Kong

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Kong
Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong
The main Kongs of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze: clockwise from top, Donkey Kong, Dixie Kong, Cranky Kong, and Diddy Kong
First appearance Donkey Kong (1981)
Latest appearance Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) (2024)
Variants
Relatives
Notable members
“I'm the king of the Kong, the simian Don Juan.”
Diddy Kong, "Kong for a Day"

Kongs (also known as Apes in production literature for the Donkey Kong Country television series)[1] are sapient primates that make up much of the cast of the Donkey Kong franchise, with the eponymous character himself being one. They are capable of actions such as speech and building houses and typically wear clothing, though the amount varies drastically with the individual, with Donkey Kong himself wearing only a tie, while many others wear full outfits. They seem to be native to Donkey Kong Island, and they share an animosity with much of the crocodilian Kremling race. While most of them share the surname "Kong", they are not all directly related to one another. Kongs can resemble any number of real-life primates, with Donkey Kong, Funky Kong, and several others being gorillas; Diddy Kong being a monkey; Dixie Kong and Tiny Kong being chimpanzees; and Lanky Kong being an orangutan.

In the Donkey Kong Country cartoon and Saturday Supercade, Kongs are never referred to as such outside their individual names. Instead, generic names of various real-life types of primates, such as "monkeys", "chimps", "gorillas", and "apes", are used fairly interchangeably to describe them. However, the term "baboon" seems to be reserved as an insult, potentially due to it sounding similar to the word "buffoon", and is even used against other species, such as Cranky Kong using it against Krusha in "From Zero to Hero".

The word "Kong" is a Japanese slang word for "gorilla".[2]

Kong Family[edit]

DK emblem
Donkey Kong's emblem

The Kong Family[3][4] (also known as the Donkey Kong Family[5] or Kong Klan[6]) and the DK Crew[7][8] are the main group of Kongs, being Donkey Kong's family and close friends. The patriarch of the family is Cranky Kong, the original Donkey Kong. In the Donkey Kong franchise of video games, members of the Kong Family are either playable characters or supporting characters that aid the main heroes on their journey, although they also receive help from allies outside the family, including the Animal Friends and the Kremling K. Lumsy.

The family often uses the initials "DK" as a symbol, which most often represents Donkey Kong. It is seen on Donkey Kong's tie, DK Barrels, DK Coins, the Level Flags, DK Spaces, and various other objects around Donkey Kong Island. The symbol is also used in the Super Smash Bros. series, although in this context, it is used as the logo for the Donkey Kong franchise in general instead of just the Kong Family members (since King K. Rool and Klaptraps also use it).

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese コングファミリー
Kongu Famirī
Kong Family

Chinese (simplified) 刚家族
Gāng Jiāzú
Kong Family

Chinese (traditional) 剛家族
Gāng Jiāzú
Kong Family

French Famille Kong
Kong Family
German Kong-Familie
Kong Family
Italian Famiglia Kong
Kong Family
Spanish Familia Kong
Kong Family

List of Kongs[edit]

Donkey Kong's family[edit]

In addition, Donkey Kong Jr. has a relative referred to as Uncle Julius, albeit he has not been shown to be a part of the Kong clan.

Dixie Kong's family[edit]

  • Dixie Kong — Diddy Kong's girlfriend, Tiny Kong's older sister, Kiddy and Chunky Kong's cousin.
  • Tiny Kong — Dixie Kong's younger sister, Kiddy and Chunky Kong's cousin.
  • Chunky Kong — Kiddy Kong's older brother, Dixie and Tiny Kong's cousin.
  • Kiddy Kong — Chunky Kong's younger brother, Dixie and Tiny Kong's cousin.

Close friends[edit]

  • Candy Kong — Donkey Kong's rumored girlfriend.
  • Diddy Kong — Donkey Kong's sidekick and Dixie Kong's boyfriend.
  • Funky Kong — Donkey Kong's friend.

Other members[edit]

Evil Kongs[edit]

Robotic Kongs[edit]

Kong species[edit]

Unused Kongs[edit]

Gallery[edit]

Kong Family[edit]

Group[edit]

Emblem[edit]

Other Kongs[edit]

Miscellaneous[edit]

Trivia[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Computer Animation: A Whole New World (1998, Rockport Publishers). "Medialab Donkey Kong Country". P. 87
  2. ^ De Maria, Rusel, and Wilson, Johnny L. (2004). High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill/Osborne.
  3. ^ "Cranky Kong: Have you been to see the other members of the Kong family? They're not as useful as me of course, but they might be able to help." – Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
  4. ^ Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Instruction Booklet, Nintendo, 1995, p. 21
  5. ^ Donkey Kong Country Player's Guide, Nintendo, 1994, p. 5
  6. ^ Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble Player's Guide, Nintendo, 1996, p. 8
  7. ^ DK Rap singer: "He's the first member of the DK crew!" – Donkey Kong 64
  8. ^ "Narrator: The DK Crew came to his tropical paradise for a little R&R." – DK: Jungle Climber
  9. ^ Bazaar's words: "Yes, but it's no ordinary one though! It was Cranky's great grandfather's! I can't let it go for less than 50 coins." - Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
  10. ^ In Cranky's words: "A newcomer to the Kong clan and the joker of the pack. I haven't a clue whom he's related to—must be some distant cousin or something." - Donkey Kong 64 instruction booklet, page 8.
  11. ^ Chunky's bio from German Donkey Kong 64 website: "The well-mannered giant gorilla is, in the truest sense of the word, a great guy, and sticks to Lanky, his uncle once-removed."
  12. ^ Donkey Kong Country instruction booklet, page 29.