Donkey Kong

**Donkey Kong**, also known as DK, is the main protagonist of *Nintendo's Donkey Kong* franchise, and a recurring character in the *Super Mario* series. The original Donkey Kong assumes the role as a main villain for Mario, but in later games, it turns out to be Donkey Kong's grandfather, Cranky Kong. The current Donkey Kong is the main hero and protagonist of the Rare-developed *Donkey Kong Country*. However, he also appears as a featured character in the *Mario* spinoff titles.

## Biography

Donkey Kong was created by Shigeru Miyamoto as the titular character of the arcade video game, Donkey Kong. In his original debut, he is Mario's first enemy who kidnaps his girlfriend, Pauline at a construction site. Mario makes it his mission to get to the top of the site on each four levels so that he can rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong, who threatens to throw barrels and stomp the construction site. In Donkey Kong Jr., he sees his young son rescuing him from Mario, who kidnaps him in a cage. In Donkey Kong 3, he goes up against Stanley the Bugman.

In the year of 1994, the current Donkey Kong debuts in Donkey Kong Country for the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). This video game saw the debut of a new Donkey Kong alongside a new supporting cast. He wears a red tie with his initials printed on. Donkey Kong was later joined by other characters such as Diddy Kong, his little buddy and Cranky Kong, his grandfather who was responsible for becoming the antagonist (a.k.a. the original Donkey Kong) in the Donkey Kong arcade games, which establishes the current Donkey Kong as a separate character. Donkey Kong Country depicted the current Donkey Kong's first epic battle against his arch enemy, the notorious King K. Rool, and was such a big hit which helped the Super NES take the lead in the 16-bit console war.

Donkey Kong Country was followed by two sequels: *Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest* (1995) and *Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble* (1996) as well as the following Game Boy versions for all three games that make up the *Donkey Kong Land* franchise. DKC2 and DKC3 are the only two video games to NOT have Donkey Kong playable because he ends up being kidnapped by King K. Rool. However, Donkey Kong was eventually featured in *Super Smash Bros.* for the Nintendo 64, which made his debut in a fighting game. Afterwards, he was finally featured as a playable character in *Donkey Kong 64* for the Nintendo 64. After his appearance in *Super Smash Bros. Melee* for the Nintendo GameCube, the Donkey Kong franchise went on hiatus for several years, with its installments being spin-offs such as *Donkey Konga* and *Donkey Kong Jungle Beat*.

After its own hiatus, the *Donkey Kong Country* franchise receives new installments after his appearances in the Nintendo Wii games such as *Super Smash Bros. Brawl* and *Mario Super Sluggers*, including Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

So far, Donkey Kong remains a part of the *Super Mario* universe, appearing in many of the *Mario* spin-off games since Mario Kart 64. Donkey Kong also appears as a baby gorilla in *Yoshi's Island DS*, the main playable protagonist of the Donkey Kong Adventure story expansion of *Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle*, the antagonist in the *Mario vs. Donkey Kong* franchise, and as an ally to Mario in the 2023 *Illumination* movie, *The Super Mario Bros. Movie*.

## M.U.G.E.N Trilogy

Donkey Kong appears as a playable character in M.U.G.E.N Trilogy. He is considered one of the fighters of brute strength. Donkey Kong can be unlocked by scanning any of his amiibos or his AR Card. Donkey Kong retains his moveset from the Super Smash Bros. franchise.

## Assist Attacks

 **β** | Hand Slap
 **γ** | Spinning Kong