Fronk
- This article is about 9-Volt's pet. For Fronks as a species, see Fronk (species).
| Fronk | |
|---|---|
 Artwork of Fronk from WarioWare: Get It Together! | |
| Species | Fronk |
| First appearance | WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! (2003) |
| Latest appearance | WarioWare: Move It! (2023) |
| Latest portrayal | Todd Haberkorn (2018–present) |
- “That's right. Want to know my secret? It's 8-bit yoga.”
- —Fronk, WarioWare Gold
Fronk is 9-Volt's pet in the WarioWare series. In his first appearance in WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, he goes by the name of Shag in the English version, which is derived from his Japanese name Shaggy. Since WarioWare: Twisted!, however, he has been known as Fronk in English, due to the word "shag" doubling as a vulgar slang term for sexual intercourse in British English.
History
WarioWare series
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
In WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, Shag appears as 9-Volt's third break scene, where 9-Volt pets Shag and causes him to sweat, and Chicken Race, where Shag competes against 9-Volt.
WarioWare: Twisted!
In WarioWare: Twisted!, Fronk has his own set of microgames. Unlike the other characters, they can appear at any point in stages. They must be completed faster compared to other microgames and are signaled to the player with a unique sound.
Game & Wario
In Game & Wario, Fronk hosts the minigame Islands. In Patchwork, the last medium puzzle is based off of him. In the Shutter minigame, the player can take a picture of Fronk to earn an additional 200 points.
WarioWare Gold
9-Volt's pet Fronk appears in WarioWare Gold, alongside 9-Volt. He creates microgames for the Wario Bowl, much like how he has a set of microgames in WarioWare: Twisted!. His microgames are of the Pop-Up genre, meaning they are shorter than other microgames. No other characters create Pop-Up microgames. All of Fronk's microgames involve himself or other Fronks. Unlike most of the characters who create microgames, Fronk does not have his own stage. Instead, Fronk is a member of both the Dancing Team and the Potluck Gang, each a host of one of the stages of the Ultra League. His microgames are mixed into those stages. Additionally, Tread Carefully appears in Wario Deluxe's stage. This game marks Fronk's first speaking role, where he has a deep voice. In the Japanese version of the game, like Dribble & Spitz, he speaks in the Kansai dialect,[1] a dialect stereotypically associated with fun-loving, boisterous characters.
Fronk's size varies depending on the cutscene. In the Dancing Team and Potluck Gang stages, he is about the size of Mike's head. In 5-Volt's stage he stands at a little over half of 9-Volt's height. In 9-Volt's stage he is smaller than a book, and in the ending he can stand on 9-Volt's helmet.
Fronk appears in a number of stages, though his main roles are in 9-Volt's stage and the Dancing Team's stage. In the intro to 9-Volt's stage, Fronk is on 9-Volt's desk in math class despite Diamond City Elementary banning pets. He is concerned about 9-Volt's hatred of math, and manages to convince 9-Volt that he is good at math by asking math questions in terms of damage and health in a role-playing game. Fronk suggests that 9-Volt think of math as an role-playing game, and together they work through math class. 9-Volt's stage has him and Fronk in a retro role-playing game inspired by Dragon Quest, fighting in the game as an abstract representation of them working through math class. Fronk has a purple hat, indicating he is a wizard in the game, and a tie. When the game speeds up or just prior to the Boss Game, his character portrait shows him holding a book. After finishing math class, 9-Volt thanks Fronk for his help and offers to give Fronk his dessert as thanks. Fronk declines, explaining that he is too old for sweets. When 9-Volt responds with disbelief, Fronk clarifies that he turned one the previous month and owes his youthful looks to practicing "8-bit yoga". In the intro to the Dancing Team's stage, he and Mike introduce and explain their microgames to the player. During the stage, Fronk appears on the Touch Screen when one of his microgames is up next. In the intro to the Potluck Gang's stage, Fronk is present but has no lines. During the stage, he plays a card in their card game when one of his microgames is up next. If the player loses one of his microgames (or anybody's microgame in the Potluck Gang level), Fronk flips over onto his head (and is the only character to do this rather than just falling over onto their backside).
Fronk also appears in the ending of 5-Volt's stage. He stands next to 9-Volt as he comes home from school, looks under the cabinet he drops his Nintendo 3DS under, and is shocked when 5-Volt picks up the cabinet. In the game's ending, Fronk stands on 9-Volt's helmet as all of Wario's friends ask Wario to pay them. Fronk has no lines in both cutscenes.
In Sneaky Gamer, Fronk can enter 9-Volt's room from the door and hum, which may prompt players to hide thinking that its 5-Volt.
WarioWare: Get It Together!
Fronk is the only main character from WarioWare Gold to not reappear as a playable character in WarioWare: Get It Together!, though he does appear as a supporting character in 9-Volt's story. After he and 9-Volt get home from school and are put to bed by 5-Volt, 9-Volt leaps out of bed to show Fronk his new Epic Augmented Reality Game. Fronk's enthusiastic reaction alerts 5-Volt to the fact that they are still awake, but they hide in bed and are able to proceed playing once 5-Volt has left. In the Variety Pack game Frenemy Frenzy, Fronk appears to notify players when their character is about to be swapped, bidding them good luck afterwards.
WarioWare: Move It!
In WarioWare: Move It!, Fronk appears in the microgame Phone for You as a caller. When the player answers the phone, Fronk may either say "Good luck to you!", or make beatboxing sounds.
Profiles and statistics
Game & Wario character card
-9-Volt's pet
-Yellow; has colorful friends
-Marches to own drum
-Can survive three days underwater
WarioWare Gold character cards
- Rank C – This odd creature is thankful that 9-Volt rescued him when he was lost, but he bristles at being called a pet.
- Rank B – For such a tiny guy, Fronk gets lots done: cake baking, bike repairing, and hacking. He's good with his hands.
- Rank A – Fronk adores 5-Volt's pancakes. Ever since he told her, Fronk only gets pancakes as his snacks.
WarioWare, Inc. Official Site
That's life, kid.
"The name's Fronk. Aren't you tired of being so busy all the time? Take a load off. Relax. You'll live longer."
- Day job: "Let's just say I'm always looking for my next gig."
- Hobbies: "Oh, motorcycles, definitely. I like working with my hands."
- Skills: "I can hold my breath for three days underwater, bake cakes with the best of them―and I'm also a skilled hacker."
- Favorite food: "That would be the pancakes that 5-Volt makes. The problem is, if you TELL her that, it's all you'll eat for a week."
- Family: "Did I never mention I have a wife and kid?"
- About 9-Volt: "He seems to think I'm his pet, but it's not as if he owns me."
- Objective: "To create a smash hit video game starring yours truly!"
- CEO Comment: "Fronk is 9-Volt's pet. Why does he talk like some old guy? Beats me. I guess he likes being the center of the attention, 'cause he keeps making games where HE'S the star! But as long as he's making me money and I don't have to cut a paycheck, I say go for it. Wahaha!"
Gallery
Artwork used for the interview page on the Japanese website for WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
2004 nengajō for Nintendo Dream based on WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!
Game & Wario
Game & Wario
Game & Wario
Fronk speaking in the Kansai dialect in the Japanese version of WarioWare Gold
WarioWare Gold
WarioWare Gold
WarioWare Gold
WarioWare Gold
WarioWare Gold
WarioWare Gold
WarioWare Gold
WarioWare Gold
Fronk Alarm Clock from WarioWare Gold
Character trailer for WarioWare Gold
WarioWare: Get It Together!
WarioWare: Get It Together!
WarioWare: Get It Together!
WarioWare: Get It Together!
WarioWare: Get It Together!
WarioWare: Get It Together!
WarioWare: Get It Together!
WarioWare: Get It Together!
WarioWare: Get It Together!
WarioWare: Get It Together!
Group artwork from the WarioWare website
Group artwork from the WarioWare website
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | しゃぎぃ[?] Shagī |
Shaggy | |
| Chinese | 蓬蓬[?] Péng Péng |
Shaggy | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate |
| 毛茸茸[?] Máoróngróng |
Hairy | WarioWare: Get It Together! | |
| Dutch | Fronk[?] | - | |
| French | Shag[?] | - | Mega Microgame$! |
| Fronk[?] | rest of the games | ||
| German | Fronk[?] | - | |
| Italian | Miao[?] | Meow | Mega Microgame$! |
| Fronk[?] | - | rest of the games | |
| Korean | 섀기[?] Syaegi |
Shaggy | |
| Russian | Фронк[?] Fronk |
Fronk | |
| Spanish | Shag[?] | - | Mega Microgame$! |
| Fronk[?] | rest of the games |
