Justin researched and pieced collectively the puzzle of the Donkey Kong household with damning proof.
The Donkey Kong household tree is one thing that has been complicated avid gamers for many years. There have been numerous theories on the market and plenty of scorching takes. I, nonetheless, have at all times felt there have been issues with most of those. The solutions to many questions surrounding the Donkey Kong household could appear simple, however they’re positively extra sophisticated than most assume.
After the discharge of Donkey Kong Bananza I went down a deep gap of DK and Mario lore, and actually understanding a lot of it meant determining the Donkey Kong household tree. After tons of analysis I am right here to announce the one logical conclusion I’ve come to and the way I obtained to these outcomes. So buckle up, as a result of that is going to get Kong wild.
Observe: All the things right here is predicated on the video video games. The Mario Film and a number of other different items of DK/Mario media exist in several canonical settings/universes that will have some similarities however cannot combine in with the timeline and DK household tree of the video games.
Terminology
First I must guarantee that some terminology is known earlier than transferring ahead. There are a number of characters named Donkey Kong, and I will be utilizing the next names to distinguish them:
Cranky Kong – The unique Donkey Kong who first appeared in Donkey Kong for arcades.
Donkey Kong Jr. – Son of Cranky Kong who first appeared in Donkey Kong Junior for arcades.
Fashionable Donkey Kong – Grandson of Cranky Kong whose first look is in Donkey Kong Nation.
There are another Donkey Kongs, both characters or varieties, however I am going to clarify these after I get there. For now, this key ought to assist keep away from any confusion when attempting to elucidate which Donkey Kong I am speaking about.
Primary Donkey Kong Timeline
Earlier than going additional it is necessary to determine the fundamentals of the Donkey Kong timeline. I might wish to discover a bigger Mario and Donkey Kong timeline sooner or later, however for now it is solely necessary to concentrate on some core video games and information to offer a baseline. Not all the things will likely be talked about right here as my intention is to concentrate on video games offering key info for determining the Donkey Kong household tree. Moreover, primarily based on proof present in these video games or supplementary info, there’s nearly no debate as to the next chronological order to those titles.
Primary Restricted DK Timeline:
Yoshi’s Island DS
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Junior
Donkey Kong (Recreation Boy)
Donkey Kong Nation
Donkey Kong Nation 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Nation 3: Dixie’s Double Bother
Donkey Kong 64
Frequent Misconceptions
The primary false impression with the Donkey Kong household tree issues Cranky Kong’s relationship with Fashionable Donkey Kong. Some assume Fashionable Donkey Kong is Cranky Kong’s son resulting from some language used at occasions referring to him as such, however nearly all media within the video games check with Fashionable Donkey Kong because the grandson of Cranky Kong, or Cranky Kong as Fashionable Donkey Kong’s grandfather. This is not debated that a lot however I feel it is necessary to make that distinction.
The most important false impression with regards to the Donkey Kong household tree is that Fashionable Donkey Kong is the son of Donkey Kong Jr. That will make Fashionable Donkey Kong the grandchild of Cranky Kong. Case closed! Nevertheless, this does not make any sense and no sport calls Fashionable Donkey Kong the son of Donkey Kong Jr.
You see, for the reason that Mario universe is similar as Donkey Kong we have now to make use of Mario as an out of doors marker for issues happening inside the DK timeline. It is easy to imagine Fashionable Donkey Kong is the son of Donkey Kong Jr., however if you have a look at the timeline with Mario included, this principle falls aside.
Due to Yoshi’s Island DS, we all know for a undeniable fact that Fashionable Donkey Kong was born across the identical time as Mario since each Child Mario and Child Donkey Kong seem on this sport. Some will argue that Child Donkey Kong is definitely Cranky Kong however this logic would not make sense both.
If Cranky Kong and Mario had been the identical age, then how come Mario is not previous when Cranky is? On this situation, how is Donkey Kong Jr.’s alleged son, Fashionable Donkey Kong, seemingly close to the identical age as Mario? It simply would not add up.
In Donkey Kong Junior, the younger son of Cranky Kong battles a clearly grownup, most actually younger grownup, Mario. Mario is youthful than Cranky Kong and older than Donkey Kong Jr. This implies Child Donkey Kong needs to be Fashionable Donkey Kong as he is the one Donkey Kong left that is unaccounted for.
The age variations will also be seen in Donkey Kong (Recreation Boy). On this sport, Mario battles Cranky Kong and a younger Donkey Kong Jr. That is additionally the final sport Cranky Kong is seen as center aged earlier than actually changing into the previous man often called Cranky Kong. Many video games happen after this level and Mario nonetheless isn’t previous, however Cranky Kong is.
Additional proof that Child Donkey Kong is Fashionable Donkey Kong is that he has a tuft of hair on his head that matches up with Fashionable DK. Backside line, Child Donkey Kong needs to be Fashionable Donkey Kong as a child.
If we settle for Child Donkey Kong as being Fashionable Donkey Kong your complete generally considered Donkey Kong lineage (Cranky-> Jr.-> Fashionable) falls aside. Why? As a result of Donkey Kong Jr. continues to be younger when Mario, doubtless a younger grownup, battles him in Donkey Kong Junior. Fashionable Donkey Kong, who’s about Mario’s age, could not have been born but in the event you assume he’s the son of Donkey Kong Jr. The historically accepted principle (Cranky-> Jr.-> Fashionable) simply doesn’t make any logical sense.
Extra proof of Child Donkey Kong being Fashionable Donkey Kong, and it being unimaginable for him to be Donkey Kong Jr.’s son, may be understood by having a look on the bigger mixed Mario/DK timeline, however that is outdoors the scope of this piece. Hopefully it is one thing I am going to be capable to share in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later.
Unraveling the DK Start Timeline
(This Characteristic will get fairly in depth so it is really helpful that you simply open the above picture in a brand new tab to assist observe alongside. Even higher in the event you can put it on a second display screen!)
To start out, it is price noting that in Donkey Kong Nation 3 a personality named Bazaar, a member of the Brothers Bear, mentions {that a} mirror he has on the market used to belong to Cranky Kong’s nice grandfather. That is the furthest again we will go on the Donkey Kong household tree however nothing else is understood with any certainty earlier than Cranky’s start. It’s simply an fascinating undeniable fact that an ancestor of Cranky’s comes up.
Ultimately, Cranky Kong is born and in some unspecified time in the future marries Wrinkly Kong. Cranky Kong was first launched to us as Donkey Kong within the authentic Donkey Kong arcade sport, seems as a middle-aged grownup for the final time in Donkey Kong (Recreation Boy) when he begins sporting a necktie, after which is reintroduced as Cranky Kong in Donkey Kong Nation the place he first seems previous. Wrinkly was launched in Donkey Kong Nation 2 and was at all times seen in video games as previous.
From right here on out I’ll have to make use of some estimates on when characters had been born in comparison with Cranky Kong’s age. These are estimates I’ve give you to assist work out approximate time durations in comparison with Cranky’s life. The important thing right here is they’re approximate and unofficial.
Whereas gorilla-based Kongs aren’t precisely gorillas I am utilizing some gorilla physiology to assist decide this. For a baseline I am going off the truth that some gorillas hit maturity by age 15.
To simplify the textual content I am going to even be writing CKxx as a brief hand for character births from right here on out. CK adopted by Cranky Kong’s approximate age on the time of stated character’s start.
I will be entering into chronological estimated start order of DK Household characters from right here and a few might not make sense at first, however please bear with me as it should all be defined in a while. Once more, remember these Cranky Age estimates are simply estimates and there’s wiggle room.
Additionally observe that if a personality is not talked about within the household tree it is as a result of there is no such thing as a official confirmed connection presently.
At CK15 somebody, presumably Wrinkly, offers start to Cranky’s first baby who we do not know. We will simply deduce this character exists. We will name this character Cranky Kong’s First Little one.
At CK30, Cranky Kong’s First Little one has, adopts, or will get a stepchild who’s an unknown Kong with a doable companion. This Kong is Cranky Kong’s First Grandchild.
At CK45, Cranky Kong’s First Little one has a toddler who’s Cranky Kong’s Second Grandchild who everyone knows as Fashionable Donkey Kong! Fashionable Donkey Kong is siblings with the older Cranky Kong’s First Grandchild. Mario can be born round this time.
At CK48, Cranky Kong’s First Grandchild has, adopts, or will get a stepchild presumably with a companion. This character, who’s Cranky Kong’s First Nice Grandchild, is Diddy Kong.
CK50, Cranky Kong has his second baby, presumably with Wrinky, who we all know as Donkey Kong Jr. It is also doable that at this identical age Cranky Kong has one other baby, one which may be Donkey Kong Jr.’s twin, Donkey Kong Jr. (II). It may very well be argued that Donkey Kong Jr. (II) is not canonical however he seems in Donkey Kong Jr. Math because the second participant. It is doable Jr. (II) is not as adventurous and prefers learning, however that is only a principle if the character is actual within the DK universe.
Observe: It is completely doable there are much more Kongs within the Donkey Kong household tree than listed. This simply represents the naked minimal required to make sense of issues. We don’t know how a lot monkey enterprise these Kongs had been entering into through the years. If you do not know what I am speaking about, simply perceive I am not right here to show you concerning the Neckys and the Zingers.
Explaining This Mess With Proof
(Once more, it is most likely a good suggestion to broaden this picture for reference.)
Let’s begin on the prime of this household tree I’ve constructed and work our means down. On the very prime we have now Cranky Kong and Wrinkly. Now you’ll have observed all through the start timeline that I stated Wrinkly “might” have given start to Cranky Kong’s First Little one and, probably, as much as two Jr. characters. That is due to Wrinkly’s estimated age; she might not be the mom of some or any of those characters. So far as I can inform no piece of sport associated media refers to Wrinkly Kong as a mom or grandmother and no characters check with her as one. The closest we get is Wrinkly saying, “Aren’t you going to offer your favourite relative a goodbye kiss?” The issue is she says this to Dixie and Kiddy (in Donkey Kong Nation 3) who seemingly aren’t associated to her, however possibly Wrinkly considers them associated as a result of Diddy is relationship Dixie? No thought.
Due to the dearth of information relating to Wrinkly Kong it is completely doable that Cranky has had youngsters with as much as two different feminine Kongs earlier than settling down with Wrinkly. That is clearly a principle and Wrinkly may very well be the mom of some or all of Cranky’s youngsters, however I believed it was price mentioning. Wrinkly dies shortly earlier than the occasions of Donkey Kong 64 and is seen as a ghost in all video games thereafter.
Cranky Kong’s First Little one has to exist because it’s the one strategy to make sense of Child Donkey Kong (Future Fashionable Donkey Kong) being about the identical age as Mario in Yoshi’s Island DS whereas nonetheless having Mario be older than Donkey Kong Jr. Cranky Kong’s First Little one conceives Fashionable Donkey Kong, with a companion, earlier than Donkey Kong Jr. is born. This nonetheless permits Fashionable Donkey Kong to be the grandson of Cranky Kong, and for Donkey Kong Jr. to be the son of Cranky Kong however born later. It additionally explains why Fashionable Donkey Kong is not often called Donkey Kong III as he could be if he had been the son of Donkey Kong Jr. We do not know the rest about Cranky Kong’s First Little one.
Donkey Kong Jr. was first seen within the Donkey Kong Junior sport. The arcade flyers for the sport point out it is about Donkey Kong Jr. rescuing his daddy from Mario. One additionally states that, “unbeknownst to Little Mario, Donkey Kong has produced an offspring – Donkey Kong Junior!” Easy character clarification. Additionally price noting is Donkey Kong Jr. is seen getting older and bigger in Tremendous Mario Kart (SNES) and Mario Tennis (Digital Boy) which supplies proof he’s youthful in earlier appearances. He hasn’t been seen a lot since.
As talked about, Donkey Kong Jr. (II) actually solely seems in Donkey Kong Jr. Math. He might not be a canonical character, but when he’s, he is doubtless the dual of Donkey Kong Jr.
To know why Cranky Kong’s First Grandchild should exist, we have to bounce forward and speak about Diddy Kong. Beneath (Fashionable) Donkey Kong’s information in Tremendous Smash Bros. (N64), it states that Diddy is Fashionable Donkey Kong’s favourite nephew. This familial connection can be talked about within the Donkey Kong 64 guide. If Diddy is Fashionable DK’s nephew then Fashionable DK will need to have a sibling, most actually considerably older (Cranky Kong’s First Grandchild), if Diddy is seemingly close to Fashionable DK’s age however barely youthful.
(As a facet observe right here I want to speak concerning the Donkey Kong 64 guide entry that describes Diddy as Fashionable Donkey Kong’s nephew as a result of I do know some uninformed individuals will complain about it. Within the DK64 guide beneath Diddy it says, “Donkey’s little nephew wannabe.” Individuals mistakenly assume this implies Diddy needs to be Fashionable DK’s nephew. However that is insane. No one has ever stated they need they had been somebody’s nephew. Diddy has simply at all times seemed as much as Fashionable Donkey Kong and has wished to be like him from the beginning. Within the Donkey Kong Nation guide beneath the entry for Diddy Kong it states, “Though he would by no means admit it, Diddy Kong is a Donkey Kong wannabe.” Hopefully this clears up the widespread false impression relating to Diddy’s relationship with Fashionable Donkey Kong because it’s clear he needs to be identical to his uncle DK.)
The factor that will get complicated right here is that Diddy Kong is just not a gorilla-type Kong like everybody else within the Donkey Kong household. Diddy is a monkey-type Kong. There are a variety of prospects that would clarify this.
1. Diddy Kong is adopted.
2. Cranky Kong’s First Grandchild is a monkey-type Kong and was adopted by Cranky Kong’s First Little one. Later Cranky Kong’s First Grandchild had a son named Diddy.
3.Cranky Kong’s First Grandchild is a gorilla-type Kong however married a monkey-type Kong who already had a toddler who’s Diddy.
There are another mixes of those theories however you get the thought. Someplace alongside the way in which there needed to be at the least one adoption or cross Kong species marriage to get Diddy Kong to be a part of the Donkey Kong household tree. Interspecies Kong relationships are confirmed to occur within the DK universe as I am going to clarify later, so it is a risk. Nothing else is understood about Cranky Kong’s First Grandchild besides they have to be siblings with Fashionable Donkey Kong.
Fashionable Donkey Kong is the subsequent to look at. First showing in Donkey Kong Nation, he is the grandson of Cranky Kong and uncle to Diddy. Fashionable Donkey Kong positively has emotions for Sweet Kong, although their actual relationship is not made completely clear. Fashionable DK additionally typically has some type of emotions for the grownup Pauline as seen within the Mario vs. Donkey Kong collection.
Fashionable Donkey Kong was born at about the identical time as Mario as each are seen as infants in Yoshi’s Island DS. Fashionable DK was additionally born earlier than Donkey Kong Jr. because of this proof. Fashionable Donkey Kong is siblings with Cranky Kong’s First Grandchild.
Diddy Kong is Cranky Kong’s nice grandchild and can be the nephew of Fashionable Donkey Kong. Diddy first appeared in Donkey Kong Nation. He and Fashionable Donkey Kong are greatest mates. It is doable that Diddy is adopted, one among his monkey-type Kong mother and father married into the gorilla-type Donkey Kong household, a number of of his mother and father had been adopted, or some mixture as a result of he is a monkey-type Kong on this initially gorilla-type Kong household.
Additional proof that Diddy is expounded to the Kong household may be present in Donkey Kong Nation Returns. An unlockable picture within the sport exhibits an image of Fashionable Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong and is titled, “Household Portrait.”
Diddy Kong can be relationship Dixie Kong as acknowledged in Donkey Kong Nation 2. That is important as a result of whereas Diddy is a monkey-type Kong, Dixie has no tail so she’s a gorilla-type Kong. Additional proof of Dixie’s gorilla-type roots may be seen by trying into Dixie’s household which we’ll do. This proves interspecies Kong relationship takes place.
The Different Kong Household Tree
Now that we have made it this far, we would as effectively full the opposite recognized Kong household tree.
Dixie Kong was first launched in Donkey Kong Nation 2 and seems to be a gorilla-type Kong as a result of lack of a tail. She’s additionally been in a relationship with Diddy since barely earlier than Donkey Kong Nation 2.
Tiny Kong is Dixie’s youthful sister who was launched in Donkey Kong 64. As her identify states, she is tiny. Or I ought to say was tiny. Within the years since her preliminary introduction Tiny has grown bigger than her older sister Dixie. The expansion spurt was first seen in Diddy Kong Racing DS and in subsequent sport appearances.
Donkey Kong Nation 3 makes it clear that Dixie, and consequently Tiny, have a younger cousin named Kiddy Kong who first seems in stated sport. Kiddy could also be very younger, however he is additionally tremendous sturdy.
Chunky Kong was launched in Donkey Kong 64 as Kiddy’s older brother. Chunky could be very huge, sturdy, but in addition very sluggish.
As a result of Kiddy known as Dixie’s cousin in Donkey Kong Nation 3 we will merely deduce that siblings Dixie and Tiny are cousins with Chunky and Kiddy. This implies both sides’s mother and father have to be siblings and consequently these siblings share mother and father.
It is also price stating that no recognized Kong within the Dixie household tree has a tail. So all are assumed to be gorilla-type Kongs as there’s presently no proof proving in any other case.
In all probability Improper, However Attention-grabbing, Wrinkly Kong Multifamily Idea
There may be yet one more factor I wish to return to involving Wrinkly Kong. Recall how at one level in Donkey Kong Nation 3 she says, “Aren’t you going to offer your favourite relative a goodbye kiss?” to Dixie and Kiddy? There isn’t a good clarification for this apart from what I stated earlier about Wrinkly viewing Dixie–and by extension Kiddy–as household since Dixie is relationship Diddy Kong. That stated, I’ve give you one different risk.
As beforehand acknowledged, Wrinkly isn’t known as a mom or grandmother of any kind wherever. Nevertheless, primarily based on her relative quote there’s one other risk. What if Wrinkly Kong did not start all, or fairly presumably any, of Cranky Kong’s youngsters? As a substitute it is theoretically doable she, and an unknown companion, gave start to one among Dixie, Tiny, Chunky, and Kiddy’s grandparents and Wrinkly herself is one among their nice grandparents. This might make the DKC3 quote make sense in an insane means. Ultimately, after presumably birthing this different Kong line, Wrinkly moved on and married Cranky Kong.
It is also doable a sibling or one other relative of Wrinkly’s spawned the opposite Kong line. These are simply loopy, extremely speculative theories which are most likely improper, however I believed it was price mentioning earlier than closing all the things out. There may be presently no proof to completely assist Wrinkly’s actual genetic connection to both household tree. It is simply recognized that Wrinkly is Cranky Kong’s spouse.
Conclusion
The Donkey Kong household tree has been a cursed factor riddled with debate for many years. There have at all times been disagreements and fan theories from numerous individuals. I’m not intending to alter that, however hopefully I can open individuals’s minds to this extra complicated risk that does not appear to interrupt something as a result of I’ve by no means seen a Donkey Kong household tree take a sport centric deep dive like this.
Many hours of analysis and deduction went into creating this, so I hope extra individuals see it and take it significantly for future Donkey Kong household tree and Mario/Donkey Kong timeline-related discussions. I actually really feel that is the most effective proof primarily based have a look at the Donkey Kong household tree thus far. In fact, updates to this household tree will most actually be wanted sooner or later as new video games reveal information and introduce new characters.
Hopefully you have discovered this convenient and fascinating. And as at all times, if there’s something I missed or any enter you will have please attain out to me right here within the feedback part, on Bluesky, or on the Nintendo World Report Discord Server. Thanks!
