Cranky Kong

*“Enough with the Showboating!”*
— Cranky Kong

**Cranky Kong** is a supporting character in *The Super Mario Bros. Movie*, and the father to Donkey Kong. He is the King of the Kong Kingdom and is only willing to offer an alliance with the nearby Mushroom Kingdom if he is swayed.

## Personality & Description

As his name suggests, Cranky has a pessimistic attitude, and is not one to be judged. He is a small, frail Kong with a sense of humor who walks around with a cane.

## History

Cranky Kong is first mentioned by Princess Peach, where she plans on going to the Jungle Kingdom to gain the Kong Army's trust, so that she can save the Mushroom Kingdom from Bowser's wrath. When she, Mario, and Toad arrive at his throne room, he refuses to give up their support, unless if one of them can defeat his son in a duel. Mario takes up his challenge and he transports them to the Great Ring of Kong.

In the Ring, his son Donkey Kong embarrasses him with his showboating, right before Cranky stops the crowd. He then explains about placing several ? Blocks around the arena for Mario so that the battle won't last quick. (alongside him putting some power ups like the Mini Mushroom or Super Bell to troll Mario out of amusement) He then proceeds to watch the battle, with him eventually being dismayed when Mario wins over his son.

Later, he stops both Mario and Donkey Kong from fighting each other after the battle, and goes inside his son's house to explain the secret passage to take back to the Mushroom Kingdom. He then explains that they will need karts to drive through the passage. Once all the Kongs and the heroes have their karts ready, they then drive through Rainbow Road, right before they encounter an ambush lead by the Koopa General.

After the general blows up Mario and Donkey Kong, along with destroying the road, Cranky and his army are abducted by the Koopa Troop and imprisoned. Later Kamek announces to all of the prisoners about them being sacrificed for the wedding, causing Cranky to meltdown in his cage. When Mario and Donkey Kong argue in the stomach of a Maw-Ray, Donkey Kong mentions that Cranky was disapproving of him.

Soon the time for the wedding hits and Cranky's cage is lowered into the lava, right before Mario and Donkey Kong crash the wedding and save him and the other prisoners from meeting a firey demise, with Donkey Kong reversing the gear that lowers the cages. Soon after, Donkey Kong is able to retrieve Cranky Kong's cage and free his father, now with the king becoming proud and allowing Donkey Kong to showoff. Donkey Kong states he will do it later and Cranky Kong is not seen for the rest of the film, though it is likely presumed that he went back to the Jungle Kingdom after the events of the movie.

## Origins

Cranky Kong is said to be the original Donkey Kong, first appearing in the 1981 arcade game of the same name. This would be confirmed in the 1994 SNES video game *Donkey Kong Country*, introducing Cranky as a wise, grumpy frail gorilla with a white beard who give tips and advice to Donkey Kong (reimagined as Cranky’s grandson) and Diddy Kong in their quest to recover the stolen Banana Hoard. Cranky also likes to brag about how simple beating video games used to be, further confirming his status as the original Donkey Kong.

## Trivia

* Cranky Kong would later be locked up by Bowser along with several other Kong's.

* Unlike his video game counterpart, this iteration of Cranky Kong is Donkey Kong's father instead of grandfather.