Wednesday 12 February 2014

The Donkey Kong theory

Sure, another theory. Except this one is one of my favourites.

So anyway. We all know the amazing Donkey Kong Country games and the... less-than-amazing Donkey Kong Country animated series. I loved the TV show a while back, around three or four years ago. But now, I'm re-watching it in amusing annotated form and now that I look back at it, I find it being less than impressive. Not because of the differences from the game, but rather because the characters sometimes get on my nerves. But this is not about that. This is about the theory that I imaginatively call 'The Donkey Kong Theory'.

The theory itself is as follows; The Donkey Kong Country TV show is a prequel to the games.

Why would I have such a bone-headed idea? Cranky would probably call me a big baboon (he calls everyone a big baboon) and I wouldn't blame him. Some things would make sense, though. For example, take Cranky, only because he's playable in Tropical Freeze (which is great) and also because he'll call me a big baboon if I don't tell about him first (which is not great.)

 
Honestly, Cranky's show design is quite faithful to his original design. The only thing that differs is his beard, which is shorter in the cartoon. Of course this is because back then, emulating hair with CGI was considered the most impossible thing that ever was impossible, but from a theory viewpoint, it would make sense -- it didn't have the time to grow to the length it is currently! As for his tendency to break the fourth wall in the games, we'll get to that later.



Secondly, there's Dixie Kong.

Argh! The transparency! It does nothing!

Of course, she's got a flower shirt there, which I've heard reminds some people more of Tiny Kong than Dixie Kong.

Fun fact; back when the show was in production, both Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Dixie's first appearance) and Donkey Kong 64 (that game was in production for a long time) were in production, and it could be perfectly plausible that at some time Dixie and Tiny were the same character, and that the dudes in charge of the show did with what information they had. But aside that, how does Dixie here fit in with the theory? Well, of course, she's got shorter hair (again, 'cause No Flow in CGI) and her shirt, of course. Maybe she was just younger and a little girlier. Nothing wrong with that! Good on you, Dix!

And of course, the big ape himself.



Ol' DK's changes are mostly in his attitude. In the show, he's a carefree goofball who loves bananas, Candy Kong, and slacking off (not necessarily in that order.) He's awfully clumsy but has a heart of gold. In the games, he doesn't have much personality to speak of, but from what we know, he's laid-back, chill, and just likes his peace and quiet.

Now, what happened between the show and the games, then?

Theory; the Crystal Coconut eventually ran dry because the magic was over-used. DK moved elsewhere together with Diddy, Cranky began to believe it was all just a game, K. Rool went nuts (well, more than before), and Bluster, being the only ape in Kongo Bongo with a successful business, moved elsewhere to sell his barrels. With the coconut gone, DK finally became the ruler, giving the island his likeness -- and the name DK Isle. DK took to collecting bananas to distract him from the coconut being gone, and began to hoard them after discovering they never spoiled.

And then, on one dark and stormy night, everything changed. Cue Donkey Kong Country.

And that, that is the Donkey Kong theory.

1 comment:

  1. Fascinating theory, you deserve a Nobel prize or something.

    Man, would love a good Donkey Kong cartoon. So much value. Pirates, monkies, jetpacks, guitars...

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