Cranky Kong: Difference between revisions

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===Identity confusion===
===Identity confusion===
[[Rare Ltd.|Rareware]] created the Cranky Kong character as an older version of the original [[Donkey Kong]] from the earlier ''Donkey Kong'' games, but his exact relation to the current Donkey Kong has been disputed. Before the release of ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'', footage from a promotional VHS video exclusively for ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' subscribers named ''Donkey Kong Country: Exposed'' called Cranky Kong his "dad or grandfather",<ref>cfhworld (Dec 22, 2006). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPxA-VlLhwM&t=3m18s Donkey Kong Country Exposed Part 1]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved April 3, 2018.</ref> yet Cranky Kong refers to Donkey Kong as "Junior" in the review of ''Donkey Kong Country'' by UK's ''Nintendo Magazine System''.<ref>"'''''CRANKY KONG''' I am the original Donkey Kong and, as such, command barrel loads of due respect from my proteges Junior (the Donkey Kong of this game) and Diddy.''" - ''Nintendo Magazine System'' (UK) #26, Special page 6 (among other references on Special pages 2, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 18, 22, and 26)</ref> Upon release, Cranky Kong being Donkey Kong's grandfather was the consistent backstory throughout the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] [[Donkey Kong Country (series)|series]].<ref name=DKC/> While this was not explicitly stated in the [[Donkey Kong Country (television series)|television series]], he acted as a father figure and [[Message in a Bottle Show|once said]] that he considered DK like a son. Rare seemingly started to retcon their relationship in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', in which Cranky Kong consistently addressed him as "son"<ref>"''That darn Donkey has all the luck! His girl Candy waits around in her hut, always willing to offer her musical help to that undeserving son of mine and his fancy polygonal friends. Pah!''" - ''Donkey Kong 64'' instruction booklet, page 9 (among various in-game lines)</ref> implying a more direct parental role. According to [[Leigh Loveday]] in a 1999 online Q&A, their 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.<ref>Scribes - April 25, 1999. [https://web.archive.org/web/20020805184158/rareware.com/the_site/talk_to_us/scribes/aug25_99/aug25_99.html Rareware Website Archive]. ''Rareware.com''. Retrieved April 13, 2017.</ref> Whether or not this statement was intended to be taken seriously, the Nintendo of Europe website for the [[Game Boy Advance]] re-release of ''Donkey Kong Country'' supported this notion.<ref>[http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Game-Boy-Advance/Donkey-Kong-Country-266551.html ''Donkey Kong Country'' web page.] (April 13, 2017). ''Nintendo.co.uk''. Retrieved April 13, 2017.</ref> According to [[Gregg Mayles]] in 2017, Cranky Kong called Donkey Kong "son" during the events of ''Donkey Kong 64'' because he was so senile by then that he could not remember.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Ghoulyboy/status/859502066225606656 Gregg Mayles in a May 2017 Twitter post]. Retrieved May 2, 2017.</ref>
[[Rare Ltd.|Rareware]] created the Cranky Kong character as an older version of the original [[Donkey Kong]] from the earlier ''Donkey Kong'' games, but his exact relation to the current Donkey Kong has been disputed. Before the release of ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'', footage from a promotional VHS video exclusively for ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' subscribers named ''Donkey Kong Country: Exposed'' called Cranky Kong his "dad or grandfather",<ref>cfhworld (Dec 22, 2006). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPxA-VlLhwM&t=3m18s Donkey Kong Country Exposed Part 1]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved April 3, 2018.</ref> yet Cranky Kong refers to Donkey Kong as "Junior" in the review of ''Donkey Kong Country'' by the ''Nintendo Magazine System''.<ref>"'''''CRANKY KONG''' I am the original Donkey Kong and, as such, command barrel loads of due respect from my proteges Junior (the Donkey Kong of this game) and Diddy.''" - ''Nintendo Magazine System'' (UK) #26, Special page 6 (among other references on Special pages 2, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 18, 22, and 26)</ref> Upon release, Cranky Kong being Donkey Kong's grandfather was the consistent backstory throughout the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] [[Donkey Kong Country (series)|series]].<ref name=DKC/> While this was not explicitly stated in the [[Donkey Kong Country (television series)|television series]], he acted as a father figure and [[Message in a Bottle Show|once said]] that he considered DK like a son. Rare seemingly started to retcon their relationship in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', in which Cranky Kong consistently addressed him as "son"<ref>"''That darn Donkey has all the luck! His girl Candy waits around in her hut, always willing to offer her musical help to that undeserving son of mine and his fancy polygonal friends. Pah!''" - ''Donkey Kong 64'' instruction booklet, page 9 (among various in-game lines)</ref> implying a more direct parental role. According to [[Leigh Loveday]] in a 1999 online Q&A, their 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.<ref>Scribes - April 25, 1999. [https://web.archive.org/web/20020805184158/rareware.com/the_site/talk_to_us/scribes/aug25_99/aug25_99.html Rareware Website Archive]. ''Rareware.com''. Retrieved April 13, 2017.</ref> Whether or not this statement was intended to be taken seriously, the Nintendo of Europe website for the [[Game Boy Advance]] re-release of ''Donkey Kong Country'' supported this notion.<ref>[http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Game-Boy-Advance/Donkey-Kong-Country-266551.html ''Donkey Kong Country'' web page.] (April 13, 2017). ''Nintendo.co.uk''. Retrieved April 13, 2017.</ref> According to [[Gregg Mayles]] in 2017, Cranky Kong called Donkey Kong "son" during the events of ''Donkey Kong 64'' because he was so senile by then that he could not remember.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Ghoulyboy/status/859502066225606656 Gregg Mayles in a May 2017 Twitter post]. Retrieved May 2, 2017.</ref>


After Rare left Nintendo, the issue was left open for some time. Official bios for both ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' implied that the Donkey Kong in the arcade may be the Donkey Kong of today,<ref>"''Donkey Kong and Mario started out as arch-rivals, but they've patched things up in recent years. These days Donkey Kong spends his time searching the jungle for bananas instead of kidnapping beautiful maidens.''" - ''Super Smash Bros.'' Characters</ref><ref>"''While he now prefers the laid-back jungle lifestyle to construction site mischief, DK is often forced back into action by the Kremling Krew.''" - ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' Trophy</ref> and ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' advertised Donkey Kong as Mario's "original foe".<ref>[[:File:MvDKUS_back_cover.jpg|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' box back]]</ref> However, this was contradicted by ''[[Mario Superstar Baseball]]'', which distinguished "his ancestor, the original Donkey Kong".<ref>"''His ancestor, the original Donkey Kong wore no necktie.''" - ''Mario Superstar Baseball'' Exhibition Game Records</ref> Subsequently, ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis]]'' suggested that Donkey Kong met [[Pauline]] for the first time and became smitten at first sight.<ref>"''The Mario Toy Company’s hairiest employee. He instantly fell in love with Pauline as soon as he saw her at the theme park’s opening ceremony, and now the jealous ape has run off with her!''" - ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis'' instruction booklet, page 7.</ref> ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' (and, consequently, ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'') sticks with the story that the original Donkey Kong is the current Donkey Kong's grandfather.<ref>"''The Donkey Kong who fought that epic battle with Mario was this guy's grandfather.''" - [[List of Smash Taunt characters#Otacon|Otacon]], [[Solid Snake|Snake's]] [[List of Snake's codec conversations#Donkey Kong|codec]]</ref> [[Retro Studios]]' ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'' reaffirms the position of Cranky Kong as the grandfather of the modern Donkey Kong.<ref>"''Donkey Kong’s white-bearded, grouchy grandfather, Cranky Kong, has set up shop in each world to sell items to aid Donkey Kong. Cranky Kong can ramble on about anything, but don’t ignore what he has to say, as his ramblings provide advice for those who pay careful attention.''" - ''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' instruction booklet, page 20 (among various in-game lines)</ref>
After Rare left Nintendo, the issue was left open for some time. Official bios for both ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' implied that the Donkey Kong in the arcade may be the Donkey Kong of today,<ref>"''Donkey Kong and Mario started out as arch-rivals, but they've patched things up in recent years. These days Donkey Kong spends his time searching the jungle for bananas instead of kidnapping beautiful maidens.''" - ''Super Smash Bros.'' Characters</ref><ref>"''While he now prefers the laid-back jungle lifestyle to construction site mischief, DK is often forced back into action by the Kremling Krew.''" - ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' Trophy</ref> and ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' advertised Donkey Kong as Mario's "original foe".<ref>[[:File:MvDKUS_back_cover.jpg|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' box back]]</ref> However, this was contradicted by ''[[Mario Superstar Baseball]]'', which distinguished "his ancestor, the original Donkey Kong".<ref>"''His ancestor, the original Donkey Kong wore no necktie.''" - ''Mario Superstar Baseball'' Exhibition Game Records</ref> Subsequently, ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis]]'' suggested that Donkey Kong met [[Pauline]] for the first time and became smitten at first sight.<ref>"''The Mario Toy Company’s hairiest employee. He instantly fell in love with Pauline as soon as he saw her at the theme park’s opening ceremony, and now the jealous ape has run off with her!''" - ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis'' instruction booklet, page 7.</ref> ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' (and, consequently, ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'') sticks with the story that the original Donkey Kong is the current Donkey Kong's grandfather.<ref>"''The Donkey Kong who fought that epic battle with Mario was this guy's grandfather.''" - [[List of Smash Taunt characters#Otacon|Otacon]], [[Solid Snake|Snake's]] [[List of Snake's codec conversations#Donkey Kong|codec]]</ref> [[Retro Studios]]' ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'' reaffirms the position of Cranky Kong as the grandfather of the modern Donkey Kong.<ref>"''Donkey Kong’s white-bearded, grouchy grandfather, Cranky Kong, has set up shop in each world to sell items to aid Donkey Kong. Cranky Kong can ramble on about anything, but don’t ignore what he has to say, as his ramblings provide advice for those who pay careful attention.''" - ''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' instruction booklet, page 20 (among various in-game lines)</ref>