Name's the Same: There should be at least two unrelated Kong families, since Dixie Kong and Diddy Kong are dating each other.
Uncanny Family Resemblance: Look closely; before PAON's redesigns, DK, Cranky, Swanky, Funky and Wrinkly were basically almost the same character model wearing different clothes.
Donkey Kong ("DK" for short) was Mario's original nemesis in the game that bore his name. He's a big hulking ape with a penchant for tossing barrels and eating bananas. He's since been pushed out of Mario's #1 spot by Bowser (and gotten his own video game series), but has since challenged the plucky plumber four times in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games. According to Donkey Kong Country, the original Arcade Donkey Kong was actually his father, now named "Cranky Kong", and while this is currently disputed, more recent games, Mario Super Sluggers in particular, seems to support this.Tropes associated with Donkey Kong:
Anti-Villain: In his antagonist roles, such as Mario vs. Donkey Kong. DK doesn't really have anything against Mario. He just has trouble controlling his impulses and Mario has to rein him in.
Berserk Button: Mess with DK's precious banana horde and see what happens to you. Here's a hint: it will be painful. Very painful.
Big Good: In Mario Party 5 and onward, he acts as an exact opposite of Bowser, having Minigames where everyone always gets coins, and sometimes even gives stars to people.
Breaking the Fourth Wall: If you succeed at a bonus room puzzle while controlling him, he'll turn to applaud you and give you a thumbs-up for succeeding.
Catch Phrase Spouting Duo: DK and Diddy in the DKC cartoon; they also give off this vibe in the games, though they never actually speak.
Defeat Means Friendship: The end of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, in which Mario beats DK, scolds him good, and gives him a Mini-Mario like he wanted all along.
The Determinator: Shigeru Miyamoto called him "Donkey" because he's as stubborn as one. Depending on who you're playing as, this is either a good thing or a bad thing.
Face Palm: He'll do this if you screw up in a bonus room puzzle while controlling him.
Full Name Basis: He's never referred to as just Donkey. It's always Donkey Kong, DK or D.Kong in Japan. (With the few exceptions being Cranky in Donkey Kong Country 2 during one of his speeches in his museum hint shop, Diddy during the ending of Donkey Kong Country 3, and almost the entirety of Donkey Kong 64 .)
Heel Face Turn: He becomes the protagonist of his own series and is less hostile towards Mario and the other characters.
Perhaps as some Fridge Brilliance, Donkey Kong is already known to be the offspring of Cranky Kong (who originally bore the moniker in his battles with Mario). So his less antagonistic attitude towards Mario and his cohorts could be an attempt to patch up the bad blood between his old man and Mario.
Large Ham: Usually when something awesome happens, but also when riled up (as with real life apes). A good example is right before the final boss in DKC Returns. Donkey Kong and Diddy are pissed.
Legacy Character: As mentioned above, Cranky Kong was the first Donkey Kong before giving the title to the current one.
Took a Level in Badass: Donkey Kong is a veritable beast in Jungle Beat. Seriously, the guy isn't above fighting dirty and pulls no punches at all. He's almost like a more kid-friendly Kratos. Unfortunately....
Took a Level in Dumbass: Ever since Donkey Kong 64, he has been falling into this. It only gets worse in the Mario series.
Too Dumb to Fool: It does verge on Cursed with Awesome in Donkey Kong Country Retruns. One of the Tikis tries to hypnotize Donkey Kong and make him a brainwashed slave like all the other animals they're controlling. All it does is make Donkey Kong mad.
Junior is a mystery. He first appeared when Mario flew off the handle and locked up his father, the original Donkey Kong, rescuing DK and apparently setting Mario back on the straight-and-narrow. He popped up a handful of times after that, most notably in a kart race and tennis tournament, and then just fell off the map. If the story that Cranky Kong was the original DK is true, then Donkey Kong Jr. could be the modern DK's father—or even DK himself (except that they both appear in Mario Tennis...*
Donkey Kong's little buddy, sidekick and wannabe nephew, Diddy is a teenage monkey in a red baseball cap and tank top. Diddy is more carefree than DK and loves to play rock music and eat peanuts. He spends most of his time hanging out or having adventures with DK or his girlfriend, Dixie Kong. Diddy was introduced in Donkey Kong Country, but was integrated into Mario's extended cast in the Mario Sports games.Tropes associated with Diddy Kong:
Nice Hat: If you succeed at a bonus room puzle while controlling him in the original Donkey Kong Country he'll toss his hat into the air while smiling at the player. If you fail at the puzzle, he'll throw his hat on the ground and stomp on it.
Diddy Kong's girlfriend, Dixie, is a hero in her own right. She helped Diddy rescue Donkey when the big ape was kidnapped by the Kremlings, then rescued Diddy himself when he befell the same fate. Dixie has long blonde hair that she wears in a huge ponytail, which she can use to spin helicopter-like over long distances and, inexplicably, pick up large objects. She can act childish at times, but makes up for it with her courage. Tiny Kong is Dixie's (bigger) little sister.Tropes associated with Dixie Kong:
Babysitter From Hell: A hilarious and completely non-malevolent example. Her babysitting instincts are abysmal to the point of criminality, but it's alright because Kiddy Kong has been blessed by genetics with badassery right out of the cradle.
Dream Team/Took a Level in Badass: From a gameplay perspective in DKC 3, Dixie got a lot of Diddy's speed while still retaining her own highly useful 'copter abilities. When paired with Kiddy, himself a slightly faster version of Donkey Kong, you have an optimal adventuring team of strength, speed, and precision, as well as a host of Combination Attacks.
The Hero: In the DKC 3. While she and Kiddy are equal contributors to their adventure, Kiddy has no stake in anything and little opinion on the matter. It's Dixie who moves the plot.
Prehensile Hair: Her ponytail is capable of picking up various objects, like barrels and cannonballs.
Product Placement: She used to have a pin of the Rare logo in her beret. For obvious reasons, she doesn't wear it anymore.
Refuge in Audacity: If presented with her baby cousin, right out of the cradle, what would Dixie Kong do? If you answered "abduct him onto her continent spanning journey, utilizing him as a meat shield, projectile, and pack mule against killer animals in dangerous and extreme climates in environments littered with health hazards" then you'd be correct.
Vitriolic Best Buds: With Kiddy. The character change animations make it very clear (Kiddy'll grab her by the scruff and set her aside, while Dixie would pop a bubblegum bubble against his back, startling him).
Kiddy Kong is Chunky Kong's baby brother and Dixie and Tiny's cousin. Although he's only a toddler, he's absolutely massive, roughly the same size as Donkey Kong himself. Kiddy accompanied Dixie when Donkey and Diddy were kidnapped in the Northern Kremisphere. He cries and throws tantrums at times, but possesses the same natural courage as the rest of his family. His name in Japan is "Dinky Kong", continuing the Theme Naming of characters with the initials "DK".Tropes associated with Kiddy Kong:
Dream Team: Gameplay-wise with Dixie in DKC 3. As a team, Kiddie and Dixie together make up for many of Donkey Kong's and Diddy's smaller weaknesses (mostly speed), and retain Dixie's high mobility.
Expy: Kiddy fills roughly the same niche as Donkey Kong in DKC 3.
Lightning Bruiser: He can skip across water while rolling and can somersault all over the place with Dixie's help.
The Load: Hilariously subverted. In DKC 3 Funky Kong palms him off on Dixie because he's tired of baby-sitting. While Kiddy Kong is barely even a toddler (he still prefers crawling to walking), it's also immediately apparent that he's also twice Dixie's size and as strong as Donkey Kong.
Odd Couple: A baby and his babysitter. They're nevertheless equal partners on their journey.
Refuge in Audacity: There's no real way to justify putting a baby in mortal danger. Repeatedly. His babysitter Dixie did it anyway.
Really his whole character. Rare needed to design a viable replacement for Donkey Kong. Their choice: A baby. That's built like a truck.
"A twisted twig on a distant branch of the family tree", Lanky is an eccentric oddball orangutan who hangs out with the other Kongs. He marches (or handstand-walks...) to the beat of his own drum tune of his own trombone. Lanky's distinguishing characteristics are his goofy personality and ridiculously long arms. He joined up with Donkey and Diddy during one of King K. Rool's invasions of DK Isle.
Dixie Kong's little sister, Tiny Kong shares Dixie's speed, helicopter-like hair, and adventurous spirit. She's good friends with her cousin, Chunky Kong. After her first appearance, Tiny apparently hit puberty, as she is now much taller and more mature-looking than her big sister.
The biggest and strongest member of the Kong clan. Chunky is Dixie and Tiny's cousin and Kiddy's big (very big) brother. Chunky is big, strong, and tough, but has a very gentle personality and is very easily frightened. Like a true Kong, though, he always pulls through in the end.
Expy: For Kiddy Kong in Donkey Kong 64. He doesn't get the bad reception that Tiny gets, probably because he has a better-developed personality than Kiddy had.
Donkey Kong's aptly named father (or grandfather; it isn't exactly clear). Cranky Kong spends his days sitting on his front porch, dispensing sarcastic advice to passersby, and bemoaning the loss of the good ol' days of 8-bit gaming. He was married to Wrinkly Kong before she gave up the ghost. According to Donkey Kong Country, Cranky was the original Donkey Kong who kidnapped Pauline and fought Mario.Tropes associated with Cranky:
Cool Old Guy: In Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, where Cranky is playable for the first time.
Fourth Wall Observer: In the DKC series, the fourth wall practically doesn't exist for him. However, he must have gotten feeble in his old age and can no longer break it in Returns (although he does lean on it at times).
Literal Old Married Couple: Before Wrinkly's passing, he was never seen spending any time with her, only badmouthing her to the other Kongs (while she did the same about him.)
Mad Scientist: He mixed potions in the cartoon and DK64.
Meta Guy: Especially in the GBA ports, where he lampshades practically every trope that's used.
One of Donkey Kong's pals from DK Isle, Funky Kong hates leaving the safety of his garage, but gladly helps out Donkey from the sidelines. He's a first-class gearhead who's invented a wide variety of vehicles and artillery to aid his friends, and often shows up at the last minute to throw a monkey wrench (pun intended) into King K. Rool's plans. When not at work, Funky loves surfing, drumming, and kart racing.Tropes associated with Funky:
Donkey Kong's girlfriend—along with Swanky, one of the only two Kongs never to be a playable character. Candy provides a variety of services around DK Isle, including running save points and minigames.Tropes associated with Candy:
Big Damn Heroes: At the end of Donkey Kong 64, she shows up to distract King K. Rool so Funky Kong can blast him with a rocket launcher.
Tsundere: Only in the cartoon, where she was inexplicably an orangutan.
Why Do You Keep Changing Jobs?: She's been seen running a save point (in the first DKC), working at Bluster Barrelworks (in the cartoon), selling musical instruments (in Donkey Kong 64), running a challenge shack (in the Game Boy Color port of the first game), hosting a dance studio (in the first Game Boy Advance port), and being Swanky's assistant (in the other GBA ports).
Visual Innuendo: In Donkey Kong 64, she increases your health bar with large, round melons.
Well, yeah, the watermelons are your health bar... what did you expect?!?
Wrinkly Kong
"Why, if it isn't Donkey — or is it Funky? No — Diddy!"
Cranky Kong's wife and Donkey Kong's mother (grandmother?), Wrinkly used to run the Kong Kollege on Crocodile Isle, where she provided a haven and place of education for good Kremlings—as well as helpful tips for Diddy and Dixie on their quest to rescue Donkey. After the island sank, she retired to the Northern Kremisphere, where she spent her days enjoying her sunset years and caring for the local Banana Birds. Sadly, she died of old age not long after, but that didn't stop her from helping out the Kongs—she's now a ghost, and spends as much time with her family as ever.Tropes associated with Wrinkly:
Like an Old Married Couple: Before King of Swing, she was never seen spending time with Cranky, only badmouthing him to the other Kongs (while he did the same.)
A flashy show-ape with all kinds of expensive bling, a bad afro, and an unhealthy preoccupation with polyester, Swanky runs a variety of games and sideshows that give the other Kongs a chance to win some beaucoup cash and prizes. Like Candy—his occasional assistant—Swanky Kong has never been playable.Tropes associated with Swanky:
Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: He hasn't made an appearance since Donkey Kong Country 3 (which was released 15 years ago).
Funny Afro: Covered up by a bowler hat in his second appearance.
Palette Swap: Swanky uses the same model as Donkey Kong.
Rhymes on a Dime: In DKC3, but only when introducing his games for the first time.
Assist Character / Power-Up Mount: Most of the Animal Buddies are mounts that the Kongs ride on, with a handful of exceptions (most notably Squawks in the first DKC game) who simply help him navigate their levels.
A Day in the Limelight: Collecting three tokens in each buddy's image will let you play a bonus game with them in the first DKC. In the two sequels, there are levels where you control a series of animal buddies all in one level (Toxic Tower, Animal Antics, and Pot Hole Panic, respectively), and in DKC2, Rambi, Squitter, Enguarde, Squawks and Rattly all get a level to themselves.
Ellie
Introduced in Donkey Kong Country 3, Ellie is an elephant with the ability to stomp on enemies, pick up and chuck barrels at enemies, and fill her trunk with water which she can then shoot at enemies.Tropes associated with Ellie:
Eek, a Mouse!!: Scared to death of Sneeks, a rat-like enemy. If she sees one, she'll panic and run away. In the level Stampede Sprint, nearly the entire level consists of dodging enemies while an out-of-control Ellie stampedes through the stage.
The Smurfette Principle: The only animal buddy whose gender is definitely established as female.
Enguarde
A cheerful-looking swordfish, Enguarde gives his rider improved speed and mobility underwater and the ability to spear enemies with his large bill.Tropes associated with Enguarde:
Nerf: In Donkey Kong Land III. He can't do his charge-up stab move anymore, you have to press A instead of B to do his regular stab, and he will no longer automatically stab enemies when you get close to them, making him essentially useless.
"Useless" is a bit of an overstatement. He's still a faster and more precise swimmer than the Kongs and your only means of attack underwater.
Expresso
An ostrich with the abilities to jump far, run fast, and fly for a small period of time. Along with Winky, he is one of Cranky's favourite animal buddies. Also notable for being the only animal buddy apart from Rambi to appear in the first Donkey Kong Land game.Tropes associated with Expresso:
Replacement Goldfish: In the GBA port of DKC2, Cranky buys another ostrich and names him Expresso, after the one seen in the first game.
Spoony Bard: The reason for his absence after the first game. His fast-running isn't really that fast, his flying is pretty pathetic (it's more of a low-quality glide), and he gets hurt if you try to jump on enemies' heads. At times, he was more of a hindrance than a help.
Quawks
A purple parrot, appearing in DKC2 and DKC3. In the former, he could only fly downwards slowly like a "parrot-chute", but in the latter, he gained the abilities to fly in the same way as Squawks and to lift barrels. He made his grand return a decade later, in Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast, where his name was finally revealed.Tropes associated with Quawks:
Ascended Extra: His new abilities in DKC3, along with getting two levels instead of just one.
Fan Nickname: Before Barrel Blast, he was believed by fans to be two parrots (Due to there being two of him onscreen at a time) named Squeaks and Flapper, after the two wrong answers players can give to Swanky Kong when asked Quawks' name.
It had more to do with the fact that "Quawks" in DKC2 was blue, but in DKC3 was purple, as seen in this sprite sheet — and it has never been confirmed that the blue one is Quawks.
A rhinoceros with attitude and a need for speed. The most iconic animal buddy, Rambi has appeared in almost all of the DKC games (with the noticeable exception of Donkey Kong Country 3). He grants his rider increased speed, near-invincibility to enemies (as long as they don't come from above or behind), the power to break through walls, and the ability to traverse some dangerous terrain.Tropes associated with Rambi:
Badass: A badass monkey deserves a badass steed, and Rambi delivers.
The most commonly recurring Animal Buddy, Squawks is a green parrot that lives with Cranky Kong. Unlike the other Animal Buddies, Squawks has had a different use in many of the games he's appeared in. In DKC, he carried a lantern to light up a dark cavern; in DKC2 and DKC3, he actually carried the Kongs and spat eggs at enemies; in DK64 he told the story, gave tutorials, found bananas for the Kongs, and carried a flashlight; and in DKCR, he helps the Kongs locate hidden items.Tropes associated with Squawks:
Ascended Extra: Squawks went from being pretty much useless in DKC to fulfilling a vital role in DKC2.
A frog with the ability to jump high, appearing in the first game and the first game alone (although he makes a cameo in DKC2, in Cranky's shop). He also managed to somehow get a cameo in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts as a pre-made vehicle for Multiplayer. He and Expresso are Cranky's favourite animal buddies.(Coincidentally, Expresso got a cameo in a Banjo game as well.)Tropes associated with Winky:
Power Up Letdown/Spoony Bard: While being able to make high jumps was useful, Winky's hopping (as opposed to walking) movement made him very difficult to control. This problem was addressed with his replacement, Rattly. Also, the GBA port greatly fixed his movement.
"Mr. Video Game" himself, the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom first earned his stripes rescuing his then-girlfriend Pauline from the rampaging Donkey Kong. Mario and DK have clashed several times since then, most notably when Mario flew off the handle in Donkey Kong Jr. and locked DK up, forcing his son to rescue him. Read more about Mario in his own character sheet.
Snide
"This isn't a joke, Kong! I NEED those blueprints, and so do you!"
A weasel of questionable honor who appears in Donkey Kong 64. Snide was a former member of the Kremling Krew and their chief engineer, but K. Rool got paranoid and suspected Snide of working against him, so he kicked the weasel out. Snide created the Blast-O-Matic superweapon that the Kremlings intended to use to destroy DK Isle; as his revenge, he helped the Kongs by giving them back some of the Golden Bananas K. Rool stole from them, as well as by holding of the Blast-O-Matic's firing sequence so that the Kongs could disable it.
A human bug-exterminator. Stanley fought against Donkey Kong *
Footnote:or maybe Cranky Kong, depending on how you interpret the timeline
in Donkey Kong 3, but the big ape had it coming—DK invaded a greenhouse and got the local bugs all riled up, so Stanley had to go in there and perform some pest control. Stanley originally appeared in the Game & Watch game Greenhouse before his brief trip to the NES, and had a handful more G&W appearances afterwards.
An anthropomorphic preteen tiger who lives on a tropical island (presumably not far from DK Isle). When his parents went on vacation, Timber's island was invaded by the evil super-Jerkass sorcerer Wizpig, so he called on Diddy Kong and a bunch of other friends (including Banjo and Conker) to help rescue the island.
What Could Have Been: Timber was supposed to have his own spinoff game, but it never materialized. (Some say that it later got redeveloped into a different game - Banjo-Kazooie is the most frequently suspected example.)
Tutorial Pig
An anthropomorphic pig introduced in Donkey Kong Country Returns, he assist Donkey and Diddy in their quest by dispensing advice, acting as a midway point, and by summoning Super Kong if they fail one too many times in a level.
An obscenely rich (and fat) crocodile who lords over the Kremlings, just as Bowser does for the Koopas. K. Rool is Donkey Kong's Arch-Enemy in the Donkey Kong Country games, much as Bowser is to Mario. Prone to adopting new personas (Kaptain K. Rool, Baron K. Roolenstein, etc.) at the drop of a hat. Given how stupid and short-sighted he is, it's a wonder that he keeps coming back for more.Tropes associated with K. Rool:
Acrofatic: Can outrun Donkey Kong and jump across the screen.
Berserk Button: There was this time in the cartoon when Klump's video conference messed him up in the computer game he was playing. It angered him so much he let out an epic Big "NO!" and smashed the computer.
Cold-Blooded Torture: The first time you fight him on the Flying Krock in Donkey Kong Country 2, he is seen beating Donkey Kong.
Dangerously Genre Savvy: He summons a fake credits roll after it seems like you beat him, therefore making the player think the game is over and not seeing the real ending.
Determinator: The one consistent thing between his many personas is the fact that they all take immense amounts of effort to put down, usually being multi-stage bosses. In Donkey Kong 64, he goes through multiple rounds of being hammered by every Kong, and it still takes high explosives to merely get rid of him.
Politically Incorrect Villain: In Donkey Kong 64, he attempted to essentially commit genocide against the Kongs. If the Rare commentary is anything to go by, his stealing the banana hoard may have to do with starving the Kongs.
Defector from Decadence: Klubba hates K. Rool, so he plays minigames (in the Game Boy Advance remake) with the Kongs and lets them into the Lost World... for a price. Kong ally K. Lumsy was also locked up when he refused to help K. Rool destroy Donkey Kong Island and the "cute little monkies" inhabiting it.
Dem Bones: The skeletal Kritters and Klaptraps in Donkey Kong 64.
Dual Wielding: Kutlass and Krook, although Krook usually throws the hook from the same hand over again.
Topheavy Guy: Krusha, Kruncha, Kudgel, Klubba, and Krumple. Mooks with this appearance can only be defeated by a jump attack from the heavier Kong (or from Diddy and Dixie teamed up) without a barrel or Animal Buddy.
Bzzzzt... Click... Kongs enemy. You must be... DESTROYED!!!
The apparent new leader of the Kremlings in Donkey Kong Country 3, and a killer robot intent on world conquest, it's found to be secretly under the control of K Rool in his latest guise and powered by the captured Donkey and Diddy Kong. Has multiple heads that appear when each is destroyed.Tropes applying to KAOS:
An evil, racing-obsessed pig wizard from the planet Future Fun Land, he invades and conquers Timber's Island in Diddy Kong Racing, hypnotizing some of the inhabitants to act as his minions.
A huge cross between a gorilla and a cactus, the evil Cactus King ruled the distant Fruit Kingdoms with an iron fist by controlling the minds of the four Kong kings and other powerful creatures. He was overthrown when Donkey Kong came to the kingdoms' aid.
The villains of Donkey Kong Country Returns, replacing King K. Rool and the Kremling Krew. Led by the giant Tiki Tong and his instrument-shaped lieutenants, they hypnotize the animals of Donkey Kong Island into stealing DK's treasured Banana Hoard, which they use to bolster their forces (the bananas can bring inanimate Tiki masks to life... for some reason).
Fan Nickname: You'll usually see them referred to by the instrument they resemble (Kalimba, Maracas, Gong, Lute, [Pan]Flute, Xylophone, and Accordion).
No Ontological Inertia: After Tiki Tong is defeated, his followers are destroyed, and the hypnotized animals are restored to normal.
"I'm just one sneaky, peeping, two-bit step away from becoming an even richer richest ape on Kongo Bongo Island - and that's rich."
The boss of DK Island's barrel factory (owned by his mother), and Donkey Kong's rival for Candy's affections. Appeared in the Donkey Kong Country cartoon.Tropes associated with Bluster:
Accidental Hero: One episode has him get the drop on K. Rool only because he was hiding the mine kart K. Rool would use to escape. He also only rescued the Crystal Coconut because Klump threw it at him.
A pirate captain featured in the Donkey Kong Country cartoon. He believed that he was the rightful owner of the Crystal Coconut and would sometimes come to DK Island to take it, accompanied by his two mates, Green Kroc and Kutlass. Skurvy is actually Klump's twin brother, as revealed in the ChristmasFestival of Lights Episode.Tropes associated with Skurvy and his men:
Expy: Of Kannon from Donkey Kong Country 2, with a bit of Kaptain K. Rool.
Long Lost Sibling: Skurvy separated from Klump during their childhood when Klump accidentally burnt down their home in the swamp with fireworks and Skurvy took the blame for it.
A white-furred Kong living up in the snowcapped White Mountains of the Donkey Kong Country cartoon. Armed with a big club and the distinction of being even dumber than DK, Eddie is a wild force in Kongo-Bongo Island.Tropes associated with Eddie:
A sarcastic, talking parrot from the Donkey Kong Country cartoon. He sometimes helps K.Rool or Scurvy with their plots to take the Crystal Coconut, but seems content to sit on the sidelines and dispense snarky comments.Tropes associated with Polly:
Heel Face Revolving Door: In Raiders of the Lost Banana, he claims he's turning good...only to turn back at the end of the episode.
