Banjo: Difference between revisions

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{{Character-infobox
{{Character-infobox
|image=[[File:Banjowithflag.png|215px]]
|image=[[File:Banjowithflag.png|215px]]
|full_name=Banjo
|full_name=Banjo the Honey Bear
|first_appearance=''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' ([[List of games by date#1997|1997]])
|first_appearance=''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' ([[List of games by date#1997|1997]])
|latest_appearance=''[[wikipedia:Rare Replay|Rare Replay]]'' (2015)
|latest_appearance=''{{wp|Rare Replay}}'' (2015)
|species=Honey Bear
|species=Honey bear
|latest_portrayal=[[Chris Sutherland]] ([[List of games by date#1997|1997]] - present)
|latest_portrayal=[[Chris Sutherland]] ([[List of games by date#1997|1997]]–present)
}}
}}
{{quote2|I'm Banjo!|[[Banjo]]|[[Diddy Kong Racing]]}}
{{quote2|I'm Banjo!|[[Banjo]]|[[Diddy Kong Racing]]}}


'''Banjo the Honey Bear''' is the protagonist of the [[wikia:c:banjokazooie:Banjo-Kazooie (series)|''Banjo-Kazooie'' series]], in which he and his best friend '''Kazooie''' (a female red Breegull bird) fight the evil witch, Gruntilda Winkybunion. He is also a close friend of [[Diddy Kong]]. Banjo made his video game debut in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'', alongside [[Conker]], who would also receive his own series of games. Banjo is portrayed as an easy-going and lazy character. He has light-brown fur, a shark-tooth necklace, yellow shorts, and a blue backpack in which Kazooie rides inside in their own series of games.  
'''Banjo''' is one of the two protagonists of the [[wikia:c:banjokazooie:Banjo-Kazooie (series)|''Banjo-Kazooie'' franchise]], along with Kazooie. However, his first appearance is in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'', in which he is a playable character. His inclusion was to promote his then-upcoming title, ''[[wikia:c:banjokazooie:Banjo-Kazooie|Banjo-Kazooie]]''. Banjo has light-brown fur, and he wears a shark-tooth necklace, yellow shorts, and a blue backpack that houses Kazooie.


Banjo's character is property of [[Rare Ltd.]], which was once a second-party developer for [[Nintendo]]. In 2002, Rare was sold to [[wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft]], giving the rights of Banjo and Conker to the company. This caused Nintendo to lose the rights of the Banjo and Conker characters, while Rare lost the rights to the [[Donkey Kong (franchise)|''Donkey Kong'' franchise]].
Banjo is owned by [[Rare Ltd.]], who was once a second-party developer for [[Nintendo]]. In 2002, Rare was sold to {{wp|Microsoft}}, and the rights of both Banjo and [[Conker the Squirrel|Conker]] were transferred to the company.


==History==
==History==
===''Diddy Kong Racing''===
===''Diddy Kong Racing''===
Banjo is one of the many friends that Diddy Kong contacts via [[Squawks the Parrot]] in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''. When the intergalactic traveler, [[Wizpig]], invaded and conquered [[Timber's Island]], Timber called on [[Diddy Kong]] for help. In turn, Diddy Kong sent Squawks the Parrot to find Banjo and [[Conker the Squirrel|Conker]] to request their assistance. The three traveled to the island, where with [[Timber]] and four of his friends, they competed in a variety of racing challenges to liberate the island and decide which of them would have the best chance to defeat Wizpig. Eventually, the eight, with or without the help of the unlockable characters ([[Drumstick (character)|Drumstick]] and [[T.T.]]), managed to drive Wizpig back to his home world: [[Future Fun Land]]. Banjo elected not to attend the celebration party, but he quickly returned when Wizpig struck back. He and the others traveled to Future Fun Land, conquered its challenges, and took on Wizpig. In their final race with the villain, Wizpig's rocket malfunctioned and he stranded himself on a deserted planet.
[[File:Banjo Frosty Village DKR.jpg|thumb|Banjo races in [[Frosty Village]] of ''Diddy Kong Racing''.]]
In ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'', when [[Wizpig]] invaded [[Timber's Island]], [[Timber]] calls for [[Diddy Kong]]'s assistance. In turn, he sends [[Squawks the Parrot|Squawks]] to contact his friends, one of whom is Banjo. All the characters compete in a variety of racing challenges to liberate the island and decide who would race Wizpig. Eventually, the eight racers, with the help of [[Taj the Genie|Taj]] and [[T.T.]], drove Wizpig back to his home planet, [[Future Fun Land]]. However, Wizpig returns, and the racers go to his homeworld. At the end of the world, the winning character races Wizpig again, who rides on a rocket missile for the rematch.


As one of the heavier racers, Banjo has slow acceleration, but he makes up for it with a high top speed. His handling however is below average, although it's better than [[Krunch|Krunch's]] handling skills. His top speed without bananas is 57 mph. For the [[Nintendo DS]] remake of the game, ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'', the characters of Conker and Banjo were replaced with [[Tiny Kong]] and [[Dixie Kong]]. The company chose Tiny Kong for the role of replacing Banjo, making her a heavyweight who could conceivably have the same racing abilities as Banjo. The team elected not to change or remove either character's theme song from the game however; Banjo's signature banjo music can still be heard both in the introduction and on the character selection screen.
On the character selection screen, Banjo's theme instrument is the banjo. The menu's theme is re-composed in a banjo when the player highlights him. Like the other characters, Banjo says his name when he is selected.
 
As a heavyweight racer, Banjo has slow acceleration, which is compensated for a high top speed. His handling lies below average, but it remains an improvement over [[Krunch]]'s. Banjo's has a top speed of 57mph without [[Banana]]s.
 
===''Donkey Kong 64''===
[[File:BanjoKazooieTreehouse.jpg|thumb|left|Banjo and Kazooie's cameo in an early build of ''Donkey Kong 64''.]]
Both Banjo and Kazooie made a cameo in early versions of ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]''. Their faces appear on a shower stall in [[DK's Tree House]]. It was likely related to the scrapped ''Banjo-Kazooie'' feature, Stop 'n' Swop. Since the idea was scrapped, the shower stall was removed in the final release.
 
===''Mario Artist: Paint Studio''===
Banjo appears in some ''Diddy Kong Racing''-based artwork in ''[[Mario Artist: Paint Studio]]'' along with the characters of the game.
 
===''Diddy Kong Racing DS''===
Since Microsoft had direct ownership over Banjo and Conker, both of them did not appear in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]''. They were respectively replaced with [[Tiny Kong]] and [[Dixie Kong]] instead. Banjo's theme instrument was left intact, and it plays both the character selection and the game's introduction sequence. Banjo's statistics were also retained for Tiny Kong, who was likely redesigned for Banjo's heavyweight feature.


===''N-Gang''===
===''N-Gang''===
===="N-Gang vs. Nintendo"====
===="N-Gang vs. Nintendo"====
[[File:Club Nintendo N-Gang.jpg|thumb|Banjo and Kazooie's appearance in the comic.]]
Banjo appeared in the ''[[N-Gang]]'' comic "[[N-Gang#N-Gang vs. Nintendo|N-Gang vs. Nintendo]]", where he played on the same soccer camp team with Kazooie, [[Wario]], [[Yoshi]], [[Princess Peach]], [[Donkey Kong]], and [[Lanky Kong]]. [[Mario]] refereed the match.
Banjo appeared in the ''[[N-Gang]]'' comic "[[N-Gang#N-Gang vs. Nintendo|N-Gang vs. Nintendo]]", where he played on the same soccer camp team with Kazooie, [[Wario]], [[Yoshi]], [[Princess Peach]], [[Donkey Kong]], and [[Lanky Kong]]. [[Mario]] refereed the match.
{{stub|section=yes}}


==Game appearances==
==Game appearances==
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==Gallery==
==Gallery==
=== ''Diddy Kong Racing'' ===
<gallery>
<gallery>
Carbanjo.png|''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''
Carbanjo.png|Artwork
Banjo0.png|''Diddy Kong Racing''
Banjo0.png|Artwork
BanjoDKR.png|Banjo's appearance in-game
DKR Banjo model.png|An in-game render of Banjo.
Banjo-CSS-DKR.png|Driver mugshot
Character Selection DKR.png|Banjo is at the top-right of the character selection.
Club Nintendo N-Gang.jpg|Banjo and Kazooie in the comic [[N-Gang#N-Gang_vs._Nintendo|N-Gang vs Nintendo]].
Banjo-CSS-DKR.png|Driver mugshot.
</gallery>
</gallery>


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|JapR=Banjō
|JapR=Banjō
|JapM=
|JapM=
|Spa=
|SpaM=
|Fra=
|FraM=
|Dut=
|DutM=
|Ger=
|GerM=
|Ita=
|ItaM=
|Rom=
|RomM=
|Rus=Банджо
|Rus=Банджо
|RusR=Bandzho
|RusR=Bandzho
Line 78: Line 82:
|ChiR=Bānzhuō
|ChiR=Bānzhuō
|ChiM=
|ChiM=
|Por=
|PorM=
}}
}}
==Trivia==
*In an early version of ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', Banjo made a cameo appearance. A magnet on [[Donkey Kong]]'s shower stall in [[DK's Tree House]] featured Banjo and Kazooie's faces. However, in the final release of the title, Rareware removed the shower stall and cameo appearance.
*Artwork of Banjo can be used in ''[[Mario Artist: Paint Studio]]'', like some other ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' characters.


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 19:41, August 18, 2018

Template:Character-infobox Template:Quote2

Banjo is one of the two protagonists of the Banjo-Kazooie franchise, along with Kazooie. However, his first appearance is in Diddy Kong Racing, in which he is a playable character. His inclusion was to promote his then-upcoming title, Banjo-Kazooie. Banjo has light-brown fur, and he wears a shark-tooth necklace, yellow shorts, and a blue backpack that houses Kazooie.

Banjo is owned by Rare Ltd., who was once a second-party developer for Nintendo. In 2002, Rare was sold to Microsoft, and the rights of both Banjo and Conker were transferred to the company.

History

Diddy Kong Racing

File:Banjo Frosty Village DKR.jpg
Banjo races in Frosty Village of Diddy Kong Racing.

In Diddy Kong Racing, when Wizpig invaded Timber's Island, Timber calls for Diddy Kong's assistance. In turn, he sends Squawks to contact his friends, one of whom is Banjo. All the characters compete in a variety of racing challenges to liberate the island and decide who would race Wizpig. Eventually, the eight racers, with the help of Taj and T.T., drove Wizpig back to his home planet, Future Fun Land. However, Wizpig returns, and the racers go to his homeworld. At the end of the world, the winning character races Wizpig again, who rides on a rocket missile for the rematch.

On the character selection screen, Banjo's theme instrument is the banjo. The menu's theme is re-composed in a banjo when the player highlights him. Like the other characters, Banjo says his name when he is selected.

As a heavyweight racer, Banjo has slow acceleration, which is compensated for a high top speed. His handling lies below average, but it remains an improvement over Krunch's. Banjo's has a top speed of 57mph without Bananas.

Donkey Kong 64

The Banjo and Kazooie poster originally found in DK's Tree House in Donkey Kong 64.
Banjo and Kazooie's cameo in an early build of Donkey Kong 64.

Both Banjo and Kazooie made a cameo in early versions of Donkey Kong 64. Their faces appear on a shower stall in DK's Tree House. It was likely related to the scrapped Banjo-Kazooie feature, Stop 'n' Swop. Since the idea was scrapped, the shower stall was removed in the final release.

Mario Artist: Paint Studio

Banjo appears in some Diddy Kong Racing-based artwork in Mario Artist: Paint Studio along with the characters of the game.

Diddy Kong Racing DS

Since Microsoft had direct ownership over Banjo and Conker, both of them did not appear in Diddy Kong Racing DS. They were respectively replaced with Tiny Kong and Dixie Kong instead. Banjo's theme instrument was left intact, and it plays both the character selection and the game's introduction sequence. Banjo's statistics were also retained for Tiny Kong, who was likely redesigned for Banjo's heavyweight feature.

N-Gang

"N-Gang vs. Nintendo"

Banjo and Kazooie's appearance in the comic.

Banjo appeared in the N-Gang comic "N-Gang vs. Nintendo", where he played on the same soccer camp team with Kazooie, Wario, Yoshi, Princess Peach, Donkey Kong, and Lanky Kong. Mario refereed the match.

Mario head smaller.png This section is a stub. You can help the Super Mario Wiki by expanding it.

Game appearances

Title Description Release Date System/Format
Diddy Kong Racing Playable character 1997 Nintendo 64
Mario Artist: Paint Studio Cameo in an artwork from Diddy Kong Racing 1999 Nintendo 64DD

Gallery

Diddy Kong Racing

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japanese バンジョー
Banjō
 

Chinese 班卓
Bānzhuō
 

Korean 반조[citation needed]
Banjo
 

Russian Банджо
Bandzho
 

External links