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Cranky Kong is a character from the Donkey Kong series of video games. He made his first appearance in Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo as the aging ancestor of the current Donkey Kong. He is known for his scathing, fourth wall-breaking remarks on the state of video games today. Cranky has appeared in a number of Donkey Kong games, primarily as a reluctant advisor to DK and his various simian pals.

=Appearances

In Donkey Kong Country on the SNES, Cranky's main purpose was to distribute helpful hints about the game's many stages to Donkey Kong and his sidekick Diddy Kong whenever they dropped by his cabin. These hints could be very useful in finding the game's many secrets, but always came peppered with insults and complaints, as well as a few good raps on the head from Cranky's cane. Cranky also featured prominently in the game's manual, popping up and offering complaints as if he were reading through it with you. This became a running joke in the manuals for subsequent DK games.

Donkey Kong Country 2 saw him play a similar role, although this time his advice came at a price. Whenever Diddy and Dixie Kong stopped by the Monkey Museum, they would have to provide enough banana coins to buy specific hints from the grouchy old ape. In the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country 2, he also hosted the Expresso Racing minigame, where you control Expresso (who did not appear in the SNES version) and race other ostriches.

In Donkey Kong Country 3, however, Cranky took a slightly more active role, serving as Dixie and Kiddy Kong's opponent in the throwing game at Swanky's Sideshow. Later, in the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 3, Cranky opened up a dojo where players could briefly take control of him in a martial arts themed mini-game.

Donkey Kong 64 saw Cranky turn mad scientist as he dabbled in potion making. These potions granted each of the five playable Kongs (DK, Diddy, Chunky, Lanky, and Tiny) special abilities and could be purchased at Cranky's Lab. He also housed the Jetpac game, and would let you play it after earning 15 Banana Medals. Achieving 5,000 points in Jetpac earned you the Rareware Coin, which was required to beat the game. Cranky also DJ'ed the DK Rap, and apparently enjoyed it.

In DK-King of Swing for Game Boy Advance, Cranky helped explain the new game mechanics in a tutorial that also featured his spectral wife, Wrinkly Kong.

Cranky also made a small cameo appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee, as well as appearing in Donkey Konga and its sequels.

Cranky Kong in other media

Cranky was also a regular on the Donkey Kong Country animated series. He was still as senile as in the games, but without his fourth wall-destroying comments. His cabin was where the Crystal Coconut the mystical bauble that made DK the future ruler of Kongo Bongo Island (as DK Island was called on the show), was kept. Often, Cranky mixed potions, somewhat prefiguring his DK64 role.

• Fictional apes
• Kongs