Summary
Donkey Kongmay be one of the most recognizable names in the video game industry butback when the barrell-tossing ape was more obscure, Nintendo pitched some deeply unfortunate alternative names. Originally appearing all the way back in 1981 in the self-titled arcade gameDonkey Kong, the character has become a staple of Nintendo’s pantheon of characters and while his solo adventures may not rival the popularity of Mario and Link, he’s managed to lead several fantastic titles. Of course, even though the name “Donkey Kong” is a little odd, it could have been so much worse.
Thanks to some resurfaced court documents shared byMarioBrothBlogon X (formerly Twitter), some of Nintendo’s early proposed names for the towering ape includeKong Dong, Steel Kong, Funny Kong, Bill Kong, and even Kong Boy.
The legal files were originally used during a dispute between Universal Pictures and Nintendo, the former of which alleged that Donkey Kong’s name infringed on itsKing Kongtrademark. Universal ultimately lost its case and Nintendo retained the rights to continue using the character’s name in future products, but it’s still fun to see what could have been.
It’s The Perfect Time For A New Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong may see a resurgence in popularity thanks to Super Nintendo World, so now could be the right time to make a new Donkey Kong Country game.
How Did Donkey Kong Get His Name?
Nintendo Wanted To Convey A Very Specific Message
When it came to naming Donkey Kong and, subsequently, the game within which he starred as a villain,creator Shigeru Miyamoto wanted to convey the idea of an immovable ape. While “Kong” came about as a nod to the gigantic monster of theKing Kongfilms, “Donkey” was selected to communicate the idea of a stubborn creature that refused to move out of someone’s way. It seemed applicable, given that Donkey Kong’s first purpose was to stand between Mario,or “Jumpman” as he was then known, and Pauline, the character whom players set out to rescue.
As Donkey Kong became more of an icon in his own right, Nintendo began expanding his family with similarly named relatives. TheDonkey KongCountryseries went on to introduce characters likeDiddy Kong, Cranky Kong, Dixie Kong, Candy Kong, and the infinitely cool Funky Kong. Several of these even appeared ina short-lived animated TV seriesthat ran from 1997 to 2000.
While theDonkey Kongfranchise isn’t as active as it once was,fans should keep their eyes on the upcomingDonkey Kong Country Returns HDwhich is slated to release in January 2025. A remaster of the beloved Wii game,this version for the Nintendo Switchsports updated mechanics and a graphical overhaul to bring it up to date with the improved hardware. The best part is that it contains every level from the original experience as well as several Cloud stages brought over from the Nintendo 3DS version.
