with a champion's belt.
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In ''Donkey Kong 64'', during the final battle in the [[boxing arena]], King Krusha K. Rool (his boxing alias) is wearing a boxing outfit. He is wearing a blue spandex suit, which has a thick, white stripe on both sides. King Krusha K. Rool also has a champion's belt, which has a brown strap and a gold center, tied around his belly. He wears a pair of red boxing gloves, and a pair of reddish-pink shoes, which are almost the same color as his boxing gloves. A large hole appears in front of K. Rool's left shoe; inside of it, K. Rool is shown to have four toes. Contrarily, in his regular character model and artworks, K. Rool has three toes. For both his regular and his boxer alias, K. Rool's crown has eight prongs, fewer than that in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' games.  
In ''Donkey Kong 64'', during the final battle in the [[boxing arena]], King Krusha K. Rool (his boxing alias) is wearing a boxing outfit. He is wearing a blue spandex suit, which has a thick, white stripe on both sides. King Krusha K. Rool also has a champion's belt, which has a brown strap and a gold center, tied around his belly. He wears a pair of red boxing gloves, and a pair of reddish-pink shoes, which are almost the same color as his boxing gloves. A large hole appears in front of K. Rool's left shoe; inside of it, K. Rool is shown to have four toes. Contrarily, in his regular character model and artworks, K. Rool has three toes. For both his regular and his boxer alias, K. Rool's crown has eight prongs, fewer than that in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' games.  


King K. Rool's underbelly was originally golden in texture and color (meant to be a piece of armor according to character designer [[Steve Mayles]]<ref>WinkySteve (July 6, 2015). "[https://twitter.com/WinkySteve/status/617951129406574593 ''Armour. Wonder no more.'']" ''Twitter''. Retrieved July 6, 2015.</ref>), but since ''DK: King of Swing'' his underbelly has been changed to a light flesh tone, and has lost the prominent vertical indentation down the middle. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', he regains the gold plate, which now has a sharp ridge along the edges but still lacks the vertical indentation; however, [[Palutena]]'s [[List of Palutena's Guidance conversations|Guidance]] mentions his "leathery" belly, though it is possible she is referring to the belly underneath the armor. In this game, his general head and body shape is more akin to the later games, though he has a tail again, albeit a short one, similar to his tail in the cartoon. King K. Rool also has more pronounced scales in this game, akin to his design in the [[Rare Ltd.]] games. He is also once again depicted as being distinctly larger than Donkey Kong. His cape also appears to be slightly torn up at the bottom.
King K. Rool's underbelly was originally golden in texture and color (meant to be a piece of armor according to character designer [[Steve Mayles]]<ref>{{cite|author=WinkySteve|date=July 6, 2015|url=x.com/WinkySteve/status/617951129406574593|language=en-gb|title=Armour. Wonder no more.|publisher=X|accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref>), but since ''DK: King of Swing'' his underbelly has been changed to a light flesh tone, and has lost the prominent vertical indentation down the middle. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', he regains the gold plate, which now has a sharp ridge along the edges but still lacks the vertical indentation; however, [[Palutena]]'s [[List of Palutena's Guidance conversations|Guidance]] mentions his "leathery" belly, though it is possible she is referring to the belly underneath the armor. In this game, his general head and body shape is more akin to the later games, though he has a tail again, albeit a short one, similar to his tail in the cartoon. King K. Rool also has more pronounced scales in this game, akin to his design in the [[Rare Ltd.]] games. He is also once again depicted as being distinctly larger than Donkey Kong. His cape also appears to be slightly torn up at the bottom.


King K. Rool has seven other costumes to choose from in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', all of which change his colors. His orange costume resembles [[Kerozene]] from the Game Boy Advance version of ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'' and [[Re-Koil]] from ''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]'' It also resembles the red Kritters that appear in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series. King K. Rool's blue costume resembles the armored blue Kritters that appear throughout the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series, as well as [[Krusha]] from ''Donkey Kong Country'' and ''Donkey Kong 64''. His yellow costume resembles [[Kutlass]] from '' Donkey Kong Country 2'', as well as [[Kopter]] as he appeared in ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]''. King K. Rool's pink costume resembles [[Skidda]] in ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', [[Klump]] as he appears in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', and Kritters from the Game Boy Advance version of ''Donkey Kong Country''. King K. Rool's black costume resembles the armored Black Kritters from ''Donkey Kong Country'', while his brown costume resembles Klump's original appearance in said game, one of his alternate colors in ''DK: King of Swing'', and a partial inversion of his normal colors. Lastly, King K. Rool has a white costume, which somewhat resembles an albino crocodile.
King K. Rool has seven other costumes to choose from in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', all of which change his colors. His orange costume resembles [[Kerozene]] from the Game Boy Advance version of ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'' and [[Re-Koil]] from ''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]'' It also resembles the red Kritters that appear in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series. King K. Rool's blue costume resembles the armored blue Kritters that appear throughout the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series, as well as [[Krusha]] from ''Donkey Kong Country'' and ''Donkey Kong 64''. His yellow costume resembles [[Kutlass]] from '' Donkey Kong Country 2'', as well as [[Kopter]] as he appeared in ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]''. King K. Rool's pink costume resembles [[Skidda]] in ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', [[Klump]] as he appears in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', and Kritters from the Game Boy Advance version of ''Donkey Kong Country''. King K. Rool's black costume resembles the armored Black Kritters from ''Donkey Kong Country'', while his brown costume resembles Klump's original appearance in said game, one of his alternate colors in ''DK: King of Swing'', and a partial inversion of his normal colors. Lastly, King K. Rool has a white costume, which somewhat resembles an albino crocodile.
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===Personality===
===Personality===
{{quote|Don't tell me what I can't do!|King K. Rool|Donkey Kong 64}}
{{quote|Don't tell me what I can't do!|King K. Rool|Donkey Kong 64}}
K. Rool, as his name, a pun on "cruel," may imply, is brutal, ruling his minions through threats and intimidation, often punishing them severely when they fail. This is mentioned by [[Klubba]] in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'', who says that K. Rool mistreats his minions.<ref>'''Klubba's words''': "''Kap'n K. Rool treats us rotten. I hope yer scupper his plans!''" - ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''</ref> This is also seen in ''Donkey Kong 64'', when he presumably executes a purple-haired [[Kasplat]] via a giant [[Klaptrap]] for calling him "fatso", not realizing that K. Rool was listening. Even his most powerful followers seem to fear his wrath, as displayed in ''Donkey Kong 64'', when his subtle display of anger results in [[Army Dillo]] fainting on the spot, and [[Dogadon]] ends up begging for mercy over his failure when admitting how his wings ended up singed by the Kongs (although K. Rool seems more shocked than angry at the failure regarding the latter). He does not seem to respect his henchmen, the Kritters, much better either. In ''Mario Super Sluggers'', he refers to brown Kritter as "the dirty under-belly of the Kremling Krew". In ''Donkey Kong 64'', he even has K. Lumsy locked up due to his gentle nature, with it being even more harsh in the Japanese version due to the latter being his younger brother. This abuse of his underlings has also worked against him, as demonstrated by Klubba openly rooting for Diddy and Dixie to ruin his boss's plans, and also K. Lumsy being implied to have supplied him with a massive beatdown before sending him flying again as revenge for locking him up after being sent flying by Funky Kong earlier. Despite all of this, however, he and the Kritters have good chemistry with each other in ''Mario Super Sluggers'' and the trophy bios of [[Kalypso]] and [[Kludge]] show he respects and trusts the former as a capable leader and is intimidated by latter's ferocious temper. K. Rool is also somewhat of a dirty fighter. He fakes defeat, often collapsing in the middle of combat and making it seem like he has been defeated, only to rise seconds later and begin fighting again. He has also shown himself to be negligent towards nature.<ref>M. Arakawa. ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' Player's Guide. Page 46. "'''''Jungle Jinx''' It looks like K. Rool hasn’t heard about preserving the rain forests. Here he’s dumping bunches of giant tires in Diddy and Dixie’s path!''"</ref>
K. Rool, as his name, a pun on "cruel," may imply, is brutal, ruling his minions through threats and intimidation, often punishing them severely when they fail. This is mentioned by [[Klubba]] in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'', who says that K. Rool mistreats his minions.<ref>{{cite|author=Klubba|quote=Kap'n K. Rool treats us rotten. I hope yer scupper his plans!|title=''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''}}</ref> This is also seen in ''Donkey Kong 64'', when he punishes a purple-haired [[Kasplat]] via a giant [[Klaptrap]] for losing [[Blueprint]]s and calling him "fatso", not realizing that K. Rool was listening. Even his most powerful followers seem to fear his wrath, as displayed in ''Donkey Kong 64'', when his subtle display of anger results in [[Army Dillo]] fainting on the spot, and [[Dogadon]] ends up begging for mercy over his failure when admitting how his wings ended up singed by the Kongs (although K. Rool seems more shocked than angry at the failure regarding the latter). He does not seem to respect his henchmen, the Kritters, much better either. In ''Mario Super Sluggers'', he refers to brown Kritter as "the dirty under-belly of the Kremling Krew". In ''Donkey Kong 64'', he even has K. Lumsy locked up due to his gentle nature, with it being even more harsh in the Japanese version due to the latter being his younger brother. This abuse of his underlings has also worked against him, as demonstrated by Klubba openly rooting for Diddy and Dixie to ruin his boss's plans, and also K. Lumsy being implied to have supplied him with a massive beatdown before sending him flying again as revenge for locking him up after being sent flying by Funky Kong earlier. Despite all of this, however, he and the Kritters have good chemistry with each other in ''Mario Super Sluggers'' and the trophy bios of [[Kalypso]] and [[Kludge]] show he respects and trusts the former as a capable leader and is intimidated by latter's ferocious temper. K. Rool is also somewhat of a dirty fighter. He fakes defeat, often collapsing in the middle of combat and making it seem like he has been defeated, only to rise seconds later and begin fighting again. He has also shown himself to be negligent towards nature.<ref>{{cite|author=Miller, Kent and Paul Shinoda|title=''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' Player's Guide|page=46|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|date=1995|quote='''Jungle Jinx''' It looks like K. Rool hasn’t heard about preserving the rain forests. Here he’s dumping bunches of giant tires in Diddy and Dixie’s path!}}</ref>


K. Rool hates the Kongs, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong more so than the others, having referred to them as "filthy apes" and "monkey brains". Despite his hatred of the Kongs, however, he is nevertheless willing to employ evil Kongs such as [[Manky Kong]] and [[Minkey]], as well as being susceptible to being attracted to female members of the species, as evidenced by his being mesmerized by [[Candy Kong]] in ''Donkey Kong 64'', even going so far as to reach out to her from the ring in apparent infatuation (which was later revealed to be a diversion to distract the Kremling leader long enough for Funky Kong to literally "give him the boot" by firing a boot from his bazooka). He is also capable of commending the Kongs' skill, as shown when they first enter the Lost World in ''Donkey Kong Land III'', where he also gives them six [[Watch (Donkey Kong Land III)|Watch]]es and invites them to try Time Attack mode after he is defeated, as well as in ''Mario Super Sluggers'' where he joins Donkey Kong's team after acknowledging their skill. K. Rool also appears to have some respect for the oldest kongs as he worked with [[Cranky Kong]] to steal the banana hoard in ''Land'' and in ''Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest'', took classes from [[Wrinkly Kong]].  
K. Rool hates the Kongs, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong more so than the others, having referred to them as "filthy apes" and "monkey brains". Despite his hatred of the Kongs, however, he is nevertheless willing to employ evil Kongs such as [[Manky Kong]] and [[Minkey]], as well as being susceptible to [[Candy Kong]]'s charm, as evidenced by his being mesmerized by Candy flirting with him in ''Donkey Kong 64'', even going so far as to reach out to her from the ring in apparent infatuation (which was later revealed to be a diversion to distract the Kremling leader long enough for Funky Kong to literally "give him the boot" by firing a boot from his bazooka). He is also capable of commending the Kongs' skill, as shown when they first enter the Lost World in ''Donkey Kong Land III'', where he also gives them six [[Watch (Donkey Kong Land III)|Watch]]es and invites them to try Time Attack mode after he is defeated, as well as in ''Mario Super Sluggers'' where he joins Donkey Kong's team after acknowledging their skill. K. Rool also appears to have some respect for the oldest Kongs as he had worked with [[Cranky Kong]] to steal the banana hoard in ''Donkey Kong Land'' and had taken classes from [[Wrinkly Kong]] in ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest''.


Both ''Donkey Kong 64'' and ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' imply that K. Rool is somewhat insane and demented. The final battle of ''Donkey Kong 64'' also shows him to be somewhat of a showboater, constantly showing-off and making taunting gestures. He has bad chemistry with all of the Kongs in ''Mario Super Sluggers'', although he makes it clear that he is only teaming up with them when playing baseball, showing that he is capable of putting aside his hatred for them and will team up with them if needed, similarly to Bowser. He is also seen with Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong at their house sleeping in [[Banjo]] & [[Kazooie]]'s reveal trailer despite his hatred for them.
Both ''Donkey Kong 64'' and ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' imply that K. Rool is somewhat insane and demented. The final battle of ''Donkey Kong 64'' also shows him to be somewhat of a showboater, constantly showing-off and making taunting gestures. He has bad chemistry with all of the Kongs in ''Mario Super Sluggers'', although he makes it clear that he is only teaming up with them when playing baseball, showing that he is capable of putting aside his hatred for them and will team up with them if needed, similarly to Bowser. He is also seen with Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong at their house sleeping in [[Banjo]] & [[Kazooie]]'s reveal trailer despite his hatred for them.


According to [[Leigh Loveday]] (writer of the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series) on Rareware.com's former "scribes" column, K. Rool's motivation for stealing the banana hoard is either that he wants Donkey Kong to starve to death so that he can occupy his "cosy{{sic}} treehouse pad," or perhaps that he simply likes bananas.<ref name="rareware"/> The latter explanation is supported in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' manual which states the Kremlings coveted the bananas for their nutritional value, [[List of Palutena's Guidance conversations|Palutena's Guidance]] which states that Kremlings like bananas, the half eaten bananas on the [[Gangplank Galleon]], and an art-piece by [[Steve Mayles]] depicting K. Rool reading a banana recipe book.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PlaytonicGames/status/940942452902547456 The twitter for Playtonic games posting an artwork K. Rool reading a book on banana recipes.]</ref> However, K. Rool liking bananas is contradicted in ''DK: Jungle Climber'', where K. Rool states that he despises bananas.
According to [[Leigh Loveday]] (writer of the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series) on Rareware.com's former Scribes column, K. Rool's motivation for stealing the banana hoard is either that he wants Donkey Kong to starve to death so that he can occupy his "cosy{{sic}} treehouse pad," or perhaps that he simply likes bananas.<ref name="rareware"/> The latter explanation is supported in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' manual which states the Kremlings coveted the bananas for their nutritional value, [[List of Palutena's Guidance conversations|Palutena's Guidance]] which states that Kremlings like bananas, the half eaten bananas on the [[Gangplank Galleon]], and an art-piece by [[Steve Mayles]] depicting K. Rool reading a banana recipe book.<ref>{{cite|url=x.com/PlaytonicGames/status/940942452902547456|date=December 13, 2017|title=#YookaLaylee for #NintendoSwitch is out tomorrow! Thus, our artists conclude their tributes to Nintendo classics they helped create, as @WinkySteve imagines the spoils of war...|publisher=X|accessdate=June 5, 2024|language=en}}</ref> However, K. Rool liking bananas is contradicted in ''DK: Jungle Climber'', where K. Rool states that he despises bananas.


===Weapons===
===Weapons===
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*In ''Donkey Kong Country'', King K. Rool boasts the ability to summon a barrage of large cannonballs to rain down on Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
*In ''Donkey Kong Country'', King K. Rool boasts the ability to summon a barrage of large cannonballs to rain down on Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
*In ''Donkey Kong Country 2'', Kaptain K. Rool can teleport.
*In ''Donkey Kong Country 2'', Kaptain K. Rool can teleport.
*In ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', Baron K. Roolenstein simply uses a remote control to activate his arenas' gadgets and weaponry in battle.  
*In ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', Baron K. Roolenstein simply uses a remote control to activate his arenas' gadgets and weaponry in battle. In ''Donkey Kong Land III'', K. Roolenstein can shoot electricity from his hands and throw bombs.
*In ''Donkey Kong 64'', King K. Rool displays the ability to create multiple shockwaves by slamming the ground (although, as demonstrated with Tiny Kong, doing this too many times will cause him to injure his posterior, leaving an opening for Tiny to inflict damage to his toes). He can also perform a powerful uppercut after charging at the Kongs, which can knock Chunky Kong high into in the air, even when he is the same size as K. Rool.
*In ''Donkey Kong 64'', King K. Rool displays the ability to create multiple shockwaves by slamming the ground once (although, as demonstrated with Tiny Kong, doing this too many times will cause him to injure his posterior, leaving an opening for Tiny to inflict damage to his toes). He can also perform a powerful uppercut after charging at the Kongs, which can knock Chunky Kong high into in the air, even when he is the same size as K. Rool.
*In ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' and ''Donkey Kong 64'', King K. Rool displays his ability to turn invisible, though minor details still give away his position. In ''Donkey Kong Country 2'', his blunderbuss leaves smoke puffs behind him, and in ''Donkey Kong 64'', his shadow can still be seen on the ground when he is invisible.
*In ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' and ''Donkey Kong 64'', King K. Rool displays his ability to turn invisible, though minor details still give away his position. In ''Donkey Kong Country 2'', his blunderbuss leaves smoke puffs behind him, and in ''Donkey Kong 64'', his shadow can still be seen on the ground when he is invisible.
*In ''DK: Jungle Climber'', King K. Rool, after being damaged in battle, can turn temporarily invincible (gaining a reddish coloration) and the ability to assume a ball shape and bounce off surfaces rapidly. After being empowered by a Crystal Banana, King K. Rool gains a multitude of different powers, such as manipulating the weather, summoning meteors, breathing a barrage of fireballs and exploding mines.
*In ''DK: Jungle Climber'', King K. Rool, after being damaged in battle, can turn temporarily invincible (gaining a reddish coloration) and the ability to assume a ball shape and bounce off surfaces rapidly. After being empowered by a Crystal Banana, King K. Rool gains a multitude of different powers, such as manipulating the weather, summoning meteors, breathing a barrage of fireballs and exploding mines.


===Family===
===Family===
King K. Rool mentions having a wife in ''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!'' Specifically, after KAOS is defeated a second time, Baron K. Roolenstein appears, stating he built KAOS from his wife's best pots and pans. It is unknown if K. Rool is telling a joke, or if he actually has a wife. In a December 23, 1999 edition of the Scribes section of Rare's website, [[Leigh Loveday]] stated that K. Rool's "my wife is going to kill me" line was merely "a typically throwaway {{wp|Vic and Bob}} reference."<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20000823214029/http://www.rareware.com/recent/scribes/dec2399.html December 23, 1999]. rareware.com. Archived August 23, 2000 via Wayback Machine.</ref> The wife does make a physical appearance in ''[[4-koma Gag Battle]]''.
{{quote|Oh, my favorite part is going back to the swamplands to play gator games with all my slithering siblings.|King K. Rool|"[[The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights]]"}}
King K. Rool mentions having [[Okusan|a wife]] in ''Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!'' Specifically, after KAOS is defeated a second time, Baron K. Roolenstein appears, stating he built KAOS from his wife's best pots and pans. It is unknown if K. Rool is telling a joke, or if he actually has a wife. In a December 23, 1999 edition of the Scribes section of Rare's website, [[Leigh Loveday]] stated that K. Rool's "my wife is going to kill me" line was merely "a typically throwaway {{wp|Vic and Bob}} reference."<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20000823214029/http://www.rareware.com/recent/scribes/dec2399.html|title=Scribes; December 23, 1999|publisher=Rarewhere|accessdate=June 5, 2024|language=en-gb}}</ref> The wife does make a physical appearance in ''[[4-koma Gag Battle]]'' and ''[[4koma Manga Ōkoku]]'' where she is depicted as a thin Kremling woman with light hair and an apron over a black dress.


In the episode "[[The Big Switch-A-Roo]]" of the ''Donkey Kong Country'' animated series, King K. Rool mentions his mother, and in "[[The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights]]" he mentions his "slithering siblings".
In the episode "[[The Big Switch-A-Roo]]" of the ''Donkey Kong Country'' animated series, King K. Rool mentions his mother, and in "[[The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights]]" he mentions his "slithering siblings".
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In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', K. Rool's [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]] information erroneously states that Kaptain K. Rool is the brother of King K. Rool, which lead to some fans theorizing that King K. Rool and Kaptain K. Rool are separate characters in the Japanese versions. However, Japanese material (such as the intro of the Japanese Game Boy Advance version of ''Donkey Kong Country 2'') also portray Kaptain K. Rool as a disguise, and thus the trophy description is merely an error.
In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', K. Rool's [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]] information erroneously states that Kaptain K. Rool is the brother of King K. Rool, which lead to some fans theorizing that King K. Rool and Kaptain K. Rool are separate characters in the Japanese versions. However, Japanese material (such as the intro of the Japanese Game Boy Advance version of ''Donkey Kong Country 2'') also portray Kaptain K. Rool as a disguise, and thus the trophy description is merely an error.


In the Japanese version of ''Donkey Kong 64'', [[K. Lumsy]] is said to be King K. Rool's little brother.<ref>[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_ndoj/chara/page02.html Character page]. ''Nintendo.co.jp''. Retrieved April 22, 2012.</ref>
In the Japanese version of ''Donkey Kong 64'', [[K. Lumsy]] is said to be King K. Rool's little brother.<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_ndoj/chara/page02.html|title=キャラクターの紹介|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=June 5, 2024|language=ja}}</ref>


According to the Nintendo Magazine System, K. Rool is a descendant of [[Kremlantis]]' former residents.<ref>''Donkey Kong Land'' Nintendo Magazine System, page 13. "'''''KREMLANTIS''' Rock hewn and rock solid is Kremlantis, ancient home of K. Rool's masterful predecessors. Slight worse off for water than the good ship Gangplank, seeking as the entire kingdom is submerged! The majority of Kremlantis' wards have survived through being trapped in air pockets, though mutant winds roam freely about so beware! Of course it's inevitable that some areas are flooded by ice-water too, and it is here that DK and Diddy encounter the worst of their fears...''"</ref>
According to the Nintendo Magazine System, K. Rool is a descendant of [[Kremlantis]]' former residents.<ref>{{cite|title=''Donkey Kong Land'' Nintendo Magazine System|page=13|quote='''KREMLANTIS''' Rock hewn and rock solid is Kremlantis, ancient home of K. Rool's masterful predecessors. Slight worse off for water than the good ship Gangplank, seeking as the entire kingdom is submerged! The majority of Kremlantis' wards have survived through being trapped in air pockets, though mutant winds roam freely about so beware! Of course it's inevitable that some areas are flooded by ice-water too, and it is here that DK and Diddy encounter the worst of their fears...}}</ref>


In [[Super Mario (Kodansha manga)|Kodansha's manga]], K. Rool meets an ancestor of his called [[Cranky Tenkai K. Rool]] who lived in Donkey Kong Island's depths for more than 500 years after the shame of losing at Picross against the Kongs.
In ''Super Donkey Kong with Mario 2'', K. Rool meets an ancestor of his called [[Cranky K. Rool]] who lived in Donkey Kong Island's depths for more than 500 years after the shame of losing at Picross against the Kongs.


==== Pets ====
====Pets====
In ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'', K. Rool's parrot is [[Screech (Donkey Kong Country 2)|Screech]], while in the cartoon, K. Rool takes the parrot, [[Polly Roger]], as a spy.


In ''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest'', K. Rool's parrot is [[Screech_(Donkey_Kong_Country_2:_Diddy%27s_Kong_Quest)|Screech]], whilst in the cartoon, K. Rool takes the parrot, [[Polly Roger]] as a spy.
In ''Donkey Kong 64'', K. Rool keeps an unnamed green Klaptrap as a pet, stroking it in a manner similar to {{wp|Ernst Stavro Blofeld}} from ''{{wp|James Bond}}''. The Klaptrap enjoys using K. Rool's viewscreen in its spare time. Exclusively in the Japanese script, K. Rool also refers to [[Dogadon]] as his cute pet.
 
In ''Donkey Kong 64'', K. Rool keeps an unnamed green klaptrap as a pet, stroking it in a manner similar to Blofeld. The Klaptrap enjoys using K. Rool's viewscreen in its spare time. Exclusively in the Japanese script, K. Rool refers to [[Dogadon]] as his cute pet.


==Profiles and statistics==
==Profiles and statistics==
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*''The leader of the pack is back, and this time he's packing a blunderbuss! Ouch!''
*''The leader of the pack is back, and this time he's packing a blunderbuss! Ouch!''


===''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' spirits===
===''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''===
{{spirit
{{spirit
|no=136
|no=136
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|slots=2
|slots=2
|class=Legend
|class=Legend
|effects='''{{color|Attack|red}}'''
|effects='''{{color|red|Attack}}'''
|obtain=World of Light (Final Battle); Spirit Board
|obtain=World of Light (Final Battle); Spirit Board
|opponents=King K. Rool
|opponents=King K. Rool
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|slots=3
|slots=3
|class=Ace
|class=Ace
|effects='''{{color|Shield|deepskyblue}}'''
|effects='''{{color|deepskyblue|Shield}}'''
|obtain=Summoned with Dr. Crygor, Kritter, and Creature & Flea Man cores
|obtain=Summoned with Dr. Crygor, Kritter, and Creature & Flea Man cores
}}
}}


==Portrayals==
==Portrayals==
In the initial versions of ''Donkey Kong Country'' as well as its sequels, his voice clips were reused from [[Krusha]] and [[Rambi]] provided by [[Chris Sutherland]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/David_Wise/status/1083450138608193536 David Wise on Twitter, retrieved January 10, 2019]</ref> In the ''Donkey Kong Country'' animated series, King K. Rool was voiced by [[Ben Campbell]], while in the Japanese dub of the television series he was voiced by Jūrōta Kosugi.
In the initial versions of ''Donkey Kong Country'' as well as its sequels, his voice clips were reused from [[Krusha]] and [[Rambi]] provided by [[Chris Sutherland]].<ref>{{cite|publisher=X|url=x.com/David_Wise/status/1083450138608193536|title=That would be the Multi-talented Chris Sutherland @PlaytonicGames @YookaLayleeHub|date=January 10, 2019|accessdate=June 5, 2024|language=en}}</ref> In the ''Donkey Kong Country'' animated series, King K. Rool was voiced by [[Ben Campbell]], while in the Japanese dub of the television series he was voiced by Jūrōta Kosugi.


In ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', King K. Rool possesses an ominous and low [[Wikipedia:Darth Vader|Darth Vader-like]] voice provided by Chris Sutherland again, complete with loud, emphasized breathing similar to Vader's. This was also done in ''[[Diddy Kong Pilot (2001)|Diddy Kong Pilot]]''. K. Rool's evil laughter is a pitch-down stock sound effect from the Cartoon Trax Volume 1 sound effects library by The Hollywood Edge and has also been used by [[Rare Ltd.]] in other ''Donkey Kong'' games. In his boxing guise, K. Rool adopts a more showy and boisterous tone of voice. Many of these voice clips are re-used by [[Krusha]] in the game's multiplayer mode. According to Gregg Mayles, this change in persona to a boastful prize fighter was intentionally done because he felt it would lead to a more fun boss fight than one with K. Rool's {{wp|Ernst Stavro Blofeld}}-inspired alter ego.<ref> Gregg Mayles (November 23, 2019). " [https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/11/feature_donkey_kong_64_devs_on_bugs_boxing_and_20_years_of_the_dk_rap ''"The boxing theme certainly wasn’t planned until the very end. In fact, K.Rool is wearing a crown in the opening story and acts more like Blofeld from the James Bond movies. I didn’t think fighting K.Rool as Blofeld would be much fun, hence him changing his persona to a champion boxer at the end.'']" ''nintendolife''. Posted November 23, 2019.</ref>
In ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', King K. Rool possesses an ominous and low [[Wikipedia:Darth Vader|Darth Vader-like]] voice provided by Chris Sutherland again, complete with loud, emphasized breathing similar to Vader's. This was also done in ''[[Diddy Kong Pilot (2001)|Diddy Kong Pilot]]''. K. Rool's evil laughter is a pitched-down stock sound effect from the Cartoon Trax Volume 1 sound effects library by The Hollywood Edge and has also been used by [[Rare Ltd.]] in other ''Donkey Kong'' games. In his boxing guise, K. Rool adopts a more showy and boisterous tone of voice. Many of these voice clips are re-used by [[Krusha]] in the game's multiplayer mode. According to Gregg Mayles, this change in persona to a boastful prize fighter was intentionally done because he felt it would lead to a more fun boss fight than one with K. Rool's {{wp|Ernst Stavro Blofeld}}-inspired alter ego.<ref>{{cite|author=Mayles, Gregg|date=November 23, 2019|url=www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/11/feature_donkey_kong_64_devs_on_bugs_boxing_and_20_years_of_the_dk_rap|quote=The boxing theme certainly wasn’t planned until the very end. In fact, K.Rool is wearing a crown in the opening story and acts more like Blofeld from the James Bond movies. I didn’t think fighting K.Rool as Blofeld would be much fun, hence him changing his persona to a champion boxer at the end.|publisher=Nintendo Life|title=Feature: Donkey Kong 64 Devs On Bugs, Boxing And 20 Years Of The DK Rap|accessdate=June 5, 2024}}</ref>


From ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]'' (2007) to ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]'' (2008), King K. Rool was voiced by [[Toshihide Tsuchiya]], though in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', he is given bellows and roars similar to that of a real crocodile, as well as some guttural laughter.
From ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]'' (2007) to ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]'' (2008), King K. Rool was voiced by [[Toshihide Tsuchiya]], though in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', he is given bellows and roars similar to that of a real crocodile, as well as some guttural laughter.
{|class=wikitable border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 style="text-align:center"width=100%
|-
!width=150px|Actor/sample!!|Appearance
|-
|[[Chris Sutherland]]
|''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' (Game Boy Advance), ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country 2]]'' (Game Boy Advance), ''[[DK: King of Swing]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance)|Donkey Kong Country 3]]'' (Game Boy Advance)
|-
|[[Ben Campbell]]
|''[[Donkey Kong Country (television series)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' (television series)
|-
|[https://soundeffects.fandom.com/wiki/Hollywoodedge,_Evil_Laugh_CRT023801 Hollywoodedge, Evil Laugh CRT023801]
|Pitched down for K. Rool. Originated from Cartoon Trax Volume 1. First used in ''Donkey Kong 64'' as K. Rool's evil laugh.
|-
|[[Toshihide Tsuchiya]]
|''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]'', ''[[DK: Jungle Climber]]'', ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]''
|}


==Quotes==
==Quotes==
===''Donkey Kong Country'' (television series)===
===''Donkey Kong Country'' (television series)===
*"''My loyal reptilian subjects. This marks a glorious day history for all Kritters.''" - [[Bad Hair Day]]
*"''My loyal reptilian subjects. This marks a glorious day history for all Kritters.''" - "[[Bad Hair Day]]"
*"''Because it wouldn't be a '''surprise''', you '''numbskull'''! Now, We'll make them think we are participating in the ceasefire, but instead, we are going to be sneaky! Clever.''" - [[Kong for a Day]]
*"''Because it wouldn't be a '''surprise''', you '''numbskull'''! Now, We'll make them think we are participating in the ceasefire, but instead, we are going to be sneaky! Clever.''" - "[[Kong for a Day]]"
*"''All right, lizards! '''Today''' is the day! '''Today''', we will take over Kongo Bongo! At this very moment, Krusha has '''bravely''' infiltrated Cranky's cabin under the '''guise''' of getting a '''medical exam'''! He will '''seize''' the Crystal Coconut! Once that beautiful orb is in my possession, Kongo Bongo, will '''fall at my feet! MEHAHAAA!''' Hahahahahahaaaa....''" - [[From Zero to Hero]]
*"''All right, lizards! '''Today''' is the day! '''Today''', we will take over Kongo Bongo! At this very moment, Krusha has '''bravely''' infiltrated Cranky's cabin under the '''guise''' of getting a '''medical exam'''! He will '''seize''' the Crystal Coconut! Once that beautiful orb is in my possession, Kongo Bongo, will '''fall at my feet! MEHAHAAA!''' Hahahahahahaaaa....''" - "[[From Zero to Hero]]"
*"''Klump, didn't I say no '''news''', no '''calls''', and no '''tyranny''' until tomorrow? It's a '''bad villain day!'''''" - [[Legend of the Crystal Coconut]]
*"''Klump, didn't I say no '''news''', no '''calls''', and no '''tyranny''' until tomorrow? It's a '''bad villain day!'''''" - "[[Legend of the Crystal Coconut]]"
*"''SHUUUUT UP! Don't you morons even realize? I'll be King K. Fool to future generations thanks to Cranky and that film! It's an outrage, a catastrophe. BLOW THAT SPACESHIP UP!''" - [[To the Moon Baboon]]
*"''SHUUUUT UP! Don't you morons even realize? I'll be King K. Fool to future generations thanks to Cranky and that film! It's an outrage, a catastrophe. BLOW THAT SPACESHIP UP!''" - "[[To the Moon Baboon]]"
*"''You think this has been fun? Oh, let me explain it so that even your underdeveloped cranium can understand. I'm just pretending to be buddies so I can get back at that loser Cranky and claim my prize. Now LET ME GO!''" - [[Best of Enemies]]
*"''You think this has been fun? Oh, let me explain it so that even your underdeveloped cranium can understand. I'm just pretending to be buddies so I can get back at that loser Cranky and claim my prize. Now LET ME GO!''" - "[[Best of Enemies]]"


===''Donkey Kong 64''===
===''Donkey Kong 64''===
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*"''Come on! It's obvious who's better! Listen up, Kritters! From here on, we're allies!''"
*"''Come on! It's obvious who's better! Listen up, Kritters! From here on, we're allies!''"
*"''Don't get me wrong! This is ONLY while we're playing baseball!''"
*"''Don't get me wrong! This is ONLY while we're playing baseball!''"
===''DKC: Return to Krocodile Isle''===
The following quotes are from the fan-made animation ''DKC: Return to Krocodile Isle'', in which Ben Campbell reprises his role as King K. Rool from the official ''Donkey Kong Country'' television series.
*"''If absence sows a hungry heart,''<br>"''Are you famished without your king?''<br>"''It seems you lot forgot the brand''<br>"''Of ka-rool-ty that I bring.''<br>"''I'll remind you faithful subjects''<br>"''I know it's been a while:''<br>"''Lest you fancy your death by my jaws or my breath,''<br>"''Don't smile at this crocodile!''"
*"''I knew [[Donkey Kong|you]]'d be back! Fate entangled, destined forever, {{wp|yin and yang}}! I did this all for you. Wanna know the funny part? I don't even like bananas! Am I enough for you now? Am I !?!''"
*"''Klump, my dearly, dauntless Klump. Remind me if I ever were to kill myself, I could scale to the heights of your blind devotion and leap down towards your IQ!''"


==Voice samples==
==Voice samples==
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}}
}}


==Gallery==
==List of appearances==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
King K Rool DKC sprite.png|''[[Donkey Kong Country]]
Kaptain K Rool DKC2.png|''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]
Baron K Roolenstein DKC3 sprite.png|''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]
DK64 King K. Rool Boxing.png|''[[Donkey Kong 64]]
Rool Model - Diddy Kong Pilot 2001.png|''[[Diddy Kong Pilot (2001)|Diddy Kong Pilot]]''<br>(canceled)
DKongaKingK.RoolSprite.png|''[[Donkey Konga]]
KingKRool-DKKOS.png|''[[DK: King of Swing]]
</gallery>
 
==List of appearances by date==
{|class="wikitable sortable" width=100%
{|class="wikitable sortable" width=100%
!width=40%|Title
!width=40%|Title
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|[[Nintendo Switch]]
|[[Nintendo Switch]]
|}
|}
==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
King K Rool DKC sprite.png|''[[Donkey Kong Country]]
Kaptain K Rool DKC2.png|''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]
Baron K Roolenstein DKC3 sprite.png|''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]
DK64 King K. Rool Boxing.png|''[[Donkey Kong 64]]
Rool Model - Diddy Kong Pilot 2001.png|''[[Diddy Kong Pilot (2001)|Diddy Kong Pilot]]''<br>(canceled)
DKongaKingK.RoolSprite.png|''[[Donkey Konga]]
KingKRool-DKKOS.png|''[[DK: King of Swing]]
</gallery>


==Names in other languages==
==Names in other languages==
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|JapR=Kingu Kurūru
|JapR=Kingu Kurūru
|JapM=King K. Rool (pronounced closer to "King Cruel")
|JapM=King K. Rool (pronounced closer to "King Cruel")
|ChiS=克鲁王 <small>(''DK: King of Swing'')</small>
|ChiS=克鲁王
|ChiSN=''DK: King of Swing''
|ChiSR=Kèlǔ Wáng
|ChiSR=Kèlǔ Wáng
|ChiSM=King Cruel
|ChiSM=King Cruel
|ChiS2=库鲁鲁王 <small>(''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'')</small>
|ChiS2=库鲁鲁王
|ChiS2N=''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''
|ChiS2R=Kùlǔlǔ Wáng
|ChiS2R=Kùlǔlǔ Wáng
|ChiS2M=King K. Rool
|ChiS2M=King K. Rool
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|ChiTM=King K. Rool
|ChiTM=King K. Rool
|Dut=King K. Rool
|Dut=King K. Rool
|Dut2=Koning Wreed <small>(''Donkey Kong Country'' television series)</small>
|Dut2=Koning Wreed
|Dut2N=''Donkey Kong Country'' television series
|Dut2M=King Cruel
|Dut2M=King Cruel
|Fin=K.Ohje <small>(original ''Donkey Kong Country'' trilogy and the ''Donkey Kong Land'' series)</small>
|Fin=K.Ohje
|FinN=original ''Donkey Kong Country'' trilogy and the ''Donkey Kong Land'' series
|FinM=From either ''kohje'' (slang for a bungler) or literally ''ohje'' ("instruction")
|FinM=From either ''kohje'' (slang for a bungler) or literally ''ohje'' ("instruction")
|FreA=Roi K. Rool
|FreA=Roi K. Rool
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|FreE=King K. Rool
|FreE=King K. Rool
|Ger=King K. Rool
|Ger=King K. Rool
|Ger2=King Kroko <small>(''Donkey Kong Country'' television series)</small>
|Ger2=King Kroko
|Ger2N=''Donkey Kong Country'' television series
|Ger2M=From ''Krokodil'' ("crocodile")
|Ger2M=From ''Krokodil'' ("crocodile")
|Ita=King K. Rool
|Ita=King K. Rool
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|KorR=King Keururu
|KorR=King Keururu
|KorM=King K. Rool
|KorM=King K. Rool
|Por=Komandante K. Roll{{sic}}<ref>{{cite|url=datassette.s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com/manuais/donkey_kong_country_1_br.pdf|title=''Donkey Kong Country'' Brazilian instruction booklet|format=PDF|page=27}}</ref> <small>(''Donkey Kong Country'')</small>
|Por=Komandante K. Roll{{sic}}<ref>{{cite|url=datassette.s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com/manuais/donkey_kong_country_1_br.pdf|title=''Donkey Kong Country'' Brazilian instruction booklet|format=PDF|page=27}}</ref>
|PorN=''Donkey Kong Country''
|PorM=From ''comandante'' ("commander")
|PorM=From ''comandante'' ("commander")
|Rus=Кинг К. Роль
|Rus=Кинг К. Роль
|RusR=King K. Rol
|RusR=King K. Rol
|RusM=''К. Роль'' is a pun on ''Король'' ("king")
|RusM=''К. Роль'' is a pun on ''Король'' ("king")
|Spa=King K. Rool
|SpaA=King K. Rool
|Spa2=Rey K'Ruel <small>(''Donkey Kong Country'' television series)</small>
|SpaA2=Rey Cruel
|Spa2M=King Cruel
|SpaA2N=''Donkey Kong Country'' television series
|SpaA2M=King Cruel
|SpaE=King K. Rool
|SpaE2=Rey K. Rool
|SpaE2N=''Donkey Kong Country'' television series
|SpaE2M=King K. Rool
}}
}}


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|ItaM=Baron K. Roolenstein
|ItaM=Baron K. Roolenstein
|Spa=Baron K. Roolenstein
|Spa=Baron K. Roolenstein
}}
===King Krusha K. Rool===
{{foreign names
|Jap=キング“クラッシャー”クルール<ref>{{cite|date=2000|title=「ドンキーコング64任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (''Donkey Kong 64 Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook'')|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|language=ja|page=125}}</ref>
|JapR=Kingu "Kurasshā" Kurūru
|JapM=King “Krusha” K. Rool
}}
}}


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<references/>
<references/>


{{nav templates|
{{navboxes|
{{Kremlings}}
{{Kremlings}}
{{DKC}}
{{DKC}}
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[[Category:Donkey Kong Barrel Blast characters]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Barrel Blast characters]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country bosses]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country bosses]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country (television series)]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country (television series) characters]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest bosses]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest bosses]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! bosses]]
[[Category:Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! bosses]]
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[[Category:Donkey Konga]]
[[Category:Donkey Konga]]
[[Category:Mario Super Sluggers playable characters]]
[[Category:Mario Super Sluggers playable characters]]
[[Category:Super Mario-kun characters]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. amiibo line]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. amiibo line]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Brawl stickers]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. Brawl stickers]]

Latest revision as of 19:44, November 1, 2024

King K. Rool
Artwork of King K. Rool from DK: Jungle Climber.
Artwork from DK: Jungle Climber
Species Kremling
First appearance Donkey Kong Country (1994)
Latest appearance Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)
Latest portrayal Toshihide Tsuchiya (2007–2008)
Member of Kremling Krew (leader)
DK Wilds
“I've been waiting a long time for this moment. Soon, Donkey Kong and his pretty little island... will be no more.”
King K. Rool, Donkey Kong 64

King K. Rool (sometimes shortened as simply K. Rool), who has gone by many aliases, is the malevolent king of the Kremlings and the main antagonist in the Donkey Kong franchise, as well as the archenemy of Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and their allies. K. Rool has repeatedly tried to steal the Kongs' banana hoard. According to the Scribes section on Rareware's website, he takes the hoard in order to starve the Kongs so he can take over their island, in addition to simply liking bananas.[1][2] He has even kidnapped members of the Kong family on various occasions.

His name is a pun on the word "cruel," which often describes his actions and his personality, as well as an intentional misspelling of the word "rule."

History[edit]

Donkey Kong Country series[edit]

Donkey Kong Country[edit]

Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong battle King K. Rool on the Gangplank Galleon.
Donkey Kong fighting King K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country

King K. Rool makes his first appearance in Donkey Kong Country as the game's main antagonist and the seventh and final boss. K. Rool and the Kremling Krew come to Donkey Kong Island to steal Donkey Kong's banana hoard; they encountered little resistance, as the only person guarding them was Donkey Kong's friend, Diddy Kong, whom they trap in a DK Barrel. Later, Cranky tells Donkey Kong that his hoard was stolen, and Donkey Kong starts his adventure.

Finally, Donkey Kong and the released Diddy Kong manage to reach K. Rool's ship, the Gangplank Galleon, where they face him in battle. King K. Rool's attacks involve running into the Kongs and throwing his crown at them as a boomerang. While his crown is off his head, he can be stomped. If he is hit four times, he begins to drop cannonballs from the sky. These are slow and predictable but require careful movement to avoid. When K. Rool is hit three more times, the fake "kredits" show up on the screen, with the names of various Kremlings in place of actual developers.

After the fake credits are done, King K. Rool gets up and tries to stomp on the Kongs by jumping: first making long jumps, then long and short jumps, then long, short, and very short jumps. After being jumped on three more times, King K. Rool is defeated for real. The cast of the game appear as the real credits roll in DK's Tree House (or Gangplank Galleon in the Game Boy Advance remake). K. Rool also appears after the credits of the remake, where he forces Donkey, Diddy, Candy and Cranky Kong off the ship by threatening to blow up Kong Island with his onboard cannons, with Cranky calling it a "cheap stunt". This sets up the story for the sequel, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.

Some of King K. Rool's voice clips from Donkey Kong 64 are reused in the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country.

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

A scene from the boss fight against K. Rool showing Donkey Kong tied up
Kaptain K. Rool
Kaptain K. Rool

In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, K. Rool (under the alias of Kaptain K. Rool) kidnaps Donkey Kong and stows him away in Crocodile Isle, demanding the banana hoard as a ransom. After discovering that Donkey Kong has been kidnapped, Diddy Kong and his girlfriend, Dixie Kong, rush off to save him from Kaptain K. Rool. The Kongs eventually find Donkey Kong tied up in Stronghold Showdown, located at the end of K. Rool's Keep, but before they can rescue Donkey Kong, K. Rool pulls him up into his airship, the Flying Krock; in the Game Boy Advance remake, Donkey Kong does not appear there, and K. Rool instead sends a massive Kremling, Kerozene, to battle Diddy and Dixie.

In the final world, also named The Flying Krock, Diddy and Dixie engage in a boss fight against K. Rool in K. Rool Duel. The first time that Diddy and Dixie enter the boss level, they briefly witness K. Rool whacking Donkey Kong with his blunderbuss and shooting kannonballs at him; the battle then starts. For the entire battle, K. Rool uses his blunderbuss to fire kannonballs (including spiked ones) at the Kongs. He also uses it to release exhaust gas and travel back and forth quickly. During the last phase of the battle, K. Rool turns invisible and shoots out various poisonous gases: the blue gas freezes Diddy and Dixie, the red gas makes them move slowly, and the purple gas reverses the D-Pad controls. Kaptain K. Rool takes damage when the Kongs throw a kannonball into his blunderbuss, and is defeated after nine hits.

After his defeat, K. Rool tries to stand back up, but Donkey Kong breaks free from his ropes and uppercuts him out of the Flying Krock. K. Rool falls all the way down into Krem Quay, where he is chomped on by sharks. He recovers from the shark bites and swims ashore to the Lost World. In the Game Boy Advance version, Kaptain K. Rool is shown to be covered in seaweed in the following scene.

When Diddy and Dixie collect every Kremkoin, Klubba permits them to access an ancient Kremling Palace, Krocodile Kore, where the Kongs fight K. Rool a second time. In the rematch, K. Rool fires numerous kannonballs in succession. When he shoots out a barrel, the Kongs must jump onto it to reveal a kannonball, which they must throw into K. Rool's blunderbuss. Unlike the previous battle, K. Rool is only defeated from one hit. Instead of backfiring, the gun explodes, flinging K. Rool into a geyser that acts as a power source to Crocodile Isle. K. Rool gets stuck in the geyser, which continues building up energy until it explodes.

At the end of the game, right after the Lost World explodes, the entire Crocodile Isle sinks underwater. A ship sails away from the island's remains, and an ominous laugh can be heard as it sails over the horizon, suggesting that K. Rool survived the explosion. In the Game Boy Advance version, K. Rool instead curses the Kongs, vowing to return while sailing away before Funky Kong bombs the ship in his Gyrocopter, after which he vows revenge.

According to Wrinkly Kong, K. Rool is enrolled as a student at Kong Kollege, and she tells Diddy and Dixie that, should they encounter K. Rool, they should remind him to do his homework. According to the Player's Guide, K. Rool is not a skilled sailor despite being a pirate, and he is responsible for multiple shipwrecks such as the one in Krem Quay.[3]

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, King K. Rool's trophy states that Kaptain K. Rool is actually King K. Rool's brother. However, this is regarded as either a mistake by Nintendo, or a tongue-in-cheek joke in the vein of the Mr. L reference in Paper Luigi's trophy.

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

Baron K. Roolenstein spirit from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Baron K. Roolenstein

In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, King K. Rool is seemingly replaced by the robot KAOS as the Kremling Krew's leader. When Dixie and Kiddy enter Kastle Kaos near the end of their adventure, they battle KAOS a second time. Some time in the battle, a red curtain lifts, revealing K. Rool to have made KAOS as a puppet leader. This time, K. Rool goes under the alias of Baron K. Roolenstein. When Baron K. Roolenstein confesses his plans of using KAOS for world domination, he says, "[...] and I'd have gotten away with it... ...if it wasn't for you meddling kids," which is based on a line from the Scooby-Doo franchise. After being revealed, K. Rool replaces KAOS to fight Dixie and Kiddy, using a variety of gadgets to assist him.

During the battle, K. Rool has a helicopter pack on his back to fly. He uses a remote control to send blasts of electricity. To attack K. Rool, Dixie and Kiddy must pull down on a specific pipe from the ceiling, causing a barrel to appear, and then throw it at K. Rool's helicopter pack. It deals more damage if K. Rool is electrocuted by his own electric beams after being hit by multiple barrels. When K. Rool is defeated, KAOS crashes on the ground, freeing Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.

K. Rool trapped in the giant broken egg shell dropped on him by the Banana Queen

In Krematoa, if Dixie and Kiddy collect all five cogs and give them to Boomer, his machine awakens a volcano, causing the Knautilus to rise to the surface. Inside the Knautilus is where Dixie and Kiddy battle K. Rool a second time. In this battle, K. Rool remains in the back of his vessel for some time and occasionally enters the front, where the Kongs are at. He attacks using electric beams and a fireball launching cannon. In order to hurt K. Rool, Dixie and Kiddy must throw several Steel Kegs at his helicopter pack either directly, or through the use of a chute in the ceiling, depending on his position. After ten hits, K. Rool is defeated as he loses control of his helicopter pack as he spins out of control in the Knautilus.

If the Kongs manage to free the Banana Queen, a short cutscene shows K. Rool attempting to flee from the Northern Kremisphere in a Hover Craft. As revenge for being imprisoned, the Banana Queen flies after K. Rool and drops an egg onto him, thus trapping him. K. Rool's eyes peek out the eggshell, perplexed.

Donkey Kong Country Returns / Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D[edit]

Even though he is absent in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D alongside the rest of the Kremlings, he and his usual role was indirectly alluded to by Cranky Kong, where the latter, in reference to the Kremlings' absence and the theft of the banana hoard being done by another party, said to Donkey Kong "who hasn't stolen [his] bananas at this point?". Similarly, his species, alongside that of the Kremlings, was also referenced by Cranky Kong dismissing Donkey Kong with "See you later, alligator" before chuckling to himself.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]

A reference to King K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
A reference to King K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

K. Rool is once again absent in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze; however, in the Bright Savannah level Grassland Groove, an area in the background displays a rock formation resembling K. Rool's head, along with a shape of Banana Bunches resembling his crown.

Donkey Kong Country book series[edit]

Donkey Kong Country[edit]

King K. Rool appears at the end of the Donkey Kong Country novel, where he announces to his Kremlings that their factory on Donkey Kong Island was destroyed and that he intends to launch a final attack on the Kong's home. Hearing this, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong and Cranky Kong board the Gangplank Galleon and K. Rool flees the ensuing brawl with his speedboat.

Donkey Kong Country: Rumble in the Jungle[edit]

In the second installment of the Donkey Kong Country chapter book series, Donkey Kong Country: Rumble in the Jungle, King K. Rool is managing the reconstruction of a factory within the abandoned Big Ape City. After Funky Kong is captured by the Kremlings, King K. Rool orders them to use a painful "truth machine" on Funky Kong, so that they can find out whether he is a spy. King K. Rool is seen again at the climax of the novel, where he is commanding a large zeppelin which fires rockets at Funky's barrel plane. Donkey Kong has the idea for him and Diddy Kong to jump from Funky's plane onto the zeppelin to reach the cabin. They briefly encounter King K. Rool, and tell him that they are going to blow up the ship. He responds by saying that he "won't be aboard when that happens" before he pushes past them, escaping. The Kongs successfully destroy King K. Rool's factory after the TNT Barrel-planted zeppelin lands on it.

Donkey Kong Country: Rescue on Crocodile Isle[edit]

K. Rool appears in his Kaptain guise in the third installment of the Donkey Kong chapter book series, Donkey Kong Country: Rescue on Crocodile Isle.

Club Nintendo[edit]

King K. Rool
King K. Rool as he appeared in the Club Nintendo comics

King K. Rool appears in the German Club Nintendo's comic adaptation of Donkey Kong Country, first appearing to attack Diddy Kong and seal him within a DK Barrel before stealing Donkey Kong's banana hoard. King K. Rool later appears on his ship, the Gangplank Galleon, and battles both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, only to be defeated by them. In this comic, K. Rool has noticeably human-like hands with five fingers and nails, while his feet are still clawed and reptilian. King K. Rool, under the guise of Kaptain K. Rool, was also featured in the magazine's Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest comic special, appearing at the beginning of it to taunt a captured Donkey Kong.

Donkey Kong Land series[edit]

Donkey Kong Land[edit]

King K. Rool battle, K. Rool's Kingdom, from Donkey Kong Land.
The battle against King K. Rool in Donkey Kong Land

King K. Rool makes his second appearance in Donkey Kong Land, the follow-up to Donkey Kong Country. In this game, Cranky Kong calls up K. Rool to steal Donkey Kong's banana hoard because he made a bet with Donkey and Diddy that they cannot have a successful adventure on an 8-bit handheld. K. Rool returns as the final boss and is fought in K. Rool's Kingdom, a blimp above Big Ape City. His attacks and battle techniques are mostly the same as in Donkey Kong Country: running, jumping, and throwing his crown. King K. Rool uses a new, belly flop-like attack once he takes six hits. After being hit twelve times, K. Rool is defeated, and Donkey Kong recovers his banana hoard.

Donkey Kong Land 2[edit]

Kaptain K. Rool reappears in Donkey Kong Land 2 where he serves the same role in the storyline as in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. He is first fought on the Flying Krock in the level K. Rool Duel, Kaptain K. Rool's attack pattern in Donkey Kong Land 2 is a simplified version of his battle strategy in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest; his blunderbuss only shoots gusts of wind instead of shooting kannonballs or a status-afflicting gas. In the ending cutscene, K. Rool causes an explosion when Donkey Kong punches him into the sea.

Following K. Rool's defeat, and when Diddy and Dixie pay all 47 Kremkoins at Klubba's Kiosk, Kaptain K. Rool is fought another time by them in Krocodile Kore. During the second battle, Kaptain K. Rool attacks the Kongs by shooting kannonballs, both normal and spiked, at them. Later in the battle, Kaptain K. Rool shoots a barrel, which must be jumped on to claim the kannonball within. Like the previous game, Diddy and Dixie must throw the kannonball at Kaptain K. Rool to defeat him, causing his blunderbuss to explode and K. Rool to collapse. The ending cutscene then shows Crocodile Isle sinking, but unlike Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, K. Rool is not seen escaping the island.

Donkey Kong Land III[edit]

K Rool Duel from Donkey Kong GB: Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong
The first battle against K. Rool

In Donkey Kong Land III, K. Rool reappears in his ancestral[4] baron costume, but is only ever referred to as K Rool in level titles and K. Rool in the cast roll. He and the Kremling Krew, as well as a rebuilt KAOS, appear as the main antagonists of the game, competing with the Kongs in a contest to be the first to find the legendary Lost World. Similar to Donkey Kong Country 3, K. Rool is accessible only after KAOS is destroyed permanently (the two are bosses in different worlds). His first battle takes place in K Rool Duel, where K. Rool tries to attack Dixie and Kiddy by shooting electric beams at them. After a barrel is thrown at K. Rool, he bounces around trying to attack the Kongs. After three hits, K. Rool is defeated.

When the Kongs enter Lost World, K. Rool states that he underestimated them and dares them to catch him at K Rools Last Stand. In this battle, he attacks by using electrical beams and by dropping bombs on Dixie and Kiddy. The Kongs must repeatedly throw barrels at K. Rool to defeat him.

After defeating K. Rool, as the two are crowned the winners of the contest, he admits to being surprised that Dixie and Kiddy defeated him again. K. Rool then awards the six Watches to the Kongs and challenges them to beat the Time Attack mode.

Super Mario-kun[edit]

Cropped from page 117 of issue 14 of Super Mario-kun.
King K. Rool as he appears in Super Mario-kun

King K. Rool appears in volumes 14 and 15 of Super Mario-kun in the arcs based off Donkey Kong Country. Here, his role is the same as the game: he is the main villain and he steals Donkey Kong's banana hoard, but in addition to fighting Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, he also fights Mario and Yoshi, who are also present in said arcs. Like Bowser, he is shown having a comical side, but most of the time, he is cunning and cruel.

In two special chapters in volumes 22 and 23, based off the Donkey Kong Country TV series, K. Rool is once again the main antagonist. In the first chapter he is after the Crystal Coconut, while in the second one he ambushes DK and Bluster Kong, who were trying to immortalize for Candy Kong the first sunset of 2000, on the mountains, failing miserably.

Super Mario (Kodansha manga)[edit]

King K. Rool is the main antagonist in Super Donkey Kong with Mario 1 and Super Donkey Kong with Mario 2. In the first volume, an adaptation of Donkey Kong Country, he allies with Manky Kong, whose information helps him conquer the island. Mario and the Kongs defeat him, trapping him in a Steel Barrel and tossing him in the ocean.

In the second volume, the barrel drifts to the Mushroom Kingdom, where Princess Peach opens it, unleashing K. Rool. The Kremling King conquers the Kingdom and forces the Toads in helping him get revenge by returning to DK Isle and challenging Mario and the Kongs to a series of Picross duels. K. Rool eventually loses against Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom is freed from his clutches.

Donkey Kong 64[edit]

Artwork of King K. Rool from Donkey Kong 64.
King K. Rool in Donkey Kong 64

King K. Rool returns in Donkey Kong 64, where he appears on a large mechanical island. He plans to blow up Donkey Kong Island with a new weapon called the Blast-o-Matic. However, his new and improved Crocodile Isle ends up crashing due to the incompetence of the ship's drivers. When Crocodile Isle is about to crash, K. Rool sitting in his throne wobbles in shock. In an attempt to distract Donkey Kong while he has the Blast-O-Matic repaired, K. Rool has Diddy Kong, Tiny Kong, Lanky Kong, and Chunky Kong imprisoned, and Donkey Kong's Golden Banana Hoard stolen.

K. Rool appears in several cutscenes with his unnamed pet Klaptrap, whom he strokes similarly to the way the James Bond villain Blofeld strokes his cat, being an obvious parody. Also similar to Blofeld, K. Rool largely has his face obscured in the early cutscenes. He also breathes and speaks in a manner similar to Darth Vader from Star Wars. He is much larger in this game than all other games; as huge as Chunky Kong when he steps into his Hunky Chunky Barrel. Throughout the game, he watches the Kongs' progress and chastises his own minions' failures. A scene shows K. Rool demanding that nobody leaves the Blast-o-Matic until it is repaired, going as far as sending a large red Klaptrap to attack a fleeing Kasplat (albeit offscreen).

Eventually, K. Rool's henchmen succeed in repairing the Blast-o-Matic, just as the Kongs break into Hideout Helm, and K. Rool demands that the weapon be fired, despite the warnings that if it is not fully tested, it could explode. After the Kongs permanently shut down King K. Rool's mechanical island and the Blast-o-Matic, he tries to escape in a large airship. The ship ends up being knocked to the ground and destroyed by a recently released K. Lumsy. Venturing inside the crashed vessel, the Kongs find a boxing arena filled with spectators and King K. Rool, as his boxer alias King Krusha K. Rool, ready to battle.

After Chunky Kong delivers the seemingly final blow to K. Rool, a cutscene is shown in which K. Rool gets back up after the fight. He is about to attack Chunky from behind, but is distracted by Candy Kong. He ends up being blasted over the horizon by Funky Kong. When he lands, it is in his dungeon, where he meets a very unhappy K. Lumsy who proceeds to beat King K. Rool in retaliation for locking him up before being sent flying again by the giant.

K. Rool's laugh uses a pitched-down version of the "Evil LaughMedia:Evil Laugh.oga" stock sound effect from the Cartoon Trax Volume 1 album,[5] which was previously used for Baron Samedi in Rare's GoldenEye 007. The unaltered laugh is used for Kloaks and Krocs in the Game Boy Advance remakes of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, respectively.

K. Rool's portrait in one of Crystal Caves cabins.
A portrait of Kaptain K. Rool

K. Rool's Kaptain persona also makes a cameo and is referenced in Donkey Kong 64. Portraits of him can be found in some of Gloomy Galleon's sunken ships, several log cabins in Crystal Caves, and in Creepy Castle's Museum; additionally, inside the sunken ship off to a corner, there is a book entitled "Kaptain K. Rool's Log Book."

Battle[edit]

The battle against King Krusha K. Rool takes place in the boxing arena, where he is fought by all five Kongs during their respective round.

  • Round 1: K. Rool starts off by ground pounding, which will generate shockwaves upon contact. During this, Donkey Kong must reach the corners of the ring to enter his Baboon Blast cannons to attack K. Rool. When Donkey Kong is inside the barrel, K. Rool will begin throwing punches at the barrel. After a certain amount of punches, he will taunt for the crowd, leaving himself vulnerable to attack. Every time he is hit, he will generate more shockwaves with each ground pound, slowly becoming two rows of 4 shockwaves. After four hits, the next round will begin.
  • Round 2: Now K. Rool attacks by throwing his right boxing glove as a boomerang, meaning Diddy Kong has to watch for attacks both in front of and behind him. Diddy can use his Rocketbarrel Barrels and Popguns to attack the light fixture above K. Rool, causing a light to fall onto him. After all four lights fall on him (the last one getting stuck on K. Rool), the next round will begin.
  • Round 3: The light from the previous round is still stuck to King K. Rool's head. Lanky Kong takes advantage of K. Rool's predicament by using his elastic arms to punch number buttons and grab the banana-labeled barrel that appears; it releases a banana peel when thrown. K. Rool will patrol the arena by rushing to corners. Lanky then has to use his Trombone Tremor in each corner of the arena to lure K. Rool into slipping on the banana peel. When Lanky plays the trombone, K. Rool will stop his current path and sprints towards Lanky. If the banana peel is in K. Rool's path, he should slip on it as soon as he reaches it; if not, then K. Rool will reach Lanky and squish him. After slipping on bananas four times, K. Rool falls and the next round begins.
  • Round 4: Before the fourth round begins, some Kritters come up to K. Rool to get the light off his head. Once it is off, Tiny Kong enters the ring. K. Rool will again attack by ground pounding (Tiny can only avoid the resulting shockwaves with her Pony Tail Twirl), but this time, he reacts in pain when he does, rubbing at his rear after doing so a few times. While he is occupied, Tiny Kong can use her shrinking power to enter a hole in K. Rool's left shoe and fire her Feather Bow at his toes until they turn red. However, K. Rool will have his toes attack by pouncing at Tiny. Once all four of his toes are red, the final round will begin.
  • Round 5: For the final round, Chunky Kong enters the ring. K. Rool attacks by running and rebounding off the ropes (which is a wrestling move rather than a boxing one) while invisible. By Simian Slamming a switch in the middle of the ring, Chunky Kong can make Gorilla Gone pads appear to make himself invisible (and K. Rool and a Hunky Chunky barrel visible). To defeat K. Rool, Chunky Kong needs to jump into the barrel, which will force him and K. Rool to opposite corners. K. Rool then charges at Chunky and uppercuts him if he reaches him, which can only be avoided using a Primate Punch. When Chunky strikes him, K. Rool will become harder to strike, going invisible after the second and third hit. After four hits, K. Rool will finally be defeated and fall.

Uho'uho Daishizen Gag: Donkey Kong[edit]

In Uho'uho Daishizen Gag: Donkey Kong, K. Rool, just like in the TV series, has his mind set on taking the Crystal Coconut from the Kongs and becoming the DK Isle ruler. Most of his plans parallels the one from the episodes (even if only three chapters are directly based off them). Like in the cartoon, he is followed by General Klump and Krusha.

Donkey Kong Country television series[edit]

King K. Rool, as he appears in the Donkey Kong Country television series
“Where I come from, we do things with style, drama, flair.”
King K. Rool, "Bluster's Sale Ape-Stravaganza"

K. Rool is one of the main characters and the main antagonist in the Donkey Kong Country animated series, where his name is typically pronounced "Kuh-Rool"; "Kay-Rool" is only said once. In the show, his personality is relatively the same as in the games. He is bossy, loud, megalomaniacal, flamboyant, dramatic, and slightly clumsy; despite this, however, he is not without a soft side, as seen in episodes such as "Baby Kong Blues" and "Four Weddings and a Coconut".

King K. Rool's physical appearance is slightly altered from his video game counterpart. His tail is gone and one eye is not bloodshot, unlike in the games, though it does bulge to large proportions when he is excited or irritated, and it briefly appears bloodshot after DK punches it at the end of Ape Foo Young and after he rolls K. Rool into a bowling ball in A Thin Line Between Love and Ape. His eyes also are not connected as they are in the games, and instead are separated. K. Rool's wrist bands are more detailed, instead of being plain gold, as is his crown. King K. Rool's cape is also much shorter in length in the Donkey Kong Country cartoon. K. Rool also has no combat abilities and thus can easily be defeated by Donkey Kong. K. Rool is a strategist instead of a combatant, trying to outsmart the Kongs using his army of loyal, yet dimwitted Kremlings.

His voice, provided by Ben Campbell, is radically different from the games, such as Donkey Kong 64. He constantly brags about his brain and emphasizes this by using more complex jargon. Often, with the aid of his henchmen Klump and Krusha, he attempts to steal the Crystal Coconut and use its power to rule Kongo Bongo Island and possibly the world. He seems to always be hatching plans to steal the coconut; however, they always lead to complete failure or humiliating defeats due to a combination of the stupidity of his troops and the resourcefulness of the Kongs. K. Rool has a very low tolerance for the incompetence of both Krusha and Klump, to the point where, in one episode, he mutters to himself "Do I really want the Crystal Coconut this badly?" while Krusha and Klump try to decode a message they themselves wrote. When not scheming to take the Coconut, he otherwise plans to eliminate Donkey Kong, who is the Coconut's main protector, by incriminating him, or to take over the Barrel Works to manufacture exploding barrels. His various other plans vary from episode to episode: for example, during a heatwave, he plots to steal a bunch of Donkey Kong's "Coconut Chill" shakes to keep him and his Kremlings cool.

The series also expands King K. Rool's backstory slightly, with the episode "Best of Enemies" revealing that he was once friends with Cranky Kong and that the two were notorious pranksters; another episode entitled "The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights" also has King K. Rool mentioning his mother and various unnamed siblings. The Donkey Kong Country cartoon also introduces a rival of sorts to King K. Rool, a pirate named Kaptain Skurvy, who also wishes to obtain the Crystal Coconut.

In a possible alternate timeline seen in the episode "It's a Wonderful Life", in which Donkey Kong sees what Kongo Bongo Island would be like if he did not exist, King K. Rool is portrayed as a somewhat timid freedom fighter in a feud with Diddy Kong, who is portrayed as a power-hungry tyrant.

Bumm-Badabumm im Urwald[edit]

Kaptain K. Rool is also featured as the main antagonist in an obscure German Donkey Kong comic, Bumm-Badabumm im Urwald; however, he is always referred to as King K. Rool. In this story, K. Rool sends several members of the Kremling Krew to steal all the bananas on Donkey Kong Island, apparently hoping to starve the Kongs to make them weaker. K. Rool himself appears only near the end of the comic in the "Lost Land". When K. Rool notices that the Kongs are in the Lost Land, he, at first, sends several dozen Kremlings at Donkey, Diddy and Dixie Kong, thinking the sheer number of Kremlings would defeat the Kongs. Unfortunately for K. Rool, the Kongs managed to pulverize his Kremling warriors. Taking matters into his own hands, K. Rool tries to blast the Kongs with a pineapple-launching blunderbuss. At first, it seems the Kongs are overpowered, until Donkey Kong finds and throws a nearby TNT Barrel into the pile of bananas K. Rool is standing on. The resulting explosion buries K. Rool under the huge pile of bananas. King K. Rool is last seen having made a deal with Donkey Kong: in exchange for digging him out of the giant pile of fruit, he would have all the bananas returned to the Kongs.

Donkey Kong in When the Banana Splits[edit]

K. Rool is also featured as the villain of another Donkey Kong comic called Donkey Kong in When the Banana Splits. Here, K. Rool, along with several Kritters, manage to steal all of the Kongs' Golden Bananas. Unfortunately for K. Rool, his heist is a failure, as he steals the bananas when the Kongs are home, so they easily track him and his Kritter minions down. In the end, K. Rool is defeated by Donkey Kong's Super Duper Simian Slam and the Kongs reclaim their stolen bananas.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

SmashWiki article: King K. Rool
The Donkey Kong series emblem, from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
Super Smash Bros. fighter
King K. Rool
King K Rool SSBU.png
Game appearances
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (unlockable)
Special moves
Neutral:  Blunderbuss
Side:  Crownerang
Up:  Propellerpack
Down:  Gut Check
Final Smash:  Blast-o-Matic
Battle entrance
King K. Rool lands on-stage with his arms folded and laughs.
List of Mii Fighter Outfits
The King K. Rool Mii Outfit in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

A trophy of King K. Rool can be obtained in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the King K. Rool trophy states that Kaptain K. Rool is his brother, when the Kaptain is really K. Rool himself, dressed in pirate garb. This is regarded as a mistake by Nintendo.[citation needed]

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, one of the names that appears when players press the "Random Name" button when naming their custom stage is "KROOL". His trophy model uses his design from Donkey Kong Barrel Blast and DK: Jungle Climber.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, K. Rool receives his own Mii Brawler costume released as DLC.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

SmashWiki article: King K. Rool (SSBU)

At the end of the Super Smash Bros. Nintendo Direct broadcast on August 8, 2018, King K. Rool was revealed as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Outside minor cameos, this marks his first physical appearance in a decade since Mario Super Sluggers. This also marks the first time his underbelly has been shown as being gold-plated since the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country 3, released 13 years prior. King K. Rool overtakes Donkey Kong as the second-heaviest fighter; he is lighter than only Bowser.

A number of King K. Rool's moves are references to his previous boss fights, such as using his crown as a boomerang, a blunderbuss, the Propellerpack, and boxing gloves, while his Final Smash involves him firing the Blast-o-Matic. His crown can actually be intercepted after it is thrown, meaning it can fall to the floor and be used as a throwing item or be stolen by Villager and Isabelle's Pocket. He can also use a move known as the Gut Check, which involves using his belly armor to counter or reflect opponents' attacks. On a related note, King K. Rool's belly armor can protect him while he uses certain moves, such as his forward tilt and dash attack. However, his armor has a set amount of durability: it takes 4 seconds to replenish a little over 1 hit point (and 47 seconds to fully replenish), while shattering the armor will stun King K. Rool similarly to a shield break.

King K. Rool uses realistic crocodile grunts instead of his voice clips from previous games, similarly to Bowser, Donkey Kong, and Diddy Kong. Unlike the other two Donkey Kong characters, King K. Rool has a unique victory theme, which is a rendition of the first few notes of "Gang-Plank Galleon" from Donkey Kong Country. Additionally, his Kaptain K. Rool and Baron K. Roolenstein identities appear in the game as spirits.

In his debut trailer, King Dedede pranks Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong by wearing a King K. Rool costume, only to end up being knocked aside from behind while laughing at the Kongs' expense by the actual King K. Rool, much to the Kongs' horror. The king then roars before gameplay footage is shown. The trailer ends with Donkey Kong knocked back only to rush on all fours at K. Rool, with the latter doing in kind, before proceeding to have their fists make contact in midair and release a shockwave that causes the jungle to sway. After the logo is shown, more in-game footage is seen of K. Rool, where he feigns defeat as he did in Donkey Kong Country. The two Kongs then celebrate only to be stomped into the ground by an enlarged K. Rool, who proceeds to furiously chomp his jaws. K. Rool's debut trailer uses a new arrangement of Gang-Plank Galleon, his boss theme from his debut game, which appears in the final game as battle music on Donkey Kong stages and is also used in K. Rool's character showcase video and Classic Mode credits. K. Rool's announcement was foreshadowed towards the end of the Nintendo Direct in which it occurred, as when Masahiro Sakurai was signing off, the camera began to shake, with the quakes gradually becoming more severe as the main broadcast ended.

King K. Rool makes a cameo in the tail end of Ken and Incineroar's debut trailer, where he, alongside Bowser Jr. and Villager, proceeds to challenge Incineroar to a bout after it defeats Ken, much to the Pokémon's chagrin. His cameo in the trailer indirectly references the final battle with him in Donkey Kong 64, as he wears his boxing gloves and the Boxing Ring is the primary setting for the trailer.

King K. Rool also has a role in Banjo and Kazooie's debut trailer, which begins similarly to his own debut trailer: the same boss montage is displayed on the TV (with a new scene alluding to his rivalry with the Kongs) and he is seen sleeping in the Kongs' treehouse, only to be awoken by Diddy after the two Kongs notice a Jiggy pass them by. Duck Hunt pull a similar prank to that of King Dedede from K. Rool's trailer by pretending to be Banjo and Kazooie, but they are ambushed by the real duo, much to the delight of K. Rool and the Kongs. K. Rool is later seen flying through the air at the end of the trailer after The Mighty Jinjonator is used on him; he crashes through the ground, creating a hole in the shape of his silhouette which is covered by a falling boulder, referencing Gruntilda's defeat from Banjo-Kazooie.

In the Adventure Mode, King K. Rool is among the fighters seen during the cutscene when they oppose Galeem for the first time. Although he is not shown to be hit by Galeem's beams directly, he is nevertheless vaporized off-screen and subsequently imprisoned alongside every other fighter except Kirby, where Puppet Fighters of him are created. Said Puppet Fighters, as well as the real K. Rool, initially serve Galeem, but are later brought under Dharkon's control. The real King K. Rool is eventually defeated in the Mysterious Dimension, freeing him. He then joins the fighters against Galeem and Dharkon. K. Rool also makes another minor cameo in Sephiroth's trailer, as one of the many fighters knocked out during the onslaught of Master Hands by Galeem.

On a side note, King K. Rool's name is announced differently in the Japanese and Korean versions to reflect the pronunciation in those languages, similarly to King Dedede in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Lucina in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. This trait is also shared with Simon, Richter, and Lucina.

The King K. Rool Mii Fighter costume from the previous game also returns, now available in the base game and with a slightly different appearance to reflect his Ultimate design.

Classic Mode route[edit]

King K. Rool's Classic Mode route has him fight against some of the heaviest characters in the game, including his arch-nemesis Donkey Kong and fellow Super Mario villain Bowser. The title of the route uses boxing terminology, referencing the final fight of Donkey Kong 64.

Super Heavyweight Class
Round Opponent(s) Stage Song
1 Charizard Unova Pokémon League Victory Road - Pokémon Ruby / Pokémon Sapphire
2 Bowser Find Mii King Bowser - Super Mario Bros. 3
3 King Dedede Boxing Ring King Dedede's Theme (Brawl)
4 Ridley Brinstar Depths (Battlefield) Vs. Ridley
5 Ganondorf Bridge of Eldin Calamity Ganon Battle - Second Form
6 Donkey Kong Kongo Jungle Crocodile Cacophony
Final Galleom Boss Battle - Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Donkey Konga[edit]

King K. Rool appears in one of Donkey Konga's minigames, where the player must bash him on the head with a Steel Keg while he tries to evade them. King K. Rool also sometimes appears dancing to the beat of music during certain songs in Donkey Konga.

Aside from this, he is also mentioned in the opening by Diddy Kong, speculating that the bongos Donkey Kong uncovered may have been a trap set up by King K. Rool.

DK series[edit]

DK: King of Swing[edit]

Artwork of King K. Rool from DK: King of Swing.
K. Rool in DK: King of Swing

King K. Rool makes another appearance as the main antagonist of DK: King of Swing. King K. Rool steals all the medals and crowns himself the king of the Jungle Jam competition. Donkey Kong goes after K. Rool to return them. Whenever Donkey Kong starts a world, a few medals fall out of K. Rool's hovercraft, one per most of the levels. Throughout the game, King K. Rool awaits Donkey Kong in his airship, the K. Kruizer III.

King K. Rool returns as the final boss in the eponymous boss level, King K. Rool. He and Donkey Kong first race up some Peg Boards. Donkey Kong must reach the top first to beat King K. Rool at the race. Afterward, K. Rool stutters "that was practice" and challenges Donkey Kong to a battle on another set of Peg Boards. During the battle, Donkey Kong must use his charge attack to attack K. Rool while also watching out for K. Rool charging or hitting into him. If Donkey Kong beats K. Rool at the battle, he wins the last medal and flies off in K. Rool's hovercraft with the recovered medals.

King K. Rool is one of the playable characters in the Jungle Jam mode, as the largest and most powerful playable character. His partner is Bubbles, the main character of Clu Clu Land. As Diddy Kong Pilot never saw a release, DK: King of Swing is the first game where King K. Rool is a playable character.

DK: Jungle Climber[edit]

Giant King K. Rool
King K. Rool grows huge after ingesting the last Crystal Banana.

In DK: Jungle Climber, King K. Rool appears as the main antagonist. He is first encountered at the peak of Sun Sun Island, where he and his entourage of five Kritters steal the five Crystal Bananas from the banana alien Xananab. When King K. Rool notices Donkey, Diddy, and Cranky Kong are heading their way, they quickly flee the scene using a dimensional portal device known as a Spirowarp. After this encounter, King K. Rool is encountered several more times on the various islands and dimensions of the game, usually appearing annoyed at Donkey, Diddy, Cranky and Xananab pursuing him before having one of his Kritter followers power up with a Crystal Banana and battle them.

After DK claims the fourth Crystal Banana from King K. Rool's completed Mega Amp and final Kritter subordinate on the King Kruizer IV, King K. Rool flees through a wormhole to the Planet Plantaen after feigning a fight. Chased to a dead end on Planet Plantaen, K. Rool battles Donkey Kong, attacking by jumping at him, charging into him, and throwing exploding spiked balls, but is defeated in this battle. Refusing to submit to his enemies, he uses his last Crystal Banana to grow larger and become even more powerful for a true final battle.

In his new form, King K. Rool attacks by exhaling fire, exploding mines, summoning meteors of various sizes, gales of wind, and trying to crush the Kongs with his hands. In this form, King K. Rool's only vulnerable spot is his face, which, once hit five times, depletes King K. Rool's health, depowering him and leaving him unconscious while the expelled Crystal Banana is claimed. King K. Rool is last seen in DK: Jungle Climber being taken back to his and the Kong's home planet, dragged through space by a rope attached to the back of a Banana Ship. It is unknown what the Kongs did with him once they returned home.

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[edit]

In Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, K. Rool makes an appearance as a secret playable character. Unlike the other racers with barrels attached to them, he rides in a vehicle resembling a rocket-powered barrel with a skull (which possibly doesn't have a steering wheel since his functions are the same) and using his claw as his attack. His slipstream is also different as well. He is unlocked by playing Challenge 31 of Candy's Challenges, and winning. His main rival in the game is Cranky Kong, who, similarly to K. Rool, boasts high boost, speed and agility.

Mario Super Sluggers[edit]

King K. Rool
K. Rool's new outfit from Mario Super Sluggers
King K. Rool at the pitching mound (top) and batting (bottom)

King K. Rool's first appearance in a Super Mario game is in Mario Super Sluggers. He can only play as a team player, and is, ironically, on Donkey Kong's team, despite the fact he is enemies with DK and the Kongs. The explanation for this is that he was impressed with their skills, and said he was only going to team up when playing baseball. King K. Rool bats with his right hand, and fields with his left hand.

King K. Rool is one of the most powerful batters in the entire game (tied with Bowser and Petey Piranha). His pitching is also a bit above average. However, he is tied with the Purple Toad for the weakest fielding abilities of all characters and is also tied with the Red Magikoopa as one of the slowest runners in the game. King K. Rool's stamina is also very low, but he takes longer to get exhausted than Petey Piranha.

King K. Rool has great chemistry with all four Kritters and King Boo. He has bad chemistry with the Kongs, as well as Bowser. He uses a scepter with a large gem to bat, and has a different, pharaoh-like clothing style that is exclusive to this game. His sweetspot is the red area on his scepter.

In Challenge Mode, King K. Rool tries to stop the baseball heroes in DK Jungle by using his green, red, blue, and brown Kritters to challenge them. When the player wins, he is unlocked, as well as all four Kritters, making this first and only game to have him as an ally.

The artwork of King K. Rool shows him striking the same pose as in his DK: Jungle Climber artwork. Additionally, unlike the Kongs, he and his Kritter minions do not speak in animal noises in Challenge Mode.

Super Mario Odyssey[edit]

A minor reference to King K. Rool is made in Super Mario Odyssey, as a street in New Donk City is named "KROOL Av."

Other appearances[edit]

Gameplay of Kremling Krunch.
King K. Rool in Kremling Krunch

King K. Rool has appeared in the different iterations of Camp Hyrule. In the 1999 version, he appears in only two minigames: Donkey Konk, as one of the Kremlings who can appear from one of the six hatches in the wall, and must be bonked using the mouse; and in Kremling Krunch, where the player instead has to avoid hitting him, otherwise they lose a heart. In the 2003 version, King K. Rool is the villain, and he caused chaos in Camp Hyrule by creating a massive earthquake.

Unused appearances[edit]

Diddy Kong Pilot[edit]

K. Rool appears as a playable character in all builds of Diddy Kong Pilot.

In the earliest build seen at Space World 2000 and in the 2001 iteration, K. Rool had a new alter-ego, Kamikaze K. Rool, who wore an aviator outfit and piloted a green plane with a sneering Kremling face painted on both sides and a nose with the Zinger's color scheme.

In the Space World 2000 build, each pilot was going to have their own story mode, and K. Rool's story would have been called K. Rool's Gold. The intro blurbs revealed K. Rool would have been searching for El Dorado, the mythical city of gold after finding a stone tablet with a map in an ancient stone temple. The tablet led K. Rool to an island with a giant magical gate to El Dorado, where a quartet announce that they are the guardians of the gate and tell K. Rool that earlier Cranky Kong had failed to go through. The first guardian, Nikki, explained that only they had the magical power to open the gate, but first K. Rool would have to complete four tests to do so, with the first being to collect the fire key from Crackpot Keep.

While nothing more is known about the plot due to the build being unfinished, the accompanying illustration for K. Rool's Gold depicted K. Rool greedily looking over a pile of gold while a Kong genie, emerging from a nearby magic lamp, hovered behind him.[6]

In the July 2001 build, these story modes appear to have been removed, though some sprites intended for story cutscenes remain in the game's data.

In the 2003 iteration, K. Rool wore his regular outfit, piloted a brown plane, and was the final member of Team Kremling. The final Kremling cup and final cup of the game was K. Rool Kup, which ended in a dogfight match where K. Rool attacked the player with spiked naval mines. After being defeated, K. Rool would have been unlocked as a playable pilot. As a racer, K. Rool had the highest top speed and weight of the cast in exchange for the lowest acceleration of the racers.

K. Rool was replaced with Gruntilda in the final version of this iteration, Banjo-Pilot, as indicated by their stats, similar boss fight and shared plane.

General information[edit]

Creation and development[edit]

Concept artwork of King K. Rool for Donkey Kong Country
Original Donkey Kong Country concept artwork of King K. Rool (as Krudd)
“Never expected old K.Rool to make it out of DKC, let alone turn up in #SmashBros nearly 25 years later. Maybe I should have spent a bit more than 5 minutes coming up with his slightly rubbish name.”
Gregg Mayles on King K. Rool's name

During early production of Donkey Kong Country, the character that would become King. K Rool was named "Krudd".[7] Another proposed idea had the character named "King Klinker" and have him paired with a female Kremling named "Queen Krapp".[8] Later in development, "Kommander K. Rool" was considered as the character's name.[9] This planned name was given a brief nod in the fake credits during his boss fight, which mentioned him as being the "Kommander" of the game.

When asked what the K in "K. Rool" stands for, Gregg Mayles replied "Nothing! It was just a way of making him seem more important, that he'd added it to inflate his ego. In hindsight, it could have been something tonal like 'Kremling', or something deliberately out of character like Keith. What do you reckon it should stand for?"[10]

His Kaptain K. Rool alter ego was designed by Steve Mayles,[11] Baron K. Roolenstein was designed by Mark Stevenson.[12]

Physical appearance[edit]

“I'm just an old dried-up lizard!”
King K. Rool, "Ape Foo Young"
Credit to RAP for original
King K. Rool's most common appearance shows him wearing a crown, gold wrist bands and a red cape.

In King K. Rool's most common appearance, he wears a red cape and a gold crown, but he is fond of adopting many other looks and costumes as well. When he takes on the alias of Kaptain K. Rool, he trades in the cape for a brown trench coat and the crown for a pirate hat. When he becomes Baron K. Roolenstein, he wears a white lab coat and a tall prosthetic forehead with a small black wig resembling Frankenstein's monster, and has a Propellerpack on his back. His outfit is based on a combination of Frankenstein's Monster as portrayed by Boris Karloff in the Universal horror movie Frankenstein and the character of Baron Victor von Frankenstein (played by Peter Cushing) from the Hammer Horror Frankenstein series. In Mario Super Sluggers, K. Rool wears an Ancient Egyptian-style collar and loincloth, much like a pharaoh. Cranky Kong mentions in the Donkey Kong 64 instruction booklet that K. Rool had given up his silly disguises in that game. While he has not seriously gone incognito since Baron K. Roolenstein, for the final fight he goes by the moniker "King Krusha K. Rool" as a boxer. During this fight he sports a stereotypical one-piece as well as boxing gloves with a champion's belt.

K. Rool has three clawed toes on each foot and his hands each have four clawed fingers, though early appearances depict blunt or even nailed fingers. His Kaptain K. Rool and Baron K. Roolenstein sprites depict his hands as being much larger than in his typical appearances. K. Rool debuted with a tail, though its length and presence have varied between appearances. His tail was the longest in Donkey Kong 64, stubby in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and completely absent in DK: King of Swing and the animated series. He is portrayed with a signature bloodshot eye, usually his left eye. K. Rool's skin is light green (though some appearances show it as dark green) and he has muscular arms, as well as usually being shown with jagged teeth.

In Donkey Kong 64, during the final battle in the boxing arena, King Krusha K. Rool (his boxing alias) is wearing a boxing outfit. He is wearing a blue spandex suit, which has a thick, white stripe on both sides. King Krusha K. Rool also has a champion's belt, which has a brown strap and a gold center, tied around his belly. He wears a pair of red boxing gloves, and a pair of reddish-pink shoes, which are almost the same color as his boxing gloves. A large hole appears in front of K. Rool's left shoe; inside of it, K. Rool is shown to have four toes. Contrarily, in his regular character model and artworks, K. Rool has three toes. For both his regular and his boxer alias, K. Rool's crown has eight prongs, fewer than that in the Donkey Kong Country games.

King K. Rool's underbelly was originally golden in texture and color (meant to be a piece of armor according to character designer Steve Mayles[13]), but since DK: King of Swing his underbelly has been changed to a light flesh tone, and has lost the prominent vertical indentation down the middle. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, he regains the gold plate, which now has a sharp ridge along the edges but still lacks the vertical indentation; however, Palutena's Guidance mentions his "leathery" belly, though it is possible she is referring to the belly underneath the armor. In this game, his general head and body shape is more akin to the later games, though he has a tail again, albeit a short one, similar to his tail in the cartoon. King K. Rool also has more pronounced scales in this game, akin to his design in the Rare Ltd. games. He is also once again depicted as being distinctly larger than Donkey Kong. His cape also appears to be slightly torn up at the bottom.

King K. Rool has seven other costumes to choose from in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, all of which change his colors. His orange costume resembles Kerozene from the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Re-Koil from Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! It also resembles the red Kritters that appear in the Donkey Kong Country series. King K. Rool's blue costume resembles the armored blue Kritters that appear throughout the Donkey Kong Country series, as well as Krusha from Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong 64. His yellow costume resembles Kutlass from Donkey Kong Country 2, as well as Kopter as he appeared in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast. King K. Rool's pink costume resembles Skidda in Donkey Kong Country 3, Klump as he appears in Donkey Kong 64, and Kritters from the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country. King K. Rool's black costume resembles the armored Black Kritters from Donkey Kong Country, while his brown costume resembles Klump's original appearance in said game, one of his alternate colors in DK: King of Swing, and a partial inversion of his normal colors. Lastly, King K. Rool has a white costume, which somewhat resembles an albino crocodile.

Personality[edit]

“Don't tell me what I can't do!”
King K. Rool, Donkey Kong 64

K. Rool, as his name, a pun on "cruel," may imply, is brutal, ruling his minions through threats and intimidation, often punishing them severely when they fail. This is mentioned by Klubba in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, who says that K. Rool mistreats his minions.[14] This is also seen in Donkey Kong 64, when he punishes a purple-haired Kasplat via a giant Klaptrap for losing Blueprints and calling him "fatso", not realizing that K. Rool was listening. Even his most powerful followers seem to fear his wrath, as displayed in Donkey Kong 64, when his subtle display of anger results in Army Dillo fainting on the spot, and Dogadon ends up begging for mercy over his failure when admitting how his wings ended up singed by the Kongs (although K. Rool seems more shocked than angry at the failure regarding the latter). He does not seem to respect his henchmen, the Kritters, much better either. In Mario Super Sluggers, he refers to brown Kritter as "the dirty under-belly of the Kremling Krew". In Donkey Kong 64, he even has K. Lumsy locked up due to his gentle nature, with it being even more harsh in the Japanese version due to the latter being his younger brother. This abuse of his underlings has also worked against him, as demonstrated by Klubba openly rooting for Diddy and Dixie to ruin his boss's plans, and also K. Lumsy being implied to have supplied him with a massive beatdown before sending him flying again as revenge for locking him up after being sent flying by Funky Kong earlier. Despite all of this, however, he and the Kritters have good chemistry with each other in Mario Super Sluggers and the trophy bios of Kalypso and Kludge show he respects and trusts the former as a capable leader and is intimidated by latter's ferocious temper. K. Rool is also somewhat of a dirty fighter. He fakes defeat, often collapsing in the middle of combat and making it seem like he has been defeated, only to rise seconds later and begin fighting again. He has also shown himself to be negligent towards nature.[15]

K. Rool hates the Kongs, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong more so than the others, having referred to them as "filthy apes" and "monkey brains". Despite his hatred of the Kongs, however, he is nevertheless willing to employ evil Kongs such as Manky Kong and Minkey, as well as being susceptible to Candy Kong's charm, as evidenced by his being mesmerized by Candy flirting with him in Donkey Kong 64, even going so far as to reach out to her from the ring in apparent infatuation (which was later revealed to be a diversion to distract the Kremling leader long enough for Funky Kong to literally "give him the boot" by firing a boot from his bazooka). He is also capable of commending the Kongs' skill, as shown when they first enter the Lost World in Donkey Kong Land III, where he also gives them six Watches and invites them to try Time Attack mode after he is defeated, as well as in Mario Super Sluggers where he joins Donkey Kong's team after acknowledging their skill. K. Rool also appears to have some respect for the oldest Kongs as he had worked with Cranky Kong to steal the banana hoard in Donkey Kong Land and had taken classes from Wrinkly Kong in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.

Both Donkey Kong 64 and Super Smash Bros. Melee imply that K. Rool is somewhat insane and demented. The final battle of Donkey Kong 64 also shows him to be somewhat of a showboater, constantly showing-off and making taunting gestures. He has bad chemistry with all of the Kongs in Mario Super Sluggers, although he makes it clear that he is only teaming up with them when playing baseball, showing that he is capable of putting aside his hatred for them and will team up with them if needed, similarly to Bowser. He is also seen with Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong at their house sleeping in Banjo & Kazooie's reveal trailer despite his hatred for them.

According to Leigh Loveday (writer of the Donkey Kong Country series) on Rareware.com's former Scribes column, K. Rool's motivation for stealing the banana hoard is either that he wants Donkey Kong to starve to death so that he can occupy his "cosy[sic] treehouse pad," or perhaps that he simply likes bananas.[1] The latter explanation is supported in the Donkey Kong Country manual which states the Kremlings coveted the bananas for their nutritional value, Palutena's Guidance which states that Kremlings like bananas, the half eaten bananas on the Gangplank Galleon, and an art-piece by Steve Mayles depicting K. Rool reading a banana recipe book.[16] However, K. Rool liking bananas is contradicted in DK: Jungle Climber, where K. Rool states that he despises bananas.

Weapons[edit]

Kaptain K. Rool
Kaptain K. Rool wielding a blunderbuss.

Throughout his various appearances, King K. Rool uses a variety of weaponry.

In Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Land, using his trademark attack, King K. Rool attacks Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong by taking off his crown and throwing it at them, which can boomerang back to him.

In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Land 2, Kaptain K. Rool uses a powerful blunderbuss. He fires different types of ammunition such as Kannonballs, spiked Kannonballs, barrels, and status-afflicting mists, which either freeze, slow, or disorient his targets. K. Rool also uses his blunderbuss as a vacuum to suck the Kongs toward him, whereupon he hits them with the butt of his blunderbuss. In addition to using it as an offensive weapon, he also uses it as his primary form of movement by aiming it in the opposite direction and using the jet propulsion to thrust him forward at high speeds.

In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and Donkey Kong Land III, Baron K. Roolenstein uses a helicopter-equipped pack on his back to obtain flight. Despite the fact that K. Rool can actually move faster on his feet, and the fact that the helicopter pack is his weakpoint in the game, it is necessary for his trap-based fighting strategy; it allows him to avoid his own electric beams by hovering over them. Through the use of a remote, he can manipulate various objects in his lair, such as altering positions and movements of platforms, and activating pods that send blasts of electricity at Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong. During the battle in Krematoa, Baron K. Roolenstein's remote can also activate a fireball-launching cannon and a moving conveyor belt, in addition to the electric pods. In Donkey Kong Land III, he is capable of shooting electric beams from his gloves.

During the final battle of Donkey Kong 64, in his fight against Diddy Kong, King Krusha K. Rool is capable of throwing his boxing gloves as boomerangs.

Vehicles[edit]

King K. Rool also uses a wide variety of vehicles, from his Gangplank Galleon, to large airships, such as the Flying Krock and K. Kruizer III. DK: King of Swing also shows King K. Rool has in his possession a personal hovercraft, which can move quickly. He also uses a type of barrel vehicle in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast. Another one of these vehicles is the Propellerpack.

Powers and abilities[edit]

  • In combat, King K. Rool usually uses his size and strength, attempting to tackle, crush and even leap onto opponents; considering his physique, attacks, and athletic abilities from the first Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong 64, he is capable of inflicting considerable damage with physical strength alone. Although, in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, King K. Rool's attack is a single claw swipe. Additionally, despite his size, King K. Rool can actually be quite swift and speedy in battle (far more so then Donkey Kong, as shown in Donkey Kong Country where he can leap from one end of the Gangplank Galleon to the other in one jump). In DK: King of Swing, King K. Rool had the highest attack out of all the characters. He is tied with Bowser and Petey Piranha for the best batting abilities in Mario Super Sluggers.
  • In Donkey Kong Country, King K. Rool boasts the ability to summon a barrage of large cannonballs to rain down on Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
  • In Donkey Kong Country 2, Kaptain K. Rool can teleport.
  • In Donkey Kong Country 3, Baron K. Roolenstein simply uses a remote control to activate his arenas' gadgets and weaponry in battle. In Donkey Kong Land III, K. Roolenstein can shoot electricity from his hands and throw bombs.
  • In Donkey Kong 64, King K. Rool displays the ability to create multiple shockwaves by slamming the ground once (although, as demonstrated with Tiny Kong, doing this too many times will cause him to injure his posterior, leaving an opening for Tiny to inflict damage to his toes). He can also perform a powerful uppercut after charging at the Kongs, which can knock Chunky Kong high into in the air, even when he is the same size as K. Rool.
  • In Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong 64, King K. Rool displays his ability to turn invisible, though minor details still give away his position. In Donkey Kong Country 2, his blunderbuss leaves smoke puffs behind him, and in Donkey Kong 64, his shadow can still be seen on the ground when he is invisible.
  • In DK: Jungle Climber, King K. Rool, after being damaged in battle, can turn temporarily invincible (gaining a reddish coloration) and the ability to assume a ball shape and bounce off surfaces rapidly. After being empowered by a Crystal Banana, King K. Rool gains a multitude of different powers, such as manipulating the weather, summoning meteors, breathing a barrage of fireballs and exploding mines.

Family[edit]

“Oh, my favorite part is going back to the swamplands to play gator games with all my slithering siblings.”
King K. Rool, "The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights"

King K. Rool mentions having a wife in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Specifically, after KAOS is defeated a second time, Baron K. Roolenstein appears, stating he built KAOS from his wife's best pots and pans. It is unknown if K. Rool is telling a joke, or if he actually has a wife. In a December 23, 1999 edition of the Scribes section of Rare's website, Leigh Loveday stated that K. Rool's "my wife is going to kill me" line was merely "a typically throwaway Vic and Bob reference."[17] The wife does make a physical appearance in 4-koma Gag Battle and 4koma Manga Ōkoku where she is depicted as a thin Kremling woman with light hair and an apron over a black dress.

In the episode "The Big Switch-A-Roo" of the Donkey Kong Country animated series, King K. Rool mentions his mother, and in "The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights" he mentions his "slithering siblings".

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, K. Rool's trophy information erroneously states that Kaptain K. Rool is the brother of King K. Rool, which lead to some fans theorizing that King K. Rool and Kaptain K. Rool are separate characters in the Japanese versions. However, Japanese material (such as the intro of the Japanese Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country 2) also portray Kaptain K. Rool as a disguise, and thus the trophy description is merely an error.

In the Japanese version of Donkey Kong 64, K. Lumsy is said to be King K. Rool's little brother.[18]

According to the Nintendo Magazine System, K. Rool is a descendant of Kremlantis' former residents.[19]

In Super Donkey Kong with Mario 2, K. Rool meets an ancestor of his called Cranky K. Rool who lived in Donkey Kong Island's depths for more than 500 years after the shame of losing at Picross against the Kongs.

Pets[edit]

In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, K. Rool's parrot is Screech, while in the cartoon, K. Rool takes the parrot, Polly Roger, as a spy.

In Donkey Kong 64, K. Rool keeps an unnamed green Klaptrap as a pet, stroking it in a manner similar to Ernst Stavro Blofeld from James Bond. The Klaptrap enjoys using K. Rool's viewscreen in its spare time. Exclusively in the Japanese script, K. Rool also refers to Dogadon as his cute pet.

Profiles and statistics[edit]

Main article: List of King K. Rool profiles and statistics

Donkey Kong Country[edit]

King K. Rool
Sprite of King K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country
World N/A Level Gang-Plank Galleon
Hits to defeat 9 Reward Completion
<< | Directory of bosses (#7)

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

Instruction booklet:

  • The leader of the pack is back, and this time he's packing a blunderbuss! Ouch!

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

Spirit
#136 King K. Rool
Artwork of King K. Rool from DK: Jungle Climber. Series/game Donkey Kong Series
Type Fighter
How to obtain Classic Mode as King K. Rool
Spirit
#162 Kaptain K. Rool
Kaptain K. Rool Series/game Donkey Kong Series
Type Primary
Slots 2
Class Legend
Strength / effect(s) Attack
How to obtain World of Light (Final Battle); Spirit Board
Spirit battle Opponent(s) King K. Rool
Conditions Rule: Invisibility
  • The enemy's neutral special has increased power
  • Stamina battle
  • The enemy is invisible after a little while
Stage Halberd
Song Crocodile Cacophony
Spirit
#163 Baron K. Roolenstein
Baron K. Roolenstein spirit from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Series/game Donkey Kong Series
Type Primary
Slots 3
Class Ace
Strength / effect(s) Shield
How to obtain Summoned with Dr. Crygor, Kritter, and Creature & Flea Man cores

Portrayals[edit]

In the initial versions of Donkey Kong Country as well as its sequels, his voice clips were reused from Krusha and Rambi provided by Chris Sutherland.[20] In the Donkey Kong Country animated series, King K. Rool was voiced by Ben Campbell, while in the Japanese dub of the television series he was voiced by Jūrōta Kosugi.

In Donkey Kong 64, King K. Rool possesses an ominous and low Darth Vader-like voice provided by Chris Sutherland again, complete with loud, emphasized breathing similar to Vader's. This was also done in Diddy Kong Pilot. K. Rool's evil laughter is a pitched-down stock sound effect from the Cartoon Trax Volume 1 sound effects library by The Hollywood Edge and has also been used by Rare Ltd. in other Donkey Kong games. In his boxing guise, K. Rool adopts a more showy and boisterous tone of voice. Many of these voice clips are re-used by Krusha in the game's multiplayer mode. According to Gregg Mayles, this change in persona to a boastful prize fighter was intentionally done because he felt it would lead to a more fun boss fight than one with K. Rool's Ernst Stavro Blofeld-inspired alter ego.[21]

From Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (2007) to Mario Super Sluggers (2008), King K. Rool was voiced by Toshihide Tsuchiya, though in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, he is given bellows and roars similar to that of a real crocodile, as well as some guttural laughter.

Actor/sample Appearance
Chris Sutherland Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Donkey Kong 64, Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance), Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance), DK: King of Swing, Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance)
Ben Campbell Donkey Kong Country (television series)
Hollywoodedge, Evil Laugh CRT023801 Pitched down for K. Rool. Originated from Cartoon Trax Volume 1. First used in Donkey Kong 64 as K. Rool's evil laugh.
Toshihide Tsuchiya Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, DK: Jungle Climber, Mario Super Sluggers

Quotes[edit]

Donkey Kong Country (television series)[edit]

  • "My loyal reptilian subjects. This marks a glorious day history for all Kritters." - "Bad Hair Day"
  • "Because it wouldn't be a surprise, you numbskull! Now, We'll make them think we are participating in the ceasefire, but instead, we are going to be sneaky! Clever." - "Kong for a Day"
  • "All right, lizards! Today is the day! Today, we will take over Kongo Bongo! At this very moment, Krusha has bravely infiltrated Cranky's cabin under the guise of getting a medical exam! He will seize the Crystal Coconut! Once that beautiful orb is in my possession, Kongo Bongo, will fall at my feet! MEHAHAAA! Hahahahahahaaaa...." - "From Zero to Hero"
  • "Klump, didn't I say no news, no calls, and no tyranny until tomorrow? It's a bad villain day!" - "Legend of the Crystal Coconut"
  • "SHUUUUT UP! Don't you morons even realize? I'll be King K. Fool to future generations thanks to Cranky and that film! It's an outrage, a catastrophe. BLOW THAT SPACESHIP UP!" - "To the Moon Baboon"
  • "You think this has been fun? Oh, let me explain it so that even your underdeveloped cranium can understand. I'm just pretending to be buddies so I can get back at that loser Cranky and claim my prize. Now LET ME GO!" - "Best of Enemies"

Donkey Kong 64[edit]

  • "I want you to do everything in your power to keep Donkey Kong distracted. Steal that hoard of Golden Bananas he treasures so much and take care of his pathetic friends. This time there can be no mistakes."
  • "I hope for your sake, you're right this time."
  • "While you'll be busy looking for your precious golden bananas and flea-bitten friends, I'll be preparing my lizard flavored surprise! MWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!"
  • "Fatso, is it? I'd choose my last words more carefully if I were you."
  • "Yeah!! Thank you!"

Mario Super Sluggers[edit]

  • "By my toothy grin! Who dares to disturb my rest?"
  • "You fools know who I am, don't you?"
  • "You think to oppose my glorious girth?! Graw haw haaa! I love it!"
  • "You deserve a kingly beating! Come on! Graaaw haw haaaaaaaw!"
  • "You think it's a good idea to challenge me?"
  • "King K. Rool doesn't do anything halfway! Hope you've said your good-byes, fools!"
  • "What a bunch of misfits!"
  • "Come back if you ever get the courage to challenge me."
  • "I see you fools failed to learn your lesson... If you strike at a king, you must finish him!"
  • "You'll regret the day you ran into me."
  • "Great gravyboats! You saps are pretty good!"
  • "Graw haw haw! I like your style! I'm going to join your lineup!"
  • "Come on! It's obvious who's better! Listen up, Kritters! From here on, we're allies!"
  • "Don't get me wrong! This is ONLY while we're playing baseball!"

DKC: Return to Krocodile Isle[edit]

The following quotes are from the fan-made animation DKC: Return to Krocodile Isle, in which Ben Campbell reprises his role as King K. Rool from the official Donkey Kong Country television series.

  • "If absence sows a hungry heart,
    "Are you famished without your king?
    "It seems you lot forgot the brand
    "Of ka-rool-ty that I bring.
    "I'll remind you faithful subjects
    "I know it's been a while:
    "Lest you fancy your death by my jaws or my breath,
    "Don't smile at this crocodile!"
  • "I knew you'd be back! Fate entangled, destined forever, yin and yang! I did this all for you. Wanna know the funny part? I don't even like bananas! Am I enough for you now? Am I !?!"
  • "Klump, my dearly, dauntless Klump. Remind me if I ever were to kill myself, I could scale to the heights of your blind devotion and leap down towards your IQ!"

Voice samples[edit]

Audio.svg Donkey Kong 64 - "I've been waiting a long time for this moment. Soon, Donkey Kong and his pretty little island... will be no more." (Chris Sutherland)
File infoMedia:K Rool Chris Sutherland.oga
Audio.svg Donkey Kong 64 - "Thank you!"
File infoMedia:K. Rool (thank you).oga
Audio.svg Mario Super Sluggers - K. Rool's laugh (Toshihide Tsuchiya)
File infoMedia:K Rool's laugh 2008.oga
Help:MediaHaving trouble playing?

List of appearances[edit]

Title Description Release date System/format
Donkey Kong Country Main antagonist, final boss 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Donkey Kong Land Main antagonist, final boss 1995 Game Boy
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Main antagonist, final boss 1995 Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Donkey Kong Land 2 Main antagonist, final boss 1996 Game Boy
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Main antagonist, final boss 1996 Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Donkey Kong Land III Main antagonist, final boss 1997 Game Boy
Donkey Kong 64 Main antagonist, final boss 1999 Nintendo 64
Donkey Kong Country Main antagonist, final boss 2000 Game Boy Color
Super Smash Bros. Melee Cameo as a trophy 2001 Nintendo GameCube
Donkey Konga Non-playable character 2003 Nintendo GameCube
Donkey Kong Country Main antagonist, final boss 2003 Game Boy Advance
Donkey Kong Country 2 Main antagonist, final boss 2004 Game Boy Advance
DK: King of Swing Boss/unlockable playable character 2005 Game Boy Advance
Donkey Kong Country 3 Main antagonist, final boss 2005 Game Boy Advance
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast Unlockable playable character 2007 Wii
DK: Jungle Climber Main antagonist, final boss 2007 Nintendo DS
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Cameo as a trophy and sticker 2008 Wii
Mario Super Sluggers Unlockable playable character 2008 Wii
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Cameo as a trophy 2014 Nintendo 3DS
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Cameo as a trophy 2014 Wii U
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Unlockable playable character, spirit 2018 Nintendo Switch

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:King K. Rool.

Names in other languages[edit]

King K. Rool[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese キングクルール[?]
Kingu Kurūru
King K. Rool (pronounced closer to "King Cruel")
Chinese (simplified) 克鲁王[?]
Kèlǔ Wáng
King Cruel DK: King of Swing
库鲁鲁王[?]
Kùlǔlǔ Wáng
King K. Rool Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Chinese (traditional) 庫魯魯王[?]
Kùlǔlǔ Wáng
King K. Rool
Dutch King K. Rool[?] -
Koning Wreed[?] King Cruel Donkey Kong Country television series
Finnish K.Ohje[?] From either kohje (slang for a bungler) or literally ohje ("instruction") original Donkey Kong Country trilogy and the Donkey Kong Land series
French (NOA) Roi K. Rool[?] King K. Rool
French (NOE) King K. Rool[?] -
German King K. Rool[?] -
King Kroko[?] From Krokodil ("crocodile") Donkey Kong Country television series
Italian King K. Rool[?] -
K. Roole[sic][22]
Re K. Roll[23] King K. Roll
King K. Roll[24][25] -
Korean 킹크루루[?]
King Keururu
King K. Rool
Portuguese Komandante K. Roll[sic][26] From comandante ("commander") Donkey Kong Country
Russian Кинг К. Роль[?]
King K. Rol
К. Роль is a pun on Король ("king")
Spanish (NOA) King K. Rool[?] -
Rey Cruel[?] King Cruel Donkey Kong Country television series
Spanish (NOE) King K. Rool[?] -
Rey K. Rool[?] King K. Rool Donkey Kong Country television series

Kaptain K. Rool[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese キャプテンクルール[?]
Kyaputen Kurūru
Kaptain K. Rool
Chinese (simplified) 库鲁鲁船长[?]
Kùlǔlǔ Chuánzhǎng
Captain K. Rool
Chinese (traditional) 庫魯魯船長[?]
Kùlǔlǔ Chuánzhǎng
Captain K. Rool
Italian Kapitano K. Rool[?] Kaptain K. Rool
Capitain[sic] Krai[27] Captain Krai
Portuguese Kapitão K. Rool[28] Kaptain K. Rool
Spanish Kaptain K. Rool[?] -

Baron K. Roolenstein[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese バロンクルール[?]
Baron Kurūru
Baron K. Rool
Italian Barone K. Roolenstein[?] Baron K. Roolenstein
Spanish Baron K. Roolenstein[?] -

King Krusha K. Rool[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese キング“クラッシャー”クルール[29]
Kingu "Kurasshā" Kurūru
King “Krusha” K. Rool

Trivia[edit]

King Koopa wearing a red cape and resembling King K. Rool
  • In the Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 episode "Never Koop a Koopa", King Koopa wears a red cape, giving him a passing resemblance to King K. Rool. However, this is coincidental, as King K. Rool debuted four years after the episode aired. Incidentally, aside from the similar appearance, the two characters have a similar habit of assuming thematic identities.
    • Bowser and his Koopa Troop would later take up King K. Rool and his Kremlings' usual role in stealing the Kongs' banana hoard in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Scribes - August 25, 1999. Rarewhere (British English). Archived from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "The Kremlings were out there, this much was certain. They coveted Donkey Kong’s banana stockpile, the largest on the island, and probably in the world. A treasure in potassium and Vitamin A. The perfect food. “Ahhh... delicious bananas...” The thought of DK’s golden horde almost made Diddy forget his uncomfortable situation." – 1994. Donkey Kong Country instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 4.
  3. ^ "KREM QUAY K. Rool proves he’s pirate and not a sailor with yet another wrecked ship. Be careful or you’ll get sunk in this swamp along with it!" – Miller, Kent and Paul Shinoda (1995). Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 20.
  4. ^ "K. Rool has taken his ancestral title of Baron K. Roolenstein and now fancies himself some sort of mad scientist." – December 1997. Nintendo Power Volume 103. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 85.
  5. ^ EvilLaugh CRT023801. Sound Ideas. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  6. ^ RareWareCentral (November 6, 2011). Diddy Kong Pilot - Very Early Beta Spaceworld. YouTube. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Ghoulyboy (September 6, 2015). Found a couple more #DKCrevealed Kremling concepts by James Ryman, where Krudd is starting to look like K.Rool.. X (English). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  8. ^ Mayles, Gregg (November 21, 2019). What about a reptilian revelation from the #DKCArchives for #5? Some early Kremling thinking shows that #KRool could have been called 'King Klinker' and he might have had a partner named 'Queen Krapp'. Not the best names I came up with! #WorldDonkeyKongDay #DKC25". X (English). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Ghoulyboy (August 10, 2018). Never expected this tweet about #KingKRool in #SmashBros to be so popular. As a moderately interesting bonus follow up, an early naming sheet shows K. Rool was going to be 'Kommander' and #DKC was going to be called 'Monkey Mayhem'. X (English). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  10. ^ Chris_Costy (August 8, 2018). What's the "K" stand for?. X (English). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  11. ^ March 30, 2024. Mark Stevenson on X. X. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  12. ^ Mark Stevenson talking about Baron K. Roolenstein[dead link]
  13. ^ WinkySteve (July 6, 2015). Armour. Wonder no more.. X (British English). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  14. ^ "Kap'n K. Rool treats us rotten. I hope yer scupper his plans!" – Klubba. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
  15. ^ "Jungle Jinx It looks like K. Rool hasn’t heard about preserving the rain forests. Here he’s dumping bunches of giant tires in Diddy and Dixie’s path!" – Miller, Kent and Paul Shinoda (1995). Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 46.
  16. ^ December 13, 2017. #YookaLaylee for #NintendoSwitch is out tomorrow! Thus, our artists conclude their tributes to Nintendo classics they helped create, as @WinkySteve imagines the spoils of war.... X (English). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  17. ^ Scribes; December 23, 1999. Rarewhere (British English). Archived August 23, 2000, 21:40:29 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  18. ^ キャラクターの紹介. Nintendo (Japanese). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "KREMLANTIS Rock hewn and rock solid is Kremlantis, ancient home of K. Rool's masterful predecessors. Slight worse off for water than the good ship Gangplank, seeking as the entire kingdom is submerged! The majority of Kremlantis' wards have survived through being trapped in air pockets, though mutant winds roam freely about so beware! Of course it's inevitable that some areas are flooded by ice-water too, and it is here that DK and Diddy encounter the worst of their fears..." – Donkey Kong Land Nintendo Magazine System. Page 13.
  20. ^ January 10, 2019. That would be the Multi-talented Chris Sutherland @PlaytonicGames @YookaLayleeHub. X (English). Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  21. ^ "The boxing theme certainly wasn’t planned until the very end. In fact, K.Rool is wearing a crown in the opening story and acts more like Blofeld from the James Bond movies. I didn’t think fighting K.Rool as Blofeld would be much fun, hence him changing his persona to a champion boxer at the end." – Mayles, Gregg (November 23, 2019). Feature: Donkey Kong 64 Devs On Bugs, Boxing And 20 Years Of The DK Rap. Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  22. ^ Donkey Kong Land Italian instruction booklet. Page 3.
  23. ^ Donkey Kong Land Italian instruction booklet. Page 3, 14, 15, 19, 20.
  24. ^ Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Spanish-Italian instruction booklet. Page 32.
  25. ^ Donkey Kong Land 2 Italian instruction booklet. Page 4.
  26. ^ Donkey Kong Country Brazilian instruction booklet (PDF). Page 27.
  27. ^ "Avrà il suo bel daffare quando si lancerà nel rifugio dei pirati di Capitain Krai sull'Isola dei Coccodrilli." – Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest back of Italian boxart.
  28. ^ Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Brazilian instruction booklet (PDF). Page 4, 31.
  29. ^ 2000. 「ドンキーコング64任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Donkey Kong 64 Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook). Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 125.