DK's Tree House
Template:Location-infobox DK's Tree House[1], or Donkey Kong’s Treehouse[2], is Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong's place of residence and a starting point in several Donkey Kong Country titles. It is located in the jungle portion of Donkey Kong Island and is built above the banana cave, a basement where the Kongs keep their stash of bananas. Originally portrayed as a wooden cabin perched on top of a tree trunk, more recent stances picture it as a rondavel hut raised on stilts high above the ground. The house is generally furnished with a television, a bed or hammock, a rug and various pictures on walls. The tree house is also commonly associated with tires, appearing both in and around it as simple furniture, as a swing or as a means of bouncing up to the house.
Outside of the Donkey Kong franchise, the tree house has become a recurring backdrop element in scenarios that involve Donkey Kong.
History
Donkey Kong franchise
Donkey Kong Country
DK's Tree House first appears in Donkey Kong Country, where it appears as a simple-looking wooden shack from the outside. DK's Tree House appears on both the Donkey Kong Island map and the Kongo Jungle map. DK's Tree House directly appears at the start of the first level, Jungle Hijinxs, and upon starting the level, Donkey Kong automatically launches out of the treehouse.
DK's Tree House is designed after a regular cabin pattern, being constructed of wooden planks in its entirety. It is directly above the banana cave, and DK's Tree House has a few steps for going up to the treehouse itself. DK's Tree House is decorated like a home; it has a bed, a picture of two sailboats above it, a portrait of Candy next to the door, a table with a blue vase containing flowers, and banana peels scattered around. A beach ball and a two large tires also appear in the background. An official artwork shows Donkey Kong inside a tire swing outside of DK's Tree House; the tire swing does not appear in the game.
In the Game Boy Advance version, the interior layout for DK's Tree House is different. There are more items scattered on the floor. The portrait of Candy Kong, a table with a vase, and the bed are against a wall straight across from the entrance, rather than at the top-left corner. The vase on the table is light green and does not have flowers in it. A framed picture reading "HOME SWEET HOME" is in the background. A large bunch of bananas is in the foreground.
DK's Tree House does not have much of a role, although the Kongs can bounce from half of a tire on the ground to collect a Red Balloon above. The Kongs are only able to enter DK's Tree House one time for each time they play Jungle Hijinxs. In the Game Boy Advance version, the Kongs can re-enter DK's Tree House more than once for each time they play Jungle Hijinxs. In the same version, once the Kongs collect the Red Balloon, it does not reappear for the rest of the game. A photograph is hidden behind the bunch of bananas, and it depicts a group picture of Donkey Kong and Diddy swinging from a rope in the eleventh page of the scrapbook.
After defeating Really Gnawty, if Donkey Kong and Diddy enter DK's Tree House, they encounter Very Gnawty inside. It turns around at the Kongs, pants, and hops out of the house in fright. This only occurs once per save file.
Donkey Kong 64
DK's Tree House makes its second appearance in Donkey Kong 64 as the starting location of the game. It is located within Kong Isle of DK Isles.
DK's Tree House looks entirely different than in Donkey Kong Country. It has a leaf hammock instead of a bed. It also has objects from earlier Donkey Kong games such as Cranky Kong's phonograph from Donkey Kong Country and a red girder from the original Donkey Kong arcade game. There are several barrels and crates, as well as banana peels lying on the ground. DK's Tree House still has a framed picture of Candy. A red mat with the DK emblem is on the ground, and there is a framed photograph of a dolphin (possibly a reference to the Nintendo GameCube, which was code named "Dolphin" at the time). Instead of steps, the Kongs can use a palm tree to climb up into the treehouse.
DK's Tree House appears in the opening cutscene, where Donkey Kong is exercising as he listens to an instrumental DK Rap on a boombox. Squawks appears and alerts Donkey Kong of King K. Rool's plans to destroy DK Isles. DK's Tree House does not have any other role in the game.
Early screenshots of the game showed that there was going to be a shower stall in DK's Tree House with a poster of Banjo and Kazooie on it. The shower and posters were removed in the final version of the game.
Diddy Kong Pilot (2003)
In the canceled 2003 version of Diddy Kong Pilot, DK's Tree House makes a cameo appearance in the background of jungle-themed races.
Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance)
The interior of DK's Tree House is the background of the ending credits in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country 3. The area is considerably tidier and lacks the Candy Kong portrait. A tire swing is also inside the house.
Diddy Kong Racing DS
Donkey Kong's Treehouse briefly appears during the opening cutscene of Diddy Kong Racing DS. Diddy is sitting outside the treehouse, and Squawks gives a letter to him written by Timber. In the letter, Timber asks for Diddy's help to kick out Wizpig from Timber's Island. DK's Tree House appears to have an entirely empty interior, and unlike other games, a wooden ladder is connected to DK's Tree House.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
DK's Tree House reappears in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D.
It first appears in the opening. Diddy jumps out of the window to check on the bananas from the banana hoard, only to realize that they are stolen rage. When Donkey Kong goes out on the deck to hear what Diddy is complaining about, Kalimba tiki approaches Donkey Kong, who steps back into the treehouse. Kalimba tiki unsuccessfully hypnotizes Donkey Kong. The first level, Jungle Hijinxs, starts right after the opening sequence, and every time the Kongs start the level, they must repeatedly punch Kalimba tiki. After Kalimba tiki is hit enough time, Donkey Kong kicks down the wooden front door and kicks Kalimba tiki into the bushes. If the Kongs enter DK's Tree House, they can obtain a Red Balloon inside.
The treehouse's appearance has changed again, as it is now smaller, its walls are made of bamboo, it has a round straw roof sustained by wooden girders, and it has small doors and windows framed with wood. It has a wooden deck wrapping around its exterior and a banner of the word "KONG". The tree house is elevated above the ground by long, wooden rods. Near the ground is a smaller wooden deck with a tire, and bouncing on it allows the Kongs to reach the deck. The banana hoard is relocated to a small alcove under the Treehouse.
The interior of DK's Tree House still slightly maintains the furniture from Donkey Kong 64, such as the boombox, hammock, and several barrels. Two of Donkey Kong's ties are hanging from the wooden girders suspending the roof. There is also a stack of spare tires, two framed pictures, a boombox, and a television which, if Ground Pounded, shows the title screen (as well as playing the respective music). In Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, the Japanese version's title screen appears to be shown instead.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
DK's Tree House reappears in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, with the same appearance as Donkey Kong Country Returns except without a front door and some wooden posts on the front porch. The interior has a few additions, and one of the framed pictures on the wall is revealed to be a photograph of DK and Diddy and there a rug on the floor. There is a wooden table and a set of chairs, along with a set of four mugs that resemble small barrels, each with a different symbol representing which Kong it belongs to.
In the opening cutscene, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Cranky Kong are sitting around a table, celebrating Donkey Kong's birthday. Just before Donkey Kong eats a banana, a balloon floats outside the tree house and away from Donkey Kong Island. The balloon is noticed by a Pointy Tucks, who then looks at the island from afar on a boat with other Snowmads. Upon seeing the tree house, the Pointy Tucks panics and notifies its leader, Lord Fredrik. Fredrik then uses the horn to create an ice dragon to cover the island in snow. A snowflake blows into DK's Tree House and douses the birthday candle just before Donkey Kong can blow it out. The four Kongs go outside DK's Tree House to investigate, and then a strong wind blows them away to the Lost Mangroves.
Later in Homecoming Hijinxs, the first level of Donkey Kong Island, DK's Tree House appears in the background at the start of the level. Its roof and a side of its deck are covered in snow. DK's Tree House also appears in the epilogue, where, after Donkey Kong uses the horn to return Donkey Kong Island to its usual state (and thus melt the snow present on the tree house), the Kongs form a band on the porch to perform the credits theme.
A piece of concept artwork shows that the tree house was intended to be flung along with the Kongs on the shore of a foreign island.
Donkey Kong Country television series
DK's Tree House also appears in the Donkey Kong Country television series, where it is relatively unchanged except for an elevator that is powered by a strong punch. Sometimes Donkey Kong punches the button too hard, making the elevator slam on entry and startling anyone inside of it. The Tree House additionally appears to be in a savanna, rather than a deep rainforest.
Super Smash Bros. series
The Treehouse appears in the background of Kongo Falls in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It is shown to be positioned above a rapid waterfall.
The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate reveal trailers for King K. Rool and Banjo & Kazooie each show Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong (and King K. Rool in the Banjo & Kazooie reveal) lounging in the tree home, until they are disturbed by King Dedede and Duck Hunt pretending to be King K. Rool and Banjo & Kazooie respectively.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, DK's Tree House makes a brief appearance in the prologue, where Donkey Kong is channel-surfing on his TV, until he stumbles upon a commercial with Mini-Marios. Visually, the only distinctive features of the house are a television and a couch, while the rest of the room is mostly dark.
Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge
DK's Tree House, reusing its Donkey Kong Country Returns design, can be seen in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge in the background of Barrel Blast Jungle.
Mario Party series
Mario Party 7
In Mario Party 7, the porch in front of DK's Tree House represents the finish point in the Jump, Man and Vine Country minigames.
Mario Party 10
The Donkey Kong Board from Mario Party 10 contains a miniatural version of DK's Tree House, used for decoration. It resembles its appearance from Donkey Kong Country Returns.
Mario Party: The Top 100
In Mario Party: The Top 100, DK's Tree House reappears in the background of the DK minigames, Jump, Man and Vine Country from Mario Party 7. Of note is that the house retains the older cabin appearance seen in the original minigames.
Yoshi's Island DS
DK's Tree House makes a minor appearance in the introduction of Yoshi's Island DS, when the Toadies capture Baby DK.
Mario Kart series
DK's Tree House reappears in Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, as an ornamental feature in the course DK Jungle. It is built on the side of a turn with Tiki Goons, above a pond surrounded by cascades. DK's Tree House retains its appearance from Donkey Kong Country Returns, and a DK Barrel is shown on the front deck.
Gallery
The tree house's exterior as seen in Donkey Kong Country
The interior of the tree house in Donkey Kong Country
Alternate artwork
The tree house's exterior as seen in Donkey Kong 64
The tree house's interior as seen in Donkey Kong 64
The tree house in the Game Boy Color version of Donkey Kong Country
The tree house in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country
Very Gnawty in the tree house
The tree house in Super Smash Bros. Melee
DK's Tree House in Mario vs. Donkey Kong
The tree house in Mario Party 7
The tree house in Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance)
Exterior in Donkey Kong Country Returns
Concept artwork of DK's hut in its renewed appearance from Donkey Kong Country Returns
The interior of the hut in Donkey Kong Country Returns
Trivia
- Incidentally, Donkey Kong was shown to live in a treehouse in Captain N: The Game Master, four years before Donkey Kong Country was released.
- All three versions of Donkey Kong Country have a different musical theme for the tree house. The SNES version plays Cranky's Cabin theme, the Game Boy Color remake plays the title music from Donkey Kong Land, and the Game Boy Advance remake plays Bonus Room Blitz.
- Nintendo of America's product development division, Treehouse, is codenamed after Donkey Kong's residence.[3]
References
- ^ Donkey Kong 64 instruction booklet, page 33.
- ^ "We’ll take you all the way from Donkey Kong’s Treehouse to King K. Rool’s ship." - Donkey Kong Country Player's Guide, page 1.
- ^ Kotaku: Nintendo's Secret Weapon
