Wrinkly Kong

"Why, if it isn't Donkey -- or is it Funky? No -- Diddy!"

- Wrinkly Kong

Wrinkly Kong is a character in the Donkey Kong franchise who was the wife of Cranky Kong and an intelligent ally of the Kongs. Although she is now deceased, her spirit form continues to participate in the Kongs' adventures.

She appears in most of Donkey Kong games, providing helpful information and hints. However, she has only been playable twice. She has also appeared in one comic.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
The first appearance of Wrinkly Kong was in the game Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Wrinkly manages the Kong Kollege where Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong can save their game progress. Wrinkly, like her husband Cranky Kong can also give the Kongs information on the various items and objects found throughout the game.

In the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2, Dixie and Diddy can also do a homework assignment for Wrinkly, called Wrinkly's Task. The purpose of Wrinkly's Task is to fill up a scrapbook, given to the Kongs by Wrinkly with pictures. For every page of the scrapbook filled up Wrinkly will give the Kongs a DK Coin.

Wrinkly reappeared in the Game Boy game, Donkey Kong Land 2 where she could once again save the Kongs' progress. Unlike in Donkey Kong Country 2 however, she does not provide the Kongs with any advice.

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Wrinkly makes a return appearance. In this game, Wrinkly has retired as a teacher at the Kong Kollege, and now runs Wrinkly's Save Cave. In the cave Dixie and Kiddy Kong can save their game, the cave is also where the various Banana Birds the Kongs collect are stored. When the Kongs enter to the cave they can find her either dancing, sleeping or playing videogames.

In the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 3, Wrinkly's role is slightly lessened. Now Wrinkly serves no real purpose in the game except to take care of Banana Birds, which she seems to have become a spiritual follower of.

Donkey Kong Land III
In Donkey Kong Land III, Wrinkly's role remains relatively the same (she saves the Kongs' progress). The only real difference between roles is that Wrinkly no longer cares for Banana Birds, since they are not in the game.

"Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24"
Wrinkly is briefly seen in the Club Nintendo comic "Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24", in which some Kongs, including Cranky, save Earth from being pulled away by aliens. When the saviors return, Cranky enthusiastically tries to kiss a random girl. At the end of the comic, Wrinkly is seen quarrelling with her husband, and it is heavily implied that this is due to his attempt at kissing the girl.

Donkey Kong 64
In Donkey Kong 64, it is revealed that she had died after the events of Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble. In the game, Wrinkly now inhabits Wrinkly Doors which are found in the entrance of every area except Hideout Helm. If a Kong steps in front of a Wrinkly Door, bone-chilling sounds of spirits are heard, and Wrinkly will pop out. Using her supernatural powers, she will give that Kong hints on what to do, revealing the whereabouts of one of their Golden Bananas in the area ahead of them. However, the information is often vague and/or incomplete. Wrinkly is the only Kong who is not seen during the credits, and she is also the only supporting Kong who offers her service for free.

DK: King of Swing
In DK: King of Swing, Wrinkly aids her husband Cranky in teaching his grandson, Donkey Kong, in learning the unique controls of the game. She is the one that teaches Donkey how to climb the Pegs Boards, she also helps Cranky teach Donkey how to attack. Wrinkly is also an unlockable playable character in the game's Jungle Jam mode, where she is tied with Dixie Kong for the best jumping ability. However, her attack is low, though not as low as Dixie's. She is unlocked by collecting all the Crystal Coconuts from all levels. This marks the first time Wrinkly Kong was playable.

DK: Jungle Climber
She returned in DK: Jungle Climber. She went on vacation to Sun Sun Island, along with all of the other Kongs. Wrinkly appears in the opening cutscene, where she is seen enjoying the scenery, alongside Cranky Kong. She carries a white umbrella for protection against the sun's rays. Although she has official artwork, this is the only time she appears in the entire game. This is similar to Candy Kong in the predecessor, DK: King of Swing. This was Wrinkly's only appearance on the DS.

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
In Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, Wrinkly is an unlockable playable character, and is the only playable Kong that does not appear on the title screen. She is unlocked by completing Candy's Challenge #26:  Let Wrinkly Kong Win!, which is level 4 in difficulty. As the name implies, Wrinkly must come in first in order to complete the challenge. In this game, Wrinkly is a rival to Kopter, and she has average boost and speed, and maxed out agility. As all playable characters, she had the ability to do Wild Moves. This was her first appearance on the Wii console.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, not only does she get a trophy but she appeared as a Sticker. Her sticker is based on her artwork from DK: King of Swing, that raises resistance against battering attacks by four and can only be used by Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Wrinkly once again has her own trophy. Her trophy is featured in the "Donkey Kong and his friends" trophy box, along Tiny Kong, Lanky Kong, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Cranky Kong, Candy Kong and Funky Kong.

Physical appearance
Wrinkly Kong's appearance has changed many times over the years, but has been consistent since DK: King of Swing.

Alive
Wrinkly Kong is an old ape with a similar build to her husband Cranky Kong. She is covered in brown fur, has grey hair on her head and she also wears glasses. In her debut in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, she wore a green blanket. In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, she wears a white and purple gymnastics outfit that has dark gray fur armbands, and also wears white and purple sneakers and a white and purple headband. In the GBA remake of Donkey Kong Country 3, she only wears a white coat and does not wear any shoes.

After her death
In her debut as a ghost in Donkey Kong 64, her appearance was similar to her appearance in Donkey Kong Country 2, except she is now white and translucent, has a wispy tail where her legs used to be, and wears a nightgown. In her current appearance introduced in DK: King of Swing, she is no longer translucent and has gray fur, though her skin is rather white. Her glasses are much smaller and are oval shaped, compared to her previous semicircular ones, and her hair is covered by a white bonnet hat.

German Donkey Kong 64 website
"After the last great adventure of the Kongs, Wrinkly, who was advanced in years, left us, much to the sadness of all involved. Nevertheless, she returns from the realm of the spirits to provide her friends and relatives with all kinds of important information and useful tips. In the lobby of each level there are five doors, each with a frame of a different color. If a Kong approaches one of these doors, Wrinkly appears and gives him a hint to uncover especially well-kept secrets. Wrinkly loves her friends and relatives so much that she even crosses the threshold of mortality in order to support them in the battle against the evil empire of the Kremlings."

DK: King of Swing

 * Instruction booklet bio: "Wife of Cranky. Even though she's passed away, she's a gentle Kong who frets about Donkey."
 * Jump: 5
 * Attack: 2

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast

 * Unlock method: Win Candy's Challenge 26: Let Wrinkly Kong win!.
 * Rival: Kopter
 * Boost: 3/5
 * Speed: 3/5
 * Agility: 5/5

Trivia

 * When talking to Wrinkly in Donkey Kong 64, the theme that plays is a slower and major key version of Cranky's Lab.