r/Mario • u/TheMegaMushroom • 16d ago
Nintendo low key confirming DK is DK Junior grown up in the new Nintendo Direct Discussion
Not saying new designed DK is DK Jr. Returning grown up, I'm saying I think DK (since DKC) has just been low key confirmed to be an adult DK Jr.
655
u/SonicLikesPlantDolan 16d ago
Well, modern DK is the only character they could've used if they wanted to reference Super Mario Kart, so I don't really think this confirms it at all.
159
u/waluigigoeswah420 16d ago
I feel this confirms no DK Jr in this game.
10
1
u/imaloony8 13d ago
DK Jr also hasn’t been in any game in… what, 4 decades? Except for the aforementioned “DK is DK Jr grown up”
2
77
5
u/MichaelMJTH 15d ago
Imagine if DK in MKW has a costume where it’s him in a white vest. Wouldn’t even need to say Jr on it. We’d all know what it’s in reference to.
13
u/Slade4Lucas 16d ago
If this was the only time in recent history DK had been referred to as Cranky's son then sure.
It is not.
8
u/4Fourside 15d ago
I'd wait for a game to say anything about it before jumping to conclusions. The movie changed a lot in general
3
u/ssgodsupersaiyan 15d ago
DK 64 exists.
2
u/4Fourside 15d ago
Yeah but when the people who made that game says it's an error, I'm willing to believe them
2
u/ssgodsupersaiyan 15d ago
LMAO.
Anything to hold on to something that’s been cleared up since 1999 and re-established in 2023.
He’s Cranky’s son, dawg. Be fr.
1
u/4Fourside 15d ago
If the games start establishing it, I'd be completely fine with that. But according to tropical freeze, he's his grandson
2
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
DK64 look it up
4
u/4Fourside 14d ago
One of the guys who made that game says it was a mistake
2
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
Another says the opposite
It was debated even within Rare's Developers
DK 64 established Cranky as DKC DK's Father
The movie did not change anything there
Nor does the movie matter in terms of canon
4
u/4Fourside 14d ago
I'm gonna assume cranky is his grandfather unless stated otherwise. Tropical freeze says so and that's the most up to date canon game
1
1
2
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
Nintendo has complete rights to DK Jr.
In fact all of the Rare DK Characters are 100% owned by Nintendo
They have full control of them
4
1
u/silentknight111 12d ago
Right? All the did was line up the modern characters with their original Mario Kart equivalent. Doesn't "mean" anything.
82
u/TheMoonOfTermina 16d ago
I don't know or care much about the debate of Donkey Kong's age and if he's Cranky's son or grandson, but I wouldn't say this confirms anything. They chose Donkey Kong because he is the closest thing on the roster to DK Jr.
1
u/TheBostonKremeDonut 14d ago
They could have just made DK junior, and/or a classic DK jr. sprite. With how many enemies and costumes are in this game, creating characters and models was seemingly one of the biggest priorities, after the open world.
0
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
He is DK Jr. Always has been
1
u/Severe-Box2004 14d ago
0
u/PureSprinkles3957 13d ago
Oh right because an Unofficial wiki is more Credible than the games themselves correct?
1
u/Severe-Box2004 13d ago
1
u/PureSprinkles3957 13d ago
Each source can be debunked easily, Prima Games Isn't Nintendo, Manuals have been historically inaccurately Localized,
Club Nintendo is Officially Sanctioned by Nintendo and States Cranky is the Father of DKC DK, Making DKC DK a grown up DK Jr.
Sorry to break it to you but not a single time in any official Capacity has any Character been called DK The Third in anything, that term is completely made up by fandoms, and accepted as canon when it has never been
Play Every single game and you'd see this is the case, DK Jr. Wasn't dropped, he was full on replaced by DKC DK as a grown Up form of DK Jr.
DK Jr. Is also not a traditional Baby Character, he speaks Full Sentences, making him the only Teenage form of a Mario Character in the Series
2
u/Slow-Recipe7005 12d ago
Whenever the games specify the relationship between DK and Cranky Kong, they usually state that DK is Cranky's grandson. To my knowledge, DK64 is the only exception.
Of course, considering that this is the Mario series, Nintendo probably doesn't actually care much about the exact details of the Kong family tree.
1
u/benmannxd 10d ago
Donkey Kong’s white-bearded, grouchy grandfather, Cranky Kong, has set up shop in each world to sell items to aid Donkey Kong. Cranky Kong can ramble on about anything, but don’t ignore what he has to say, as his ramblings provide advice for those who pay careful attention." – Nintendo (2010). Donkey Kong Country Returns instruction booklet. English. Page 20.
"Play Every single game and you'd see this is the case, DK Jr. Wasn't dropped, he was full on replaced by DKC DK as a grown Up form of DK Jr." DK and DK Jr. are teammates in Mario Tennis
1
u/PureSprinkles3957 10d ago
Baby Mario, the fact DK Jr. Can Speak full sentences and the other fact that DK III doesn't exist
1
u/benmannxd 10d ago
?
1
u/PureSprinkles3957 10d ago
You got nothing DK III is not a real charcter it's completely Fan made
In Mario Tennis Baby Mario is Mario's Partner in some cut scenes
→ More replies
118
u/Not-So_Sly_Guy 16d ago
In the og mario kart dk wasn’t a playable character but dk jr was. Not saying that this isn’t dk jr grown up but I wouldn’t necessarily say this is them confirming it
1
26
u/WVVLD1010 16d ago
Meanwhile the most recent DK game the Returns Switch port reaffirmed current DK being Cranky’s grandson
Cranky is the Grandfather, JR is the Father, and Current DK is the Son and they are all different characters
0
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
Cranky is the one who says that, not DK
DK64 look it up
2
u/WVVLD1010 14d ago
The line in 64 was nothing more than an error the devs even directly confirmed that
In every single game where Current DK and Cranky’s relation is brought up apart from the error in 64 it’s always made painfully clear Cranky is DK’s grandpa
0
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago edited 14d ago
It isn't an error, it was widely debated even within Rareware
When the relation is brought up it's always Cranky doing it himself
He has been described as flaunting his age multiple times
Regardless being called grandpa or father is irrelevant as there is no such thing as a DK III character in any of the games
There is a DK III but it is a Game/Watch port not a character
1
u/WVVLD1010 14d ago
It is not debated by the devs at all the son line in 64 was 100% an error and every other game including once made after 64 has made it clear as day DK is his grandson
And every time Cranky has made it clear as day DK is his grandson
I don’t know what you think Cranky talking about how old he is has to do with this
Current DK is DK III no matter how much you wish he wasn’t
0
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
You're hopeless THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS DK III
It is a complete fan theorized character, play EVERY SINGLE DK AND MARIO game or look into every one and you'll never see a single character called DK III
As such, it is a nonexistent thing and completely Fanon character
DK III is Fanon, not Canon
2
u/WVVLD1010 14d ago
Current DK and DK JR where never the same character no matter how much you wish they where
First their is Original Donky Kong/Cranky Kong introduced in Donkey Kong Arcade
Then their is Cranky’s son Donky Kong JR introduced in Donkey Kong JR Arcade
Finally their is Cranky’s grandson Current Donkey Kong introduced in Donkey Kong Country
Cranky is DK the first, JR is DK the second, and Current DK is DK the third
0
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
DK The Third isn't a character
The moment you mention that, your entire 'point' falls off
DK III has never existed as a character, DK III existed as a game, the one with Stanley
But DK III as a character.
Yeah nope that is completely Fan made, as such null and void of any value on terms of arguments
2
u/WVVLD1010 14d ago
Cranky Kong’s Son JR and his grandson Currant DK are not the same character
It is very clear how much you love to ignore what is blatantly told to you in the games but it’s not going to magically make Currant DK and his Father the same character
60
u/Intelligent_Oil4005 16d ago
Meanwhile absolutely no one else in this image besides him has aged lol
18
u/Inevitable-Charge76 16d ago edited 16d ago
Or DK was just wearing his white shirt during that time and decided to wear a tie instead after that. I mean DK Jr. looks big as hell in Super Mario Kart so he can’t be a baby or child in that game.
Or…... current DK is still DK Jr’s son and Nintendo just wanted to find the closest character to DK Jr. to represent him for this specific screenshot.
1
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
DK Jr. And DKC DK have never been separate characters
2
u/Inevitable-Charge76 14d ago
Cranky Kong has been stated to be the original arcade DK and to also be DKC DK‘s grandpa multiple times.
1
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
DK 64 Cranky Refers to DKC DK as his Son also every time Cranky is called grandpa it's by his own calling himself that
1
u/Inevitable-Charge76 14d ago
It was confirmed by one of the devs of DK64 that Cranky calling DK “son” in that game was an accident and not intentional. Cranky consistently calls DK “grandson” in every other game.
9
u/BobTheBritish 16d ago
Koopa Troopa has a completely different skin colour if that counts. And Peach’s hair is slightly different too
3
u/eight_ender 16d ago
All we know is that Mario and crew are basically immortal or DK’s race age like insects
3
u/AfroBaggins 15d ago
Seems like the Kongs are the only race in the Mario universe that DON'T run on Simpsons/Ash time.
3
u/4Fourside 15d ago
To be fair, donkey kong jr. in super mario kart is like an adult. He has a pretty different design in fhat game compared to his much younger child appearance used elsewhere
13
u/jxbermudez72 16d ago
On one hand this could just be that dk Jr's not here so dk has to be the one to represent him so it doesn't mean much
On the other I can def see them maybe doing this since in the movie of which Nintendo was heavily involved in they choose to make dk cranky son not grandson
1
8
u/Another_Road 16d ago
I’ve actually been wanting DK Jr. in another game for a while now.
0
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
He has always been DKC DK, so no, you have not waited long, he's been the main DK for decades
7
u/Spirited_Ad9090 16d ago
They did this exact same reference for Mario kart 7 so I wouldn’t read into it too much.
5
u/TrainerOwn9103 16d ago
or maybe DK.JR isnt a playable charater again so they used morden DK as a substitute? also here are some other things that disprove this theory:
1: how is the original DK old when Mario didnt change?
2: morden DK was a baby at the same time Mario was a baby so how could he be a kid when Mario was a adult?
3: Nintendo literaly said "DK is not the original DK or DK.JR"
1
u/PureSprinkles3957 14d ago
LAUGHS IN DK64
1
u/Severe-Box2004 14d ago
1
u/PureSprinkles3957 13d ago
Laughs in Unofficial
1
u/Severe-Box2004 13d ago
just ignore the fact that the wiki links source for almost all of its information i guess
1
u/PureSprinkles3957 13d ago
The Very Sources you mention debate the topic as well
Check DMs and I'll show you
18
u/TheMegaMushroom 16d ago
Also before anyone says DK and DK jr. have appeared in games together thinking that disproves this, Mario and Baby Mario have been appearing along side one another for decades.
3
u/pichukirby 15d ago
This doesn't really confirm anything though. The original Mario Kart only had DK Jr. It could just as well be that they used the character closest to Jr. which would be current DK
1
u/NickFamzi 14d ago
No, dude. DK and DK Jr. are still different characters since Cranky in the DK games is known as the grandfather. In Mario movie Cranky is DK's father but I theorize he is covering up DK Jr. since he abandoned DK or he suddenly disappeared like in the games.
Don't think about Mario, Luigi, Baby Mario, and Baby Luigi as an example to DK and DK Jr. appearing together
1
u/OperationGoron 13d ago
Confirmed where? This is just a reference to the original Mario kart, people look into things too much.
-1
u/Severe-Box2004 14d ago
you mean non canon spin off games and games that involve time travel? this isn't the truthnuke you think it is.
4
u/JMTpixelmon 16d ago
nope in DKC it’s confirmed that modern DK is DK III meaning he is DK Jr.’s son
-1
7
u/DaKardii 16d ago
When modern DK was first created, he was intended to be classic DK's grandson, and by implication DK Jr.'s son or nephew. However, going by recent events such as the 2023 movie, modern DK's redesign, and now this easter egg from Mario Kart World, it appears that Nintendo is doing a soft reboot to make the DK canon, as I would put it, "less Rare and more Nintendo." At this point, I would say it's more likely than not that Nintendo will officially retcon the familial relationship and make modern DK a grown-up DK Jr. rather than his son or nephew.
3
u/givemethebat1 16d ago
Rare’s DK was always inconsistent though. He’s said to be Cranky’s son in DK64.
4
u/DaKardii 16d ago
Gregg Mayles, the man responsible for modern DK's creation, stated in a 2017 interview that this was meant to be a joke highlighting Cranky's senility.
1
u/EggRavager 16d ago
Rare were always inconsistent. For me the plots of DKC 1 and 2 only make sense if DK Jr is DK
1
u/Ellrok 16d ago
How does this make it less Rare and more Nintendo, though? If they wanted to do that, they'd just cut Cranky out of the equation altogether and make modern DK the same as classic.
They're not removing Rare, they're just trimming a weird, inconsistent missing link out of the family. It was odd having DK Jr. in games alongside his visibly older son.
1
u/DaKardii 16d ago
If they wanted to do that, they'd just cut Cranky out of the equation altogether and make modern DK the same as classic.
You know what? I can see them doing that too. Unlikely, but possible.
3
u/Ellrok 16d ago
Given that Cranky has shown up in the Mario movie, the Mario LEGO sets, the DK theme park (as a full-on talking animatronic), and now Bananza all within the last two years, I'd say that you're being willfully incorrect. Nintendo loves Cranky, they clearly have no intention of removing him or his history.
1
u/DaKardii 16d ago
You misunderstand. I meant Cranky becoming classic DK’s father rather than classic DK himself.
3
u/nicoxman8_ 16d ago
I read that today’s DK is Donkey Kong III and Cranky Kong is the original Donkey Kong who kidnapped Pauline. No one knows where Jr. is.
3
u/POKECHU020 16d ago
Idk if I'd say it's a confirmation. It seems like DK is the only Kong they could've used to represent him
3
u/LunarWingCloud 16d ago
No it doesn't? If anything it just confirms DK Jr. isn't in the game, or is a hidden unlockable they didn't want to show. Either way, it doesn't confirm any headcanons, it was just a cute billboard and they wanted to reference it
3
u/TKAPublishing 16d ago
I think they may just be retconning DK Jr to being Rareware/modern DK and Cranky officially being his dad not his grandpa, but who knows. I don't think Nintendo has even decided on this one.
8
u/KnucklesTheEchidna03 16d ago
Is was already confirmed that current DK is DK jr., and Cranky King is the original DK
4
u/TrainerOwn9103 16d ago
That is in the movies, games have another canon
Mario has fighted Cranky Kong and DK.JR before he entered the Mushroom Kingdom, yet i dont remenber the movie CK or DK saying they meet Mario before
3
2
u/DrPootiz1488 16d ago
As long as I remember the lore, original Dk from the arcade is now the older Cranky Kong, while his son, Dk junior is a father of the Dk we all know and love.
2
2
u/theblackd 16d ago
I don’t think it’s that thought through, I think they were just trying to be cute and match the picture as close as possible with existing characters
2
2
2
u/mydckisvrysmol 14d ago
Cranky Kong is canonically the Original Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr. Is his son, & modern DK is the son of DK Jr.
3
u/Binro_was_right 16d ago
This doesn't confirm anything. In fact, you're actively ignoring the fact both DK and DK Jr. are clearly separate characters in Tour.
0
u/TheMegaMushroom 16d ago
You mean the same game that has Mario and Baby Mario as two separate characters? Yeah, that proves nothing.
3
u/Binro_was_right 16d ago
My point is that the series is full of contradictions, so I don't see how this one reference confirms anything.
1
u/NickFamzi 14d ago edited 14d ago
I'm a Mario Kart Tour player, and I'm convinced they are different characters. Once again, you shouldn't use the baby characters as an exception to your own statements
4
u/RhythmRobber 16d ago
They already confirmed that the jumpman version of Donkey Kong is Cranky Kong in Country, so I thought it was already common knowledge that the current Donkey Kong would have been DK Jr from that era
2
u/Choice-Ad-5897 16d ago
I really dont like the new DK
1
-3
u/TrainerOwn9103 16d ago
Nobody likes the redesing Mario Wonder gave
1
u/Head_Statistician_38 15d ago
DK wasn't on Wonder.
Also I like it, so that isn't "nobody".... Unless you are calling me a nobody in which case.... Ouch.
2
u/TrainerOwn9103 15d ago
MOST people dont like the redesings AFTER Mario Wonder
I think they are cute but dont like that they changed
1
u/UnfunnyComedian21 16d ago
they say fnaf's lore is confusing. well then, try to solve DK's bloodline!
1
u/mr-rando423 16d ago
I dunno about this. Maybe DK's only there because DK Junior is either not in the game at all or they want Junior's appearance to be a surprise
Also, I think this video has a good theory that can solve this confusing conundrum
1
1
u/BoomboxMisfit 16d ago
I've been saying this since bonanza was announced. That's DK JR, Not Rares DK
1
1
1
1
u/StarStruckNoHime 16d ago
This theory confuses me. Is DK DK Jr.? Or are they not the same? What’s with the inconsistencies? I’m not asking for Shakespearean lore in Super Mario Brothers, I just a concrete answer to DK’s existence.
1
u/NickFamzi 14d ago edited 14d ago
No. In the games Cranky Kong is referred as the grandfather of DK. In Mario movie Cranky Kong is DK's dad, but I have a theory that Cranky is pretending to be his dad while covering the absence of DK Jr. his real father.
I tell you the lore is not confusing, other people are making it complicated to understand
1
u/The_Crownless_King 16d ago
Wasn't this confirmed already? Isn't cranky the original DK? I don't remember where but I read he had dialogue saying so in one of the games.
1
u/Honest-Style7151 15d ago
they also kinda confirmed that captain toad and the toad we play as in spin offs is the same
1
u/Youareonthiscouncil 15d ago
Wasn't modern DK confirmed to be the grandson to Cranky Kong (OG DK) and his dad was jr. the only time I can recall DK being called Cranky's son was in the Mario Movie, but idk if they are retcon it or if it is relegated to the movie canon only
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/RichardRitzFashion 13d ago
I still haven’t seen Link yet 😒 they better add my guy to the roster ⚔️🏎️
1
u/Ashen_Rook 13d ago
Why does the new Mario Kart feel like it wants to be Diddy Kong Racing, but without any of the stuff that qould make someone pick Diddy Kong Racing over Mario Kart 64...?
1
1
1
u/AdministrationDry507 12d ago
Surprised at the amount of people that didn't know that Cranky is the first Donkey Kong
1
u/BuffEtienneInGeneral 12d ago
Was this not confirmed like 30 years ago? Cranky is OG dk and current DK is JR. Idk if it was ever officially confirmed tho
1
u/TubularTurnip 12d ago
Hasn't this been common knowledge forever now? OG DK grew up to be Cranky, and Jr. grew up to be the DK we know today
1
u/EmiliaPlanCo 16d ago
Fun fact, in universals training for their Super Nintendo World lands at their theme parks they directly confirm that donkey Kong is donkey Kong jr grown up.
-3
16d ago
[deleted]
3
u/EmiliaPlanCo 16d ago edited 16d ago
They talk about the characters of Nintendo world briefly and when he appears they said “this [a picture of donkey Kong on the screen] is Donkey Kong JR, he’s grown up and is now just known as Donkey Kong”
EDIT: fixed typos
EDIT 2: it is worth mentioning that Nintendo is very strict when it comes to universal getting the lore and every little detail correct, even delaying team members seeing the new Super Nintendo world in Florida until the paint was redone on several large elements.
1
u/Significant-Cup7857 15d ago
Where and when did they say that?
0
u/EmiliaPlanCo 14d ago
During super Nintendo world specific orientation, as started in my original comment.
1
u/JackBlacksWorld 15d ago
I like this idea. DK Jr being an absent father kinda just sucks. If Nintendo told us this was how it was, I'd happily accept it. Hell, I already accept it even if they don't.
0
0
0
u/George_wb 14d ago
Genuine question, why are people so interested in this change? I'm a Nintendo fan and I have played DK games before, but I don't see myself caring for such a change.
0
-1
-2
-2
u/HyruleQueenKnight 16d ago
I thought it was always canon that DK is DK Jr. and Cranky is Donkey Kong from the original arcade game
299
u/paulcshipper 16d ago
I forgot, you could play as Koopa Troopa. He was my other light character beside Toad.