Donkey Kong (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)

Hero Overview

Gallery

Do-gooder

Full Name

Donkey Kong

Alias

DK

Son (by his father)
Smash Monkey (by Mario)
Giant Monkey

Origin

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Occupation

Prince of the Jungle Kingdom
Gladiator

Powers / Skills

Immense Strength

Immense Speed
Immense Durability
Immense Stamina
Immense Agility
Immense Reflexes
Driving
Pyrokinesis (via Fire Flower)
Fighting Skills
High Intelligence

Hobby

Lazing around in his hut.

Showboating.

Goals

Defeat Mario (formerly; abandoned).

Help Mario defeat Bowser.
Save the prisoners from Bowser.
Make his father proud (all succeeded).

Family

Cranky Kong (father)

Friends / Allies

Mario (friendly rival)

Princess Peach
Toad
Luigi
Diddy Kong
Kongs

Enemies

Bowser

Koopa General †
Kamek
Bowser's Army
Mario (formerly)

Type of Hero

Brutish Fighter

“	It is on like DONKEY KONG!	„
	~ Donkey Kong's most famous quote

“	Now you die.	„
	~ Donkey Kong fighting Mario and his second most (in)famous and memeable quote.

Donkey Kong is a major character in Illumination's 13th feature film The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

He is an anthropomorphic powerful gorilla and is also the son of Cranky Kong and therefore heir to the throne of the Jungle Kingdom. He is also a good friend and friendly rival of Mario after getting beaten by him in a duel.

He is voiced by Seth Rogen, who also voices B.O.B. in Monsters vs. Aliens, Mantis in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, Pumbaa in The Lion King (2019), Frank in Sausage Party, and Bebop in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

Appearance[]

Donkey Kong is generally identical to his game counterpart, being a massive gorilla with brown hair, brown eyes, a tan face, ears, chest, hands and feet, and a dark brown patch around his eye sockets. He only sports a red tie with his initials in yellow text upon it. He also takes a few design cues from Cranky Kong pre-Donkey Kong Country.

Upon obtaining the Fire Flower, his hair turns red with a white head tuft and "sleeves" while his tie turns white with red text.

Personality[]

When first introduced, Donkey Kong is shown to be rather arrogant and has a bit of an ego, as demonstrated when he shows off to the crowd of Kong's during his fight with Mario. He also denies himself needing any Power-Ups when Cranky Kong announces he put various ? Blocks around the arena, showcasing his cockiness.

Donkey Kong is rather rude as well, as during said fight he constantly makes fun of and belittles Mario for his inexperience and misfortune when getting the Mini Mushroom. After the plumber defeats him, he refuses to let the situation slide and constantly picks on him throughout the journey, ranging from claiming that he let him win the fight to outright saying that he hates him after getting his kart, showing that he is an incredibly sore loser and very petty.

That being said, Donkey Kong has some insecurities to him. He admits to Mario while stuck inside the Maw-Ray that he's upset over how his father, Cranky Kong, doesn't take him seriously and thinking of him as a joke (similarly to how Mario's dad thinks the same of him) because his showboating attitude and that he wants to be seen as more than someone who simply smashes things. Granted, while the two start bickering again thanks to him being petty when saying that Mario's father is right about seeing Mario as a disappointment, they start working better as a team after they escape the Maw-Ray's stomach and fight off Bowser's army.

Donkey Kong even protects Mario from being killed by Bowser after being sent to Brooklyn and later pulls him into a group hug with the others after stopping him, proving that for all of his arrogance and pride, Donkey Kong is a good person at heart.

Biography[]

Donkey Kong first shows up in the Jungle Kingdom arena, where he was fighting Mario in a challenge. He started showboating as the crowds cheered for him. As the battle began, Donkey Kong easily beats up Mario, but Mario refused to give up. When it all looked over, Mario got the cat bell power up, and was able to fight back against Donkey Kong, and won the fight. After recovering, Donkey Kong claims that he “let” Mario win.

As promised, Cranky and the Kongs agree to help Mario and Princess Peach against Bowser. Unfortunately they’re ambushed by the Koopas and Troopas on their journey, the general destroys Donkey Kong's kart after he helps Mario blow up his shredder. This blows up Donkey Kong's kart and sends both him and Mario falling into the sea where they are presumed dead. After their loss, the rest of the Kongs are imprisoned, forcing Princess Peach and Toad to retreat back to the Mushroom Kingdom to evacuate the citizens and prepare for Bowser's inevitable arrival.

As both Donkey Kong and Mario plummet into the sea, the former sinks and nearly drowns until the plumber hauls him back to the surface, saving his life in the process. Donkey Kong barely had time to express his gratitude before a massive Maw-Ray swallows them both. Shortly after, the two rivals open up to each other about their respective fathers not taking them seriously and considered them to be jokes before bickering again, until they find Donkey Kong's kart and escape with the vehicle's remaining rocket.

Upon arrival to the Mushroom Kingdom, now working as a team, Donkey Kong and Mario fight their way through Bowser's minions, using power-ups on the way, and arrive just in time for Donkey Kong to save his father while Mario goes to save Luigi.

Donkey Kong is among the many characters that get teleported to Brooklyn after Mario lures a Banzai Bill into the green pipe linking dimensions. Donkey Kong fights alongside Princess Peach and Toad against Bowser in an effort to protect the plumber, but even he is no match for Bowser who promptly places him in a chokehold and prepares to kill him before Mario intervenes again.

In the immediate aftermath of the battle, which ends up with Bowser being defeated and imprisoned, Donkey Kong is hailed as a hero alongside Princess Peach, Toad and the Mario Bros.

Powers and Abilities[]

Immense Strength: Donkey Kong’s primary ability is his physical immense strength. He can easily pick up humans with one hand and throw them around with ease. He can also do the same with his large and heavy barrels. However, Donkey Kong’s strength has proven to be inferior to Bowser’s as shown during their one-on-one fight.
Immense Durability: Donkey Kong can take large amounts of physical punishment and remain almost unharmed. He took heavy hits from both Cat Mario and from Bowser and only fainted as a result.
Immense Stamina: Donkey Kong can fight his enemies for prolonged periods of time without getting tired or worn out.
Immense Agility: Despite his large size, Donkey Kong is remarkably agile as shown during his fight with Mario.
Driving Skills: Donkey Kong is a skilled driver. He is seen driving his kart on Rainbow Road and managed to outmaneuver many of Bowser’s enforcers in the process.
Expert Combatant: Donkey Kong is a highly skilled combatant. He is the champion of the Jungle Kingdom and one of the best fighters in his home kingdom.
High-Intellect: Donkey Kong is very intelligent and cunning. He is opportunistic and is capable of getting inside Mario’s head to throw him off his game many times.
Fire Flower: With this Power-Up, Donkey Kong could create and throw fireballs at his enemies, which he used during his and Mario's raid of Bowser's floating fortress.
- Fireball Projection As mentioned above, Donkey Kong was capable of creating fireballs that he could throw with great force at his foes. Though not seen in the film, it's possible for him to generate a shockwave of flames if Princess Peach's icy shockwave is anything to go off of.

Trivia[]

Donkey Kong's relation to Cranky Kong is different in the movie universe, with him now being his son instead of his grandson.
- However Cranky Kong was originally stated to be Donkey Kong's father in video games developed by Rare Ltd before it was later changed.
Donkey Kong's introduction song is the memetic DK Rap from Donkey Kong 64.
- Speaking of said game, if one looks closely at the crowd during his fight against Mario, there's a Kong in a blue shirt with the number "64" on the front of it.
His fire form bears a striking resemblance to his gaming counterpart's in-game sprite from Donkey Kong.
This iteration of Donkey Kong is the first one to use power-ups.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, both of which Seth Rogen starred in, came out in 2023.
In this movie since Cranky Kong is his father and king it means that he's the Prince of the Kongs Jungle and future king.