Banjo: Difference between revisions

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(Rewrote article. Please note that references to Mario from within the Banjo universe should be noted in the references pages, not here.)
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[[Image: Carbanjo.jpg|thumb|right|'''Banjo'''.]]
{{character-infobox
|image=[[image:Carbanjo.jpg{{!}}215px]] <br>''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' artwork for '''Banjo'''
|full_name=Banjo
|first_appearance=''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' ([[1997]])
|affiliation=[[Diddy Kong]], [[Kazooie]]
|species=Honey bear
|latest_appearance=''[[N-Gang vs. Nintendo]]''
}}


'''Banjo''' is a honey-loving bear and friend of [[Diddy Kong]], [[Donkey Kong]], and [[Conker the Squirrel]]. Banjo is one of two friends (the other being Conker) that Diddy Kong contacts via [[Squawks the Parrot]] in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''. He helps Diddy free [[Timber's Island]] from the evil [[Wizpig]]. In ''Diddy Kong Racing'', Banjo has low acceleration, high top speed and also has below average handling.
'''[[wikipedia:Banjo|Banjo]]''' is the fictional protagonist of the ''[[wikipedia:Banjo-Kazooie (series)|Banjo-Kazooie]]'' series, in which he and his best friend [[Kazooie]] fight the evil witch [[wikipedia:Gruntilda|Gruntilda]]. Due to delays of the first installment of the ''Banjo-Kazooie'' series, [[Rare, Ltd.|Rareware]] and [[Nintendo]] released ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' prior to ''[[wikipedia:Banjo-Kazooie|Banjo-Kazooie]]'', making ''Diddy Kong Racing'' Banjo's first appearance in any series.  Similarly, Rareware included [[Conker]] and [[Timber]] in the character roster with the intention of releasing video game titles that revolved around them.


After ''Diddy Kong Racing'', Banjo returned to his home and joined up with his friend, [[List of Implied Characters#Kazooie|Kazooie]], with whom he has gone on [[:Wikipedia: Banjo-Kazooie (series)|several adventures]] with.
In the [[Nintendo DS]] remake of ''Diddy Kong Racing'', ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'', Rare, Ltd. elected to replace Banjo with [[Tiny Kong]] and Conker with [[Dixie Kong]].  The company Tiny Kong for the role, making her a heavyweight who could conceivably have the same racing abilities as Banjo.  However, the team elected not to change or remove either character's theme song: Banjo's signature banjo music can still be heard both in the introduction and on the character selection screen.


==Relation to the ''[[Mario (series)|Mario]]'' series==
==Video Game Appearances==
===Individual Titles===
====''Diddy Kong Racing''====
When the intergalactic traveler, [[Wizpig]], invaded and conquered [[Timber's island]], Timber called on [[Diddy Kong]] for help.  In turn, Diddy Kong sent [[Squawks the Parrot]] to find Banjo and Conker to request their assistance.  The three traveled to the island, where with Timber and four of his friends, they competed in a variety of racing challenges to liberate the island and decide which of them would have the best change to defeat Wizpig.  As one of the heavier racers, Banjo had slow acceleration but ultimately a higher top speed.  His handing was below average.  Eventually, the eight, with or without the help of unlockable characters [[Drumstick]] and [[T.T.]], managed to drive Wizpig back to his home world: [[Future Fun Land]].  Banjo elected not to attend the celebration party, but he quickly returned when Wizpig struck back.  He and the others traveled to Future Fun Land, concurred its challenges, and took on Wizpig.  In their final race with the villain, Wizpig's rocket malfunctioned and he stranded himself on a deserted planet.


Banjo is related to the ''Mario'' series through cameos and references in [[Rareware]] games. As previously mentioned, he appeared in Diddy Kong Racing, connecting him to the [[Donkey Kong]] games which are part of the ''Mario'' series. In [[Wikipedia: Banjo-Tooie|Banjo-Tooie]], Mario was also mentioned by Kazooie when Loggo the Toilet was blocked. A recreation of the 8-bit Mario sprite from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' can be seen in one of the first trailers for ''[[Wikipedia:Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts|Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts]]''.  Originally, its head is blown off, but the scene was quickly cut from the trailer.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hJfTQ2dBZA YouTube - Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts Debut Video]</ref>  In the [[Club Nintendo]] comic ''[[Super Mario in Aloha Hawaii]]'' Banjo's friend [[Bottles]] takes Mario to [[Hawaii]]. Banjo also appears in the comic series [[N Gang]].
According to the instruction booklet, Banjo would later go on to adventure with his friend Kazooie. Presumably, the booklet was referring to Banjo's adventures throughout the ''Banjo-Kazooie'' series.


== Trivia ==
==Publication Appearances==
 
===''N-Gang''===
* In ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'', Banjo was replaced by [[Tiny Kong]] as a playable character.
====''N-Gang vs. Nintendo''====
* While Banjo was not in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'', if the player listens in the selection screen theme he or she can still hear Banjo and [[Conker]]'s themes play in the background.
Banjo later appeared in the ''[[N-Gang]]'' comic ''[[N-Gang vs. Nintendo]]'', where he played on the same soccer camp team with Kazooie, [[Wario]], [[Yoshi]], [[Peach]], [[Donkey Kong]], and [[Lanky Kong]]. [[Mario]] refereed the match.
* The game ''[[Wikipedia: Banjo-Pilot|Banjo-Pilot]]'', a ''Banjo-Kazooie'' series game, was originally to be ''[[Diddy Kong Pilot]]'', the sequel to ''Diddy Kong Racing''.
* In ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' Banjo oddly does not appear at the end of the game party the first time Wizpig is defeated like how Bubbler does not show up at the end of the game party after Wizpig is defeated for good.
 
== References ==
<references/>


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Revision as of 19:25, November 10, 2008

Template:Character-infobox

Banjo is the fictional protagonist of the Banjo-Kazooie series, in which he and his best friend Kazooie fight the evil witch Gruntilda. Due to delays of the first installment of the Banjo-Kazooie series, Rareware and Nintendo released Diddy Kong Racing prior to Banjo-Kazooie, making Diddy Kong Racing Banjo's first appearance in any series. Similarly, Rareware included Conker and Timber in the character roster with the intention of releasing video game titles that revolved around them.

In the Nintendo DS remake of Diddy Kong Racing, Diddy Kong Racing DS, Rare, Ltd. elected to replace Banjo with Tiny Kong and Conker with Dixie Kong. The company Tiny Kong for the role, making her a heavyweight who could conceivably have the same racing abilities as Banjo. However, the team elected not to change or remove either character's theme song: Banjo's signature banjo music can still be heard both in the introduction and on the character selection screen.

Video Game Appearances

Individual Titles

Diddy Kong Racing

When the intergalactic traveler, Wizpig, invaded and conquered Timber's island, Timber called on Diddy Kong for help. In turn, Diddy Kong sent Squawks the Parrot to find Banjo and Conker to request their assistance. The three traveled to the island, where with Timber and four of his friends, they competed in a variety of racing challenges to liberate the island and decide which of them would have the best change to defeat Wizpig. As one of the heavier racers, Banjo had slow acceleration but ultimately a higher top speed. His handing was below average. Eventually, the eight, with or without the help of unlockable characters Drumstick and T.T., managed to drive Wizpig back to his home world: Future Fun Land. Banjo elected not to attend the celebration party, but he quickly returned when Wizpig struck back. He and the others traveled to Future Fun Land, concurred its challenges, and took on Wizpig. In their final race with the villain, Wizpig's rocket malfunctioned and he stranded himself on a deserted planet.

According to the instruction booklet, Banjo would later go on to adventure with his friend Kazooie. Presumably, the booklet was referring to Banjo's adventures throughout the Banjo-Kazooie series.

Publication Appearances

N-Gang

N-Gang vs. Nintendo

Banjo later appeared in the N-Gang comic N-Gang vs. Nintendo, where he played on the same soccer camp team with Kazooie, Wario, Yoshi, Peach, Donkey Kong, and Lanky Kong. Mario refereed the match.


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