Kong
- “I am the king of Kong, the simian number one.”
- —Diddy Kong, Kong for a Day
Kongs are sapient non-human primates that make up much of the cast of the Donkey Kong franchise, with the eponymous character himself being one. They are capable of things such as speech and building houses, and typically wear clothing, though the amount varies drastically with the individual, with Donkey Kong himself only wearing a tie, while many others wear full outfits. They seem to be native to Donkey Kong Island, and share an animosity with much of the crocodilian Kremling race. While most of them share the surname "Kong," they are not all directly related to one another. Kongs can resemble any number of real-life primates, with Donkey Kong, Funky Kong, and several others being gorillas, Diddy Kong being a monkey, Dixie Kong and Tiny Kong being chimpanzees, and Lanky Kong being an orangutan.
In the Donkey Kong Country cartoon, they are never referred to as "Kongs" outside of their individual names. Instead, generic names of various real-life types of primates, such as "monkeys," "chimps," and "gorillas" are used fairly interchangeably to describe them. However, the term "baboon" seems to be reserved as an insult, potentially due to it sounding similar to the word "buffoon," and is even used against non-Kongs, such as Cranky Kong using it for Krusha in From Zero to Hero.
Kong Family
The Kong Family[1][2] (also known as the Kong Klan[3] and the DK Crew[4][5]) is the main group of Kongs, being Donkey Kong's family and close friends. The patriarch of the family is Cranky Kong, the original Donkey Kong. In the Donkey Kong franchise series of video games, members of the Kong Family are either playable characters or supporting characters that aid the main heroes on their journey, although they also receive help from allies outside of the family, including: Animal Friends, Brother Bears, Banana Bird Queen, K. Lumsy, Snide, Troff with Scoff, Banana Fairy Queen, Timber, Taj, Xananab and Professor Chops.
The family often uses the initials "DK" as a symbol, which most often represents Donkey Kong. It is seen on Donkey Kong's tie, DK Barrels, DK Coins, the Level Flags, DK Spaces, and various objects around Donkey Kong Island. The symbol is also used in the Super Smash Bros. series, although in this context, it is used as the logo for the Donkey Kong franchise in general instead of just the Kong Family members (since King K. Rool and Klaptraps also use it).
List of Kongs
Donkey Kong's family
- Cranky Kong's great grandfather — Was said to have once owned an antique mirror in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![6]
- Cranky Kong — The original Donkey Kong, the paternal figure of Donkey Kong Jr. and Donkey Kong, Wrinkly Kong's husband.
- Donkey Kong Jr. — Donkey Kong's father.
- Donkey Kong — The current Donkey Kong, Cranky Kong's grandson.
- Baby Donkey Kong — The younger version of Donkey Kong in Yoshi's Island DS.
- Baby Kong — The younger version of Donkey Kong in the Donkey Kong Country television series.
- Wrinkly Kong — Cranky Kong's wife. She appeared alive up until Donkey Kong 64; from then onwards, she has been deceased and her spirit form appears.
Dixie Kong's family
- Dixie Kong — Diddy Kong's girlfriend, Tiny Kong's older sister, Kiddy and Chunky Kong's cousin.
- Tiny Kong — Dixie Kong's younger sister, Kiddy and Chunky Kong's cousin.
- Chunky Kong — Kiddy Kong's older brother, Dixie and Tiny Kong's cousin.
- Kiddy Kong — Chunky Kong's younger brother, Dixie and Tiny Kong's cousin.
Close friends
- Candy Kong — Donkey Kong's rumored girlfriend.
- Diddy Kong — Donkey Kong's sidekick and Dixie Kong's boyfriend.
- Funky Kong — Donkey Kong's friend.
Other members
- Bink — A deceased Kong-like character in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.
- Bluster Kong — A rich arrogant Kong that runs the barrel factory on Donkey Kong Island.
- Eddie the Mean Old Yeti — A Kong that lives in the mountains of Donkey Kong Island.
- Junior (II) — A pink variant of Donkey Kong Jr.
- Kong Fu — A Kong that challenges Donkey Kong in the television show.
- Lanky Kong — Relationship unknown.[7][8]
- Mini Donkey Kong — A Kong that signifies an alarm.
- Monkey Kong — An implied Kong chosen to lead the Federation of Future Rulers.
- Super Kong — A powerful version of Donkey Kong that appears to help the player get through levels.
- Swanky Kong — A Kong that hosts a game show.
Evil Kongs
- Dread Kong — A member of the Evil Kings.
- Ghastly King, a.k.a. Cactus King — The leader of the Evil Kings.
- Karate Kong — A member of the Evil Kings.
- Ninja Kong — A member of the Evil Kings.
- Rabbid Kong — A Rabbid/Kong cross-creation.
- Sumo Kong — A member of the Evil Kings.
Unused Kongs
- An unnamed, hatted Kong - Donkey Kong Land.
- An unnamed Kong with dark fur and glowing red eyes. He was replaced by Dread Kong in the final game - Donkey Kong Jungle Beat.
- Template:Media link - Diddy Kong Pilot.
Gallery
The Kongs of Donkey Kong Country. From left to right: Funky Kong, Diddy Kong, Candy Kong, Donkey Kong, and Cranky Kong.
The Kongs of Donkey Kong Country 2. From left to right: Diddy Kong, Donkey Kong, Dixie Kong, Funky Kong, Cranky Kong, Wrinkly Kong, and Swanky Kong.
The Kongs of Donkey Kong Country 3. From left to right: Kiddy Kong, Diddy Kong, Donkey Kong, Cranky Kong, Dixie Kong, and Wrinkly Kong.
The main Kongs featured in the game Donkey Kong 64. From left to right: Diddy Kong, Lanky Kong, Donkey Kong, Chunky Kong, and Tiny Kong.
The main Kongs in the Donkey Kong Country TV show. Clockwise from top left: Funky Kong, Donkey Kong, Bluster Kong, Candy Kong, Cranky Kong, Diddy Kong, and Dixie Kong.
The main Kong bosses from Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. From left to right: Karate Kong, Dread Kong, Ninja Kong, and Sumo Kong.
References
- ^ Cranky's words: "Have you been to see the other members of the Kong family? They're not as useful as me of course, but they might be able to help." - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
- ^ Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Instruction Booklet, Nintendo, 1995, p. 21
- ^ Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Player's Guide, Nintendo, 1996, p. 8
- ^ DK Rap singer: "He's the first member of the DK crew!" - Donkey Kong 64
- ^ Narrator: "The DK Crew came to his tropical paradise for a little R&R." - DK: Jungle Climber
- ^ Bazaar's words: "Yes, but it's no ordinary one though! It was Cranky's great grandfather's! I can't let it go for less than 50 coins." - Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
- ^ In Cranky's words: "A newcomer to the Kong clan and the joker of the pack. I haven't a clue whom he's related to—must be some distant cousin or something." - Donkey Kong 64 instruction booklet, page 8.
- ^ Chunky's bio from German DK64 website: "The well-mannered giant gorilla is, in the truest sense of the word, a great guy, and sticks to Lanky, his uncle once-removed."
| Kongs | |
|---|---|
| Kong characters | |
| Baby Kong • Bink • Bluster Kong (Leo Luster) • Candy Clone • Candy Kong • Chunky Kong • Cranky Kong (Young) • Cranky Kong's great grandfather • Diddy Kong • Dixie Kong • Donkey Kong (Baby, Robot) • Donkey Kong Jr. • Dread Kong • Driver • Eddie • Funky Kong • Ghastly King • Karate Kong • Kiddy Kong • Kong Fu • Lanky Kong • Mecha Donkey Kong • Mini Donkey Kong (Game & Watch) • Monkey Kong • Ninja Kong • Rabbid Cranky • Rabbid Kong (Mega) • Ringo • Snow Kong • Sumo Kong • Super Kong • Swanky Kong • Tiny Kong • Uncle Kong • Wrinkly Kong | |
| Kong species | |
| Chained Kong • Cyber Kong • Guerrilla • Helper Monkey • Kong • Manky Kong • Mini Diddy Kong • Mini Donkey Kong (toy) • Ninjape • Snow Ucky Kong • Uckykong | |
| Donkey Kong's robots | |
| Cannon Kong • Capture Kong • Catapult Kong • Circus Kong • Cool Kong • Crash Kong • Kongā | |
| Kong groups | |
| Donkey Kong's robots • Kong (boss group) • Kong Family | |
