# Unraveling the Complex History of Mario and Donkey Kong‘s Rivalry - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/why-are-mario-and-donkey-kong-enemies/ - Published: 2023-11-16 - Author: Nelson Ayers - Categories: [Basic knowledge & Meaning](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/meaning/) --- As a fellow gaming enthusiast, you‘ve probably seen the memes joking about Mario and Donkey Kong being eternal arch-enemies. But their real backstory is way more nuanced! Let‘s unravel the origins of their rivalry and how this dynamic duo went from arcade adversaries to allies over decades of Nintendo magic. ## Jumpman vs the Kabonga Gorilla To understand their relationship, we have to go back to the early 1980s when arcades ruled and Atari was king. A young Shigeru Miyamoto was designing Donkey Kong under Nintendo, inspired by the Popeye comic and cartoon he loved. He even named the characters after Popeye characters – "Jumpman" as the playable hero and the Lady/Pauline as the damsel in distress. The villain? A giant ape named "Kong" after King Kong, meant to evoke a gorilla‘s raw power. Miyamoto‘s own pet name for him was the "Kabonga Gorilla." Jumpman, Pauline, and Kong soon became iconic gaming characters in their own right. After numerous sequels, Jumpman adopted his famous red cap and overalls and became the Mario we know today. Kong passed the torch to his successor, Cranky Kong, and the modern tie-wearing Donkey Kong was born. While Mario segued into starring in his own massively popular franchise, Donkey Kong continued the ape legacy in the Donkey Kong Country series. No longer foes, the two became friendly competitors in spin-off titles like the Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. series. ## When Kongs Relapse into Villainy There are exceptions where Donkey Kong has reprised his antagonistic role against Mario: - Donkey Kong Jr – DK‘s son tries to rescue DK from Mario‘s clutches. - Mario vs Donkey Kong series – DK returns to his kidnapping ways, stealing Mini Marios. - Captain Rainbow – Cranky Kong imprisons Mario on a faraway island. Despite these lapses into mischief, modern Donkey Kong is largely an ally rather than an enemy, especially compared to Bowser‘s consistent villainy across the Mario franchise. DK‘s son Donkey Kong Jr. has also grown past his dad-rescuing days to become a friend of Mario. ## Cranky Kong vs Modern Donkey Kong Part of the confusion comes from the different gorillas who have borne the Donkey Kong name: **Cranky Kong** – The original arcade villain, bitter and cantankerous. He reluctantly helps heroes like Donkey Kong and remains suspicious of longtime rival Mario. **Modern Donkey Kong** – Cranky‘s laidback grandson, a humble hero who loves bananas and music. He‘s an ally of the Mario Bros who enjoys friendly competition. While Cranky Kong made his mark as Mario‘s first nemesis, Donkey Kong has outgrown that legacy to become his own lovable character – a far cry from his cranky granddad causing arcade mayhem! ## Primal Instincts and Protectiveness But why was the original Donkey Kong so set on tormenting Jumpman back in the day? According to some theories, he was just acting on primal gorilla impulses and protectiveness over Pauline. His actions may have been more animalistic than malicious. > "Donkey Kong started out as a bad guy simply because he gives into raw, primitive instincts. In other words, he behaves like a gorilla." – PopMatters As characters evolved, Donkey Kong became more anthropomorphic with human clothes, activities and emotions. This growing complexity helps explain his change into a laidback jungle hero who simply loves playing music and munching bananas. Meanwhile, Mario rebranded into Nintendo‘s upbeat mascot rather than an aggrieved pet owner. Who could stay mad at a tie-wearing ape for long? ## Mario‘s Other Nemeses While Bowser remains Mario‘s eternal arch-enemy, he‘s faced off against many memorable foes over the years: - **Goombas** – The iconic mushroom-like foot soldiers - **Koopa Troopas** – Bowser‘s turtle henchmen - **Wario** – Mario‘s jealous, greedy doppelgänger - **Waluigi** – Wario‘s lanky partner-in-crime - **Fawful** – The maniacal sidekick from Mario & Luigi RPG series Donkey Kong‘s rivalry has cooled over time into more of a friendly competition. Their relationship arc shows significant character growth since the early days of gorilla grunts and lack of communication. ## By the Numbers – Donkey Kong Franchise Stats The Donkey Kong series has sold over 65 million units worldwide as of 2021, making it one of Nintendo‘s top franchises: | Series Sales | First Release | Latest Release | | --- | --- | --- | | 65+ million | Donkey Kong (1981) | Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014) | Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Nintendo Switch has sold over 2 million units as of 2020, showing the franchise‘s continued popularity. Donkey Kong was ranked the 13th most popular Nintendo character in an official poll, ahead of icons like Yoshi and Kirby. While Mario came in at #1, his rapport with DK has clearly won over fans. ## Mine Carts, Barrels, and Bananas – Iconic Elements Beyond the central gorilla, the Donkey Kong franchise pioneered many iconic gameplay elements: - **Mine Carts** – Rideable carts along rollercoaster-like tracks - **Barrels** – Throwable barrels that roll, often containing items - **Platforming** – Precise jumping across girders and gaps - **Bananas** – Collectible bananas that guide players through levels These elements of running, jumping, riding, and chucking barrels combined for an innovative arcade experience in 1981. They remain core components of Donkey Kong level design today. ## Smash Bros. and the Mario Kart Circuit In crossover spin-off franchises, Mario and Donkey Kong‘s rivalry takes on a friendly competitive spirit: - **Super Smash Bros.** – DK and Diddy Kong appear as playable fighters who can bash and shoot peanuts at opponents. - **Mario Kart** – DK and friends race against Team Mario on the go-kart circuit, tossing banana peels as they go. Rather than kidnapping and stage hazards, DK competes with Mario through Smash attacks or a speed boost from his Giant Banana kart parts. ## An Enduring Legacy in Gaming History While no longer Mario‘s foremost enemy, Donkey Kong left an indelible mark on gaming history. The phrase "It‘s on like Donkey Kong" stems from their rivalry and remains part of popular culture today. As a gamer, I have fond memories battling DK myself back in the day. Revisiting those classic arcade struggles shows how far both characters have come since Mario‘s humble start chasing a gorilla up girders. Through evolutions and new generations, Mario and Donkey Kong now epitomize friendly competition and good sportsmanship. Underneath the barrel chucking and mine cart rides lies a mutual respect between icons. That‘s the rich legacy of this dynamic duo – an enduring reminder of how even the fiercest rivalries can turn into rewarding friendships with a bit of empathy. --- Source: [Unraveling the Complex History of Mario and Donkey Kong‘s Rivalry](https://33rdsquare.com/why-are-mario-and-donkey-kong-enemies/)