Cranky Kong
- This article is about the recurring character in the Donkey Kong franchise. For his younger form in the Donkey Kong Country television series, see Cranky Kong (young). For the character playlist on the Nintendo Music app, see List of character playlists on Nintendo Music § Cranky Kong.
- "Cranky" redirects here. For King K. Rool's ancestor from Super Donkey Kong with Mario 2, see Cranky K. Rool.
| Cranky Kong | |
|---|---|
 Artwork from Donkey Kong Country Returns HD | |
| Full name | Donkey Kong Sr.[1] |
| Species | Kong (gorilla-based) |
| First appearance | Donkey Kong (as Donkey Kong) (1981) Donkey Kong Country (as Cranky Kong) (1994) |
| Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Bananza (2025) |
| Latest portrayal | Takashi Nagasako (2007–present) |
| Member of | Kong Family (patriarch) |
- “Look!...look at this!...as I rock, my beard swings! Waste of frames in my opinion!”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country
Cranky Kong, also known as simply Cranky and abbreviated as CK since Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, is an elderly Kong who is a recurring character in the Donkey Kong franchise, first appearing in Donkey Kong Country. He is depicted as a paternal figure to Donkey Kong, though their exact relation varies. Cranky is characterized by frequently breaking the fourth wall and constantly complaining and rambling (especially in Rare-made games), although he proves to be a helpful sage in many situations, having been shown to possess much knowledge about the current location and its history and secrets.[2][3][4]
Cranky is currently a widower, as his wife, Wrinkly Kong, is deceased (starting in Donkey Kong 64). He is usually portrayed as the elderly form of the original Donkey Kong from the Donkey Kong arcade game,[5] and can be described as argumentative and bad-tempered but with a heart of gold underneath his grumpy exterior. Cranky is usually a non-playable character, but he has made playable appearances in some games. His abilities and physical health vary greatly between games, from him being unable to walk without two canes to him being just as athletic as the other Kongs.
Creation[edit]
The pitch that would lead to Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong and the Golden Bananas, featured a character named Grandpa Kong, who was a white-furred bearded Kong who looked very similar to Donkey Kong himself. Due to Donkey Kong Jr.'s presence in the pitch, it seems that the idea of him being the original arcade Donkey Kong had not yet been written. Throughout Donkey Kong Country's development, the character would eventually be retooled to his current appearance, but unused dialogue found in the game's data suggests Cranky was initially written as a more kindly and friendly individual.[6] Cranky Kong's dialogue in the final game and instruction manual was primarily written by Gregg Mayles,[7] with some lines contributed by Tim Stamper.[8]
General information[edit]
Identity confusion[edit]
During Rare's tenure[edit]
Rare initially created Cranky Kong, then-named "Grandpa Kong", for a game featuring the original Donkey Kong from the earlier Donkey Kong games, who he was the grandfather of.[9] As Rare's game got reworked into Donkey Kong Country, featuring a more distinctly different Donkey Kong, Grandpa Kong was then established as the original Donkey Kong at an elderly age. According to Greg Mayles, due to Nintendo's forbidding to use the new Donkey Kong Jr. design for that character (leading to the design being given to Diddy Kong) they were careful not to lean too much into changing the history of Nintendo's characters, admitting to not putting too much thought into relations with the Kongs and primarily wanting a humorous character that could call back to the older days. Despite this, Cranky and Arcade DK definitely being the same was how they viewed them.[10] Due to this, Cranky Kong's exact relation to the current Donkey Kong has been inconsistent.
Before the release of Donkey Kong Country, footage from a promotional video titled Donkey Kong Country: Exposed called Cranky Kong his "dad or grandfather", and Cranky Kong refers to Donkey Kong as "Junior" in the review of Donkey Kong Country by the Nintendo Magazine System, likely to initially establish a father-son relationship like in the Donkey Kong Jr. collection of games and Donkey Kong II.[11] However, upon release, Cranky Kong being Donkey Kong's grandfather was the consistent backstory throughout the SNES series.[5]
While their relation was not explicitly stated in the television series, Cranky acts as a father figure to Donkey Kong and says in the episode "Message in a Bottle Show" that he considers Donkey Kong "like a son". In Donkey Kong 64, Cranky Kong consistently addresses Donkey Kong as "son",[12] implying a more direct parental role.
Leigh Loveday stated in a 1999 online Q&A that the current Donkey Kong was intended to be Cranky Kong's son and thus an adult Donkey Kong Jr. as far as he was aware, and requested fans to completely ignore instances claiming Cranky to be his grandfather.[13] Whether or not this statement was intended to be taken seriously, the Nintendo of Europe website for the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country supported this notion.[14] According to Gregg Mayles in 2017, Cranky Kong is Donkey Kong's grandfather and called him "son" during the events of Donkey Kong 64 because he was so senile by then that he could not remember their actual relationship.[15] The Italian Club Nintendo magazine also states that Cranky is the father of Donkey Kong,[16] despite the Italian instruction booklet stating that he is his grandfather.[17] Also, in Nintendo La Rivista Ufficiale, in a family tree of the Super Mario and Donkey Kong characters, Donkey Kong Jr. is considered the younger version of the modern Donkey Kong and therefore Cranky Kong's son. On the same page, Swanky Kong is also considered Cranky's second son.[18] The Super Mario Kodansha manga also agrees that Donkey Kong Jr. grows to be the modern Donkey Kong, making the latter the son of Donkey Kong Sr./Cranky Kong.[19]
Post-Rare[edit]
After Rare was purchased by Microsoft and left the Donkey Kong franchise, the issue was left open for some time. Official bios for both Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee imply that the Donkey Kong from the arcade games is the same as the current Donkey Kong,[20][21] and Mario vs. Donkey Kong describes Donkey Kong as Mario's "original foe".[22] However, this is contradicted by Mario Superstar Baseball, which distinguishes "his ancestor, the original Donkey Kong".[23] Subsequently, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis implies that Donkey Kong had never seen Pauline beforehand, suggesting him to be distinct from the original Donkey Kong.[24] The Metal Gear codecs of Super Smash Bros. Brawl (and, consequently, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate) stick with the story that the original Donkey Kong is the current Donkey Kong's grandfather.[25] Donkey Kong Country Returns reaffirms the portrayal of Cranky Kong as the grandfather of the modern Donkey Kong.[26] In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Donkey Kong is referred to as Cranky Kong's son and, according to the Japanese website, successor.[27]
The 2017 book Playing With Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics by Prima Games contains two contradictory notes. In one section, it is explained that Donkey Kong Jr. is a separate character from both Cranky Kong and Donkey Kong and is actually the father of the current Donkey Kong and the son of Cranky Kong (who is further explained to be the original Donkey Kong, "Donkey Kong Sr.").[28] Another section, however, notes that the current Donkey Kong is in fact a grown-up Donkey Kong Jr.[29] The Prima Games Twitter account clarified and elaborated upon the apparent contradiction, stating that the latter is meant to be taken as a metaphor for the original design process, whereas the former is the official interpretation of the characters' familial ties.[30] This is the only published work that has directly stated that Donkey Kong Jr. is the father of the current Donkey Kong.
However, there are various other sources of Nintendo treating the modern Donkey Kong as being the same as the arcade Donkey Kong. The earliest examples of this are teaming up Donkey Kong Jr. with the new design for Donkey Kong in both Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64 and pre-release versions of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (before the final game replaced the former with the more recent Diddy Kong). Box art for Donkey Kong Country and Mario vs. Donkey Kong refer to Donkey Kong as if he is the same character.[31][32][33][34] The Japanese Super Smash Blog connected Donkey Kong to the original arcade game,[35] as opposed to Breath of the Wild Link, who is not connected to the first game, and Zelda, who is connected to her iteration from A Link to the Past.[36] In interviews, Nintendo has referred to Donkey Kong as being a villain before becoming a hero in modern games.[37][38] References to the original arcade game such as sound effects for the Donkey Kong costume in Super Mario Maker and Donkey Kong using the NES sprites for the Duck Hunt trailer and Pac-Man poster in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U are affiliated with the current Donkey Kong rather than Cranky Kong, as do some stickers and DK Spaceport in Mario Kart World.
References to Cranky being the original within the mainline Donkey Kong games would start to disappear from later games and media such as Donkey Kong Country Returns and Super Nintendo World. It would not be until Donkey Kong Bananza when he makes references to the original arcade game. These references are only in the English version, while all other languages, particularly Japanese, lack these references:
| Layer | Japanese script | Japanese translation | English localization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagoon Layer | それにしても犯入(ヤツ)め...あんなぶりで組織のトップとは近頃のモノは見る目がないの～
ワシが代わりに雇ってやろうかの フォッ" |
"But even so, that thief... the leader of an organization has no eye for things these days.
Maybe I should take his place. Heh." |
"What a rotten crook... How does a fool like that command any respect?
In my day, rivals had charisma...even in overalls! Heh!" |
| Forest Layer | "それにしてもバナナドロボ～め…手下をるててきおってなんともエラそ～なやるじゃ！
ワシがもう少し若ければ手下もろともすぐにとっちめてやるんじゃがのう" |
"But that banana thief, how arrogant he seems to lead his minions around!
If I was just a little younger, I would have taken him and his minions down quickly." |
"What a rotten crook... He think he's such a big shot, flaunting his mindless flunkies everywhere he goes...
If I was in my prime, I'd knock all those goons out with a single barrel toss!" |
| The Junction | "それにしても犯入(ヤツ)め...あんななりして飛び道具を使うとはヒキョウなやつじゃ
肉弾戦でかかってこんかい！" |
"But that thief, to use a flying projectile even in that state is mean, huh.
Next time, come at me with hand to hand combat!" |
"What a rotten crook... Only weak villains fire projectiles as their main attack! Everybody knows that!
He should use sheer muscle...and toss a barrel or two! Now there's an attack with some integrity." |
| Racing Layer | "それにしても...あの憎たらしい犯入(ヤツ)の笑い顔を思い出すたびムカムカしてくろんじゃ！
今度出会ったときには絶対にとっちめてやるつもりじゃ！" |
With that, remembering that hateful thief's smiling face makes me sick!
Next time we met, I'll definitely beat him up!" |
"What a rotten crook... He thinks he's so intimidating, flashing that crooked grin of his every chance he gets...
If he thinks it's crooked now...wait till I throw a barrel at it! Heh!" |
| Planet Core | "それにしても犯入(ヤツ)め...あんななりしてメカに強いとはなかなからるわい
しかも空を飛ぶとは販促じゃ!" |
"But that thief...it's amazing how someone can be that strong with machines.
And flying through the sky is a promotional gimmick!" |
"What a rotten crook... No idea how that fella got so good with machines. Boggles the mind.
He's such a coward, usin' his gizmo to zip around like some kind of buzz boy... Want verticality? Climb a girder or two!" |
Physical description[edit]
- “My muscles, my strength, my face! I'm not a stud muffin anymore!”
- —Cranky Kong, "Ape Foo Young"
Compared to his appearances in the original Donkey Kong and its two sequels (where he greatly resembled the current Donkey Kong), Cranky Kong appears to have become thinner, more diminutive, and much less muscular over the years, with his fur also becoming slightly darker. He bears facial proportions much like those of his grandson, though his head is smooth on top, his lips are more wrinkled, and he wears thick glasses with black frames. He has also grown a thick, white beard which obscures most of his torso, due to the fact that he always stands with a heavy slouch. Beneath his beard, Cranky Kong wears a taupe sweater-vest (green in Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3) as his only garment. Finally, Cranky always carries an ordinary-looking wooden cane with him (though he held two in Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3). His trademark pose involves him standing on both feet with a heavy slouch, his cane in one hand, and the other arm resting on his back. In addition, his gameplay in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze suggests that he might wear dentures, this was also shown in the 2003 build Diddy Kong Pilot, where Cranky would take his dentures off in one of his character selection portraits.
Personality[edit]
Cranky is generally depicted as curmudgeonly and bitter, always making sarcastic remarks about various things, pointing out flaws in the other Kongs (particularly Donkey Kong) or even the very games he appears in, and complaining about everything he does not like. He is also rather cocky, claiming himself to be among the best video game icons ever, and that he is and always will be better than his grandson despite his old and frail state. His arrogance is countered by his poor sportsmanship however. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest shows Cranky to be misogynistic in towards of Dixie whenever she and/or Diddy visit him in the Monkey Museum.[39] Aside from this, Cranky Kong is also known to display traits of stereotypical elders, such as constantly demanding sleep. Cranky can be benevolent and heroic when the situation calls for it, such as how he helps DK and his friends take back Donkey Kong Island in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Cranky sometimes asks DK for help, or allows him take over in situations. Despite his cantankerous manners, Cranky has praised his fellow Kongs on exceptional occasions (more frequently in DK: Jungle Climber, where he is shown to be less irritable), such as telling Donkey Kong that "he's nearly as good as I used to be" if 101% Completion is achieved in the original Donkey Kong Country, or saying of Diddy that "You're as big of a hero as they come." if all Video Game Hero Coins are recovered in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
Theme[edit]
Cranky Kong is associated with the musical theme "Cranky's Theme" from Donkey Kong Country, which plays in Cranky's Cabin.
 Cranky's Theme - The musical theme from Donkey Kong Country | File info 0:30 |
History[edit]
Background[edit]
- “Whisking off maidens and chucking barrels, seven days a week I was!”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance)
- Main section: History of Donkey Kong § Donkey Kong arcade series
According to various pieces of official media, starting with Donkey Kong Country, Cranky Kong is the original Donkey Kong from the arcade games appearing in Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr. and Donkey Kong 3. During his youth, Cranky Kong kidnapped Pauline and took her to a construction site, was kidnapped and trapped in a cage by Mario, and even battled Stanley in various greenhouses. He also implies in one of his lectures to his grandson that his kidnapping of Pauline was consistent enough that he did so "seven days a week". Not counting the "Modern" mixes in the Game & Watch Gallery series or a cameo in Mario Clash, his final role as Donkey Kong was in Donkey Kong for the Game Boy. He retired after he relinquished the name to his grandson.[40]
Donkey Kong franchise[edit]
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country[edit]
- “Now, off you go!! See if you can't finish this ridiculous quest without my help!”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country
Cranky first appeared in his elderly form in Donkey Kong Country, in which he lives in a slightly rundown shack known as Cranky's Cabin. From here, Cranky gives randomly selected advice on the game's various items and locations, mostly pertaining to the first few levels, to the new Donkey Kong and his friend Diddy Kong. Unlike in the sequels, Cranky asks no fee for his bits of advice and can be consulted as many times as the player desires. Cranky also appears in the opening cutscene before the title screen, operating a phonograph that plays the theme song from the NES version of Donkey Kong atop a construction site. Donkey Kong disrupts his session by knocking him aside and dancing to a remixed version of the song Cranky was playing on the phonograph, which plays on a boombox he drops nearby, then the scene turns to a jungle. Cranky, irritated by this interruption, throws a TNT Barrel at Donkey Kong's boombox, destroying it.
In the game's manual, Cranky provides various commentary to try and discourage potential players from the game, such as claiming that the characters and items listed do not exist. Despite this, the back of the manual has a section titled "Cranky's Advice" where he gives some basic tips on the game. The manual's backstory for the game, which would later be incorporated into the Game Boy Advance version as the game's intro, also has Cranky Kong showing off to Donkey Kong that the Banana Hoard alongside Diddy were stolen the night before under the sarcastic premise of "a big surprise", while telling him off for shirking off his guard duty.
Cranky Kong has an unused walking animation in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System version of the game, which would later be used in the Game Boy Advance version.[41] Also in the GBA version's ending, after K. Rool forces Cranky and the others to swim back to shore, he bitterly stated this came across as a poor attempt at setting up a sequel.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[edit]
- “For just five bucks, you can buy my memoirs. What a dynamic and exciting life I've led. You'll be lucky to star in half as many games as I been.”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Cranky sets up his Monkey Museum on Crocodile Isle. It appears as though, through his further aging, it has become more difficult to walk, as he stands with two canes. Once again, Cranky will give out information, this time for a price. In this game, Cranky also scatters several Video Game Hero Coins throughout the game's various levels. Once Kaptain K. Rool is defeated, Cranky will tally Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong's "hero status" by how many Video Game Hero Coins they have collected. His specific actions during this time will vary depending on when the player beat K. Rool. If aboard the Flying Croc, Cranky will backhandedly compliment Diddy and Dixie on their victory before hinting that they should finish the job at the Lost World. If after defeating the Lost World, Cranky will congratulate Diddy and Dixie for succeeding and admit even he was impressed. He also ended up stuttering during the latter instance due to the effects of tremors caused by the impending destruction of Crocodile Isle. Donkey Kong Country 2 also introduced Cranky's wife, Wrinkly Kong.
As in the previous game, he provides snide commentary throughout the manual, such as saying that the story is even worse than the previous game's, criticizing the various items in the game as "rubbish", and betting that most of the enemies listed are not actually in the game. Also like the previous game's manual, he also was depicted in the backstory (which was also incorporated into the Game Boy Advance remake as the game's intro cutscene) as having lectured Donkey Kong against taking breaks after the events of the first Country game while alluding to his past role in the arcade game just before Donkey Kong ended up abducted by the Kremling Krew under Kaptain K. Rool.
Cranky's role remains relatively the same in the remake, although it was slightly expanded with a new sidequest. Cranky bought a racing ostrich he named Expresso, which the Kongs can bulk up using golden feathers and race against other ostriches to try and achieve trophies in exchange for rewards from Cranky.
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]
- “Here's my strategy guide for you..... Give it up now and save your monkey!”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Cranky makes fewer appearances. A picture of Cranky is on a wall in the background of Wrinkly's Save Cave. In Swanky's Sideshow, Cranky Kong acts as Dixie and Kiddy Kong's opponent in various ball throwing minigames. Cranky also appears at the end of the game to criticize Dixie and Kiddy's victory over KAOS and Baron K. Roolenstein, resulting in Dixie and Kiddy Kong approaching him ominously while he tries to avoid an inevitable beating by putting on glasses. At the end of the post-game cutscene, Cranky will appear in the background doing a few water-skiing tricks behind Funky Kong, who pulls him with a motorboat. He eventually falls in water, but comes back to the surface holding up a sign which says "THE END" in runny ink. He is also top of the All-Time Greats list at the end of the game, having beat the game in 04:22 with 103%. If the player beats the game with the TUFST code activated, thereby attaining 105%, they will get a trophy of Cranky Kong in a black belt's outfit and will be named "Immortal Monkey!"
In the remake, Cranky runs several dojos, aptly named Cranky's Dojo to prepare for his self-purported "first" game, Cranky Kong Country. He wears a similar dojo outfit as in the original game's "Immortal Monkey!" trophy. In Cranky's Dojo, players gain the ability to play as a shield-wielding Cranky during a Bristles dodging minigame. Cranky's Dojo minigame must be beaten at least once to gain a Banana Bird. Cranky also makes appearances shortly after each of the bosses are defeated where he congratulates the Kong that landed the finishing blow before making a joke at the boss's expense.
Donkey Kong Country Returns (3D / HD)[edit]
- “They stopped paying my pension ages ago. Now I'm reduced to selling junk out of this old shack.”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country Returns
Cranky appears in Donkey Kong Country Returns and its Nintendo 3DS and Switch ports. Cranky Kong runs a shop in each world, which sells helpful items for Banana Coins. Some of the items can be equipped before entering a level to make the level easier. One of the items is Squawks, who is one of Cranky's friends and helps him find his keys. Cranky Kong often makes sarcastic remarks over what Donkey and Diddy Kong buy. He has many other lines of dialogue, which range from encouraging Donkey Kong, talking about each world or other characters, grousing about his situation, reminiscing about the past, various hints, and allusions to the Golden Temple. In one of them, Cranky Kong explains he opened the shop because his pension was revoked. In some others, he explains he inflates the Red Balloons he sells. Cranky Kong does not break the fourth wall as much as he does in previous games. For instance, Cranky Kong does not refer to Donkey Kong Country Returns itself as a video game but he does reference it as an "adventure" or "quest". One of his tips is about levels, using that term. Another example is that a line specific to the Volcano, the world with the final boss, has him remark that Donkey Kong is near the end of the adventure.
In the instruction manual for Donkey Kong Country Returns, Cranky Kong describes the game's story in the Prologue section. He has several tips and quips in the manual, including a dedicated section called Cranky's Tips as the manual's conclusion.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]
Cranky Kong is a playable partner character in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its Nintendo Switch port of the same name, marking the first time he is fully playable in a Donkey Kong Country game (his role as shopkeeper is filled by Funky Kong). Cranky is able to use his cane in a move called the Cane Bounce, bouncing off the ground to go higher than a normal jump. The Cane Bounce works even on spikes, and it can defeat certain enemies that normal jumps do not. His cane can also be utilized while underwater, using a move called the Cane Swipe to attack and take down enemies that cannot be defeated by a simple corkscrew move, such as Pufftups and Sea Urchins. Despite the cane's capabilities, it cannot be used to collapse unsound underwater structures, balancing it in relation to the corkscrew action. Cranky's Denture Popgun has unlimited ammo of dentures, which can be shot at enemies in order to stun them for a brief period of time, though Cranky has also been interpreted as simply throwing dentures.[42] Cranky's use of his cane as a pogo stick to attack enemies is similar to the method of attack used by Scrooge McDuck, the main protagonist of Disney's DuckTales, in a video game adaptation of his show that Capcom produced for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is the only game in the Donkey Kong Country series where Cranky does not have any written dialogue.
Donkey Kong Land series[edit]
While Cranky does not physically appear in any of the Donkey Kong Land games, the instruction booklet for the first Donkey Kong Land explains that the game happens owing to Cranky. Jealous of Donkey and Diddy's victory over King K. Rool, Cranky attracts them into a bet, stating that if they can reclaim Donkey's banana hoard from King K. Rool once again, this time on an 8-bit system, he will admit that they are adequate gaming heroes. In the end, Cranky retracts his doubts when Donkey and Diddy once again defeat K. Rool and the Kremling Krew.
Additionally, the instruction booklet for Donkey Kong Land 2 accidentally states that "Even old Cranky charges for his words of wisdom", having copied and pasted the line directly from the Donkey Kong Country 2 manual.[43]
Donkey Kong 64[edit]
- “I’ve perfected another of my potions, Donkey/Diddy/Lanky/Tiny/Chunky, and it’s yours for just 3/5/7 coins. You won't get much further without it, so I suggest you pay up.”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong 64
Cranky Kong returns in Donkey Kong 64, having taken up science. Cranky's Lab can be found in every area of Donkey Kong 64 except Hideout Helm. At Cranky's Lab, the Kongs can pay Professor Cranky for several potions that can give them new powers and abilities. Also, if the Kongs manage to collect fifteen Banana Medals, he will allow them to play Jetpac, the first published computer game of Ultimate Play The Game (Rare's direct predecessor). The Kongs must beat the Jetpac game in order to obtain the Rareware Coin. Cranky also acts as the Kongs' coach during their boxing match against King "Krusha" K. Rool. In the ending, he also makes his way through the Banana Hoard cave to personally observe Donkey Kong officially restore it with the last Golden Banana. However, he ends up taking a long enough time to get there due to his age that Donkey Kong had already fallen asleep by the time Cranky arrived.
Once again, he makes comments throughout the instruction booklet, such as insulting the games' formulaic approach and hoping that an arcade-inspired level design he submitted ("The Great Girder Grapple") was included as a bonus. When presenting his own character profile, he insists on being called Professor Cranky Kong.[44]
Donkey Konga series[edit]
Cranky also appears in all three games of the Donkey Konga series, playing the role of a major non-playable character.
DK series[edit]
DK: King of Swing[edit]
In DK: King of Swing Cranky Kong, along with the ghost of his wife Wrinkly, teaches Donkey Kong how to use the games unique controls in Cranky's Lectures. Cranky, along with Candy Kong, are the only Kongs who are not playable in DK: King of Swing's Jungle Jam mode.
DK: Jungle Climber[edit]
Cranky once again appears in DK: Jungle Climber. He teaches DK and Diddy how to play the game, and also appears in various levels to instruct them on new moves, power-ups, and collectibles. Cranky has a very active involvement in this game, as he follows DK, Diddy and Xananab throughout the various islands. He also makes announcements to tell the characters what they can do with the various Banana Coins, DK Coins, and oil barrels they collect throughout the levels, as well as tracking their game completion. Cranky's namesake personality is substantially diminished, having a more good-natured, wise, and altruistic persona.
Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast[edit]
Cranky appears in Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast as a playable character, unlocked by completing Challenge 24 of Candy's Challenges. All three of his stats are rated four stars out of a possible five. His rival is King K. Rool, who has the same stats as him. His stats essentially mean that he has high stats all around. He also has his own race course, Cranky's Temple.
Cranky Kong also hosts Cranky's Flight School, a mode that serves as a tutorial to the game.
Donkey Kong Bananza[edit]
- “Do you know why I'm down here? Eh? Well, I'll tell ya... It's because a certain big shot was derelict of duty!”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Bananza
Cranky Kong reappears in Donkey Kong Bananza, with a similar role to Captain Toad in Super Mario Odyssey. Whereas Donkey Kong sports a new design in this game, Cranky Kong retains his previous design with only minor changes. He also retains Takashi Nagasako as his voice actor through reused voice clips. He holds a shovel in place of his usual cane. He appears in every layer of the Underground World, usually in a hidden or difficult-to-reach spot. He appears alongside Rambi, whom he says he had to ride all the way down into the Underground World.[45] When spoken to in each layer, Cranky gives a Banandium Gem to Donkey Kong after ranting to him about his pursuit of King K. Rool, who he refers to only as "a certain banana bandit", and scolds Donkey Kong for putting him in the position of having to play the hero in his absence. In each layer, Cranky complains about a different aspect of K. Rool, though everything he mentions could also describe Void Kong. The fact that he is referring to K. Rool is made more explicit in the post-game, as an extra line is added to Cranky Kong's rants in which he admits that Donkey Kong already defeated "that crook of a croc".
Locations[edit]
| Layer | Sublayer | Image | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingot Isle Cave-In | SL10 (post-game only) | 
|
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| Lagoon Layer | SL100 | 
|
|
| Hilltop Layer | SL200 | 
|
|
| Canyon Layer | SL300 | 
|
|
| The Divide | SL400 | 
|
|
| Freezer Layer | SL500 | 
|
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| Forest Layer | SL600 | 
|
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| The Junction | SL700 | 
|
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| Resort Layer | SL800 | 
|
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| Tempest Layer | SL902 | 
|
