Thanks to Hamada for helping with edits.
On November 18, 1994, Donkey Kong was firmly re-established as one of Nintendo’s premier properties through Donkey Kong Country; its thirtieth anniversary was three months ago. And Nintendo’s been keeping the brand in the spotlight through a few Nintendo Switch Online promotions, new merchandise, and the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and its corresponding Tetris 99 event. Most exciting of all, the Super Nintendo World theme park is dedicating precious space to the seminal series! 2024 closed with the Donkey Kong Country attraction opening in Osaka after years of anticipation, and its Floridian counterpart will bring the Kongo Jungle stateside in May. Needless to say, I’m feeling festive. I’ve been enamored with Donkey Kong since I was a tyke, so I’m eager to celebrate its success. Let’s do so by honoring one of its unsung heroes: the main monkey, Funky Kong!
Funky, seen in his “Meet the Kongs” trailer (Image: Nintendo)
When Donkey Kong entered external developer Rare’s care, it was a dormant brand whose last big, standalone game hit in 1983. After Donkey Kong Country‘s launch, it was never the same: Rare evolved Donkey Kong well beyond the construction site that mostly defined it. Country bravely sidelined the arcade-era gorilla—now aged and dubbed Cranky Kong—and let a “totally new” Donkey Kong inherit the mantle. And a number of fresh faces, foe and friend alike, were introduced alongside him, including the “self-proclaimed coolest of the Kongs…”
Funky Kong’s History
When designing Donkey Kong Country, Rare crafted an original clique of Kongs. Outlining an intricate family tree wasn’t a priority according to creative director Gregg Mayles, although he did want one Kong to be “cool.” Surfing seemed to fit the bill, so that’s the character-defining pastime Funky Kong was given. Artist Steve Mayles, Gregg’s brother, created the character by taking Kevin Bayliss’s Donkey Kong model and giving it teeth and some accessories (any resemblance to unlauded NES hero Thrilla Gorilla is purely coincidental). In the finished game, Funky assists the star and his sidekick, Diddy Kong, by flying them to any world the player has already cleared. That even furthers the series’ ties to Indiana Jones: the image of Harrison Ford flying across the globe instills excitement for the looming adventure, emotions this pilot taps into.
While brainstorming ideas for Country’s direct follow-up, Gregg Mayles toyed with the idea of making the auxiliary Kongs playable in stages tailored to them. Funky’s would’ve let him soar along on his surfboard. (Image: Source Gaming)
Then, a twist: Donkey Kong was kidnapped by the villainous Kremlings! Not every ally returns to help rescue him in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest. However, Funky’ll still dutifully let heroes Diddy and Dixie Kong revisit cleared areas… albeit for a fee now, but hey. Since he’s braving hostile Kremling territory this time and isn’t the adventuring type, it’s reasonable that he would want a little compensation, right? The budding entrepreneur assumes the same role in Donkey Kong Land 2, Country 2’s 8-bit approximation (the first Land lets you freely access older areas, while a nondescript Brothers Bear handles this responsibility in the third).
Visiting Funky is your first order of business in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble! He pawns toddler Kiddy Kong onto Dixie and loans them his hovercraft, granting access to the first world. Funky’s workshop acts as the central hub, with the duo often returning to give the grease monkey supplies to build better vehicles. Donkey Kong 64 expands on Funky‘s expertise: he helps the heroes by selling weapons and ammo upgrades. Meanwhile, Picross NP Vol. 8, merchandise, a Christmas card, and supplemental media—most notably Nelvana’s notorious Donkey Kong Country cartoon—kept Funky busy during the Nineties.
Diddy Kong Pilot was slated to include Funky, and he would’ve factored into Climax Studios’ even less fortunate Diddy Kong Racing Adventure. Since Microsoft owns most of the original Racing’s cast, I figure Funky would’ve made Adventure’s roster, too. (Image: Source Gaming)
In 2002, industry newcomer Microsoft acquired Rare, leaving Donkey Kong in an odd position. Mainline entries Donkey Kong Jungle Beat and Donkey Kong Country Returns lacked much of the series’ iconography, although shopkeep Cranky pays tribute to Funky through a quip in the latter. Nevertheless, the groovy gorilla graces spin-offs Donkey Konga 2, Konga 3, DK: King of Swing, DK Jungle Climber, and Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, as well as the handheld Country remakes (whose minigames deal with Funky orchestrating various pro-Kong, anti-Kremling missions; the most important entail rescuing other Kongs). Mario mingled with the mechanic in Mario Kart Wii, where Funky’s famously one of the best racers, and Mario Super Sluggers. Masahiro Sakurai honored him with a collectible trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, unsurprisingly. The pilot still got around!
The seasoned capitalist ceremoniously returned in 2014’s Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, now running his Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy shop. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U again flaunt Funky trophies, while he runs another shop and is a master-class Spirit in Ultimate. Updates to Mario Kart Tour and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe added him to their rosters. Funky cameos in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which inspired a Saturday Night Live skit starring a sexually depraved take on him played by Kenan Thompson. An unlicensed beer bears the monkey’s mug. Most shocking of all, the bodacious bloke can join his friends on the field in Tropical Freeze’s Nintendo Switch re-release. In “Funky Mode,” he rolls with extra health, can roll indefinitely, has access to more moves, and his well-trained parrot Tawks runs his store in his absence—and, of course, offers his boss a “sweet discount.” One they won’t grant us at Super Nintendo World’s Fly ‘n’ Buy outlet, sadly!
So, what’re my thoughts on Funky?
Toshihide Tsuchiya is Funky’s current voice actor, the character has a recurring business emblem, a possible crush on his buddy’s bea, and his pronouns in the Japanese releases emphasize his quirkiness. (Image: Source Gaming)
Still, they gave the game flair! The Kong clan’s a tight-knit community, one that exemplifies a stark difference between how Rare and Nintendo’s internal EPD (then EAD) teams handled their casts. Yes, EPD happily creates cute companions, like Cappy, to anthropomorphize gameplay mechanics. Sometimes, a Super Mario title spawns a big newcomer or two who become mainstays, and many host plenty of unique NPCs and bosses. But EPD is, overall, considerably more conservative about expanding his core lineup. Super Mario Bros. established the famous, fantastical Mario iconography we all love, but we only ever mingle with Peach and a handful of Toads; same for some sequels. Meanwhile, introducing new blood was a priority for Rare. Artist Mark Stevenson once admitted that they “loved creating new Kongs,” and each one carried a distinct style and role. Where Nintendo might relegate critical functions—saving, for instance—to a menu, Rare created two whole characters for that purpose!
Shortly after entering a new world in Rare’s Country titles, a fear starts gnawing at me: will I reach the helper Kongs without suffering a game over? That subtle tension isn’t a quality the newer games need, however; letting us revisit areas and save automatically is fine and expected today. (Image: Source Gaming)
Both approaches have pros and cons. Rare’s sensibilities—including their naturalistic environments, a quality the understated HUDs accentuate—gave their nascent corner of the broader Mario canon a grounded richness the plumber’s wacky wonderlands lacked. Donkey Kong Country is exactly that, a country. One rife with eccentrics, all of whom contribute to the cause. Some of them even seem like they could adequately save the day should the need arise. And the roster only grew; Rare commonly cycled characters in and out of rotation, keeping things fresh. An unfortunate consequence of that, however, is that not every character got the opportunity to become a series stalwart. Candy was cut from Country 2 to make space for Dixie (leaving another newcomer, Wrinkly Kong, to inherit saving duties), Dixie and Kiddy skipped Donkey Kong 64 in lieu of their newborn knockoffs, and several Animal Buddies are lost between games. This unintentionally devalues them by suggesting they’re replaceable.
Mercifully, the Kongs’ arms dealer dodged that bullet. Donkey Kong Country 3 swiftly cements why: Funky’s the mechanic, one who has matured. What formerly might have been a mere hobby becomes his de facto job here, and he’s abandoned the inviting, open skies of his Kong Quest shop for a dingy garage. And though his piloting duties in the earlier games were helpful, they weren’t essential; you can beat ‘em without ever meeting him. Not so in Double Trouble! Only with his customized rides can Dixie traverse the harsh wilderness of the Northern Kremisphere, and though Kiddy’s often framed as a burden, Funky was ultimately justified in making her babysit—she couldn’t have saved her friends without the titanic tyke.
Even Funky’s more somber, contemplative Double Trouble! theme underscores his heavier role. It’s not as iconic as his perkier leitmotifs, but it’s my favorite of them, honestly. (Image: Source Gaming)
Nothing expressed Funky’s enthusiasm for engines faster than his new duds, however. Gone are the garish swim trunks and medallion; a simple white tank top and denim shorts are now the guy’s go-to. It’s a utilitarian attire perfect for a greaser who gets his hands dirty, and its palette suits Funky perfectly. White, a color associated with purity and positivity, fits the most cheerful, uplifting soul on Donkey Kong Island. And not only do the blue pants convey Funky’s calm, cool aura, they’re evocative of the ocean and skies he loves; the gold tint his fur’s gained in recent years likewise channels the warmth of the sun. His tank top also synergizes well enough with the white polka dots on his bandana and silly smile. Unique to Double Trouble! are Funky’s boots and yellow tool belt, which add perhaps a bit too much clutter. Shoes simply look abnormal on him, even if they accentuate the mechanic aesthetic and add a kick to his palette. This is Funky’s definitive design, the one that rightfully became his standardized look during the Aughts, albeit with the welcome loss of the tool belt and boots (the former’s replaced with an unemphatic dark belt). Double Trouble! is very much the black sheep of Rare’s trilogy, so the fact it left such a profound impact on one of the series’ most enduring characters is appreciated.
Still, Funky’s old self seeped through: he kept rocking his flagship bandana and sunglasses, after all! They embody him, proving that, despite whatever metamorphosis Funky was undergoing, he hadn’t lost his core, who he is. The specs obviously epitomize his mellow mood. Meanwhile, the bold red bandana represents the opposite, his competitive side when fired up! In Mario Kart and Barrel Blast, this guy is loud and giving it his all and having, well, a blast! This is likely how most Nintendo fans know him today considering how well Mario Kart sells. It’s a part of him Donkey Kong fans in specific see less often, but it’s nice that he has a release, and that he’s proudly worn a physical delineation of it since Day 1.
Is Funky’s smile sincere? My dad thinks he’s overcompensating. Granted, he said that as a joke and has no history with the character beyond my one-sentence description and that SNL skit, but still! Funky flashes his pearly whites incessantly; it’s fun to read into ‘em. (Image: LongplayArchive)
Whether Funky’s exhibiting his amiable or boisterous side, an understated enigmatic energy always fuels him, too. Sunglasses can help someone conceal their facial expressions and supply a confidence boost, qualities Funky’s radiates. Oh, and he has another trademark, one that’s also been present since his debut and is my favorite aspect of his design: the goofy grin. The arcade-era Donkey Kong simpers a lot, and I always saw the surf punk’s as a cute homage (coincidentally, Funky Kong was actually in contention to become Donkey Kong’s name). And the Country linchpin’s zeal for life is funny and infectious; Funky’s smile makes me smile, too. Nevertheless, I like to think there’s a deeper meaning behind his beaming, one that works in tandem with the shades. In Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, skilled schemer Phoenix Wright perennially dons an inscrutable poker face—which, yes, consists of a cheeky, carefree grin. Considering that Funky also grew into such a capable guiding force, perhaps he happened to develop the same feign: keep a few steps ahead of everybody while projecting a lighthearted attitude, a façade that rarely slips. In short, Funky’s design is fantastic. A casual glance swiftly conveys his core characteristics and even leaves room for some fun, silly speculation.
Make no mistake, though—Funky isn’t to be underestimated. Nothing conveys his knack for preparation better than Donkey Kong 64. This was my introduction to the character, so I couldn’t yet appreciate his off-putting intensity or hideous camo getup therein (the Kremlings originally employed a loose military theme, ironically). In retrospect, though, it’s a logical crescendo for how far the Kong / Kremling feud had escalated, and while clear vestiges of Funky’s chill demeanor remain, he’s intently focused on business, literal and metaphorical. Visiting him is integral in rescuing Diddy, which in turn lets us free Tiny, Lanky, and Chunky. And who ultimately gives K. Rool the boot? Not Donkey, but Funky, who literally does so with the Chekhov’s Boot Launcher that’s adorned his back the whole time. “Funky Mode” even maintains the tech wunderkind’s penchant for preparation, most prominently through his handy gadgets.
The Game Boy Advance remake of DKC2 awkwardly alters the ending to show Funky nuking K. Rool using a prototype of his DKC3 helicopter. Given how lazy his friends are, however, it is nice that one Kong is proactive. (Image: DK Vine)
Although it may seem strange at a casual glance, Funky is the only Kong whose profile indisputably improved after Rare left. His presence as the Kong’s fourth wheel in Donkey Kong spin-offs during the GameCube years and, much more importantly, the third in Mario Kart gives him a degree of cultural cachet most of his colleagues lack. Now, I don’t inherently dislike “filler” characters in Mario spin-offs. Glorified palette swaps and the like rarely make for exciting inclusions, but they can still be additive (I’ll fervently defend Metal Mario). But that’s beside the point: Funky’s a stellar choice to pad out Mario rosters, to the point where I’ve never seen anyone label him as filler. It’s a boon that this hippie resembles his bestie, and his humble origins are something he’s long since transcended by gaining plenty of memorable, distinguishing qualities. Nobody shrieks nor surfs like this radical racer! Heck, the fan favorite’s presence in these games even makes sense from an in-universe perspective. It’s reasonable to imagine he built Donkey’s and Diddy’s rides; surely he’d eventually ask to join them and test his work. And the beach bum’s buff bod suggests he could easily hold his own in any competition.
After all of that—the gadgeteering, mission orchestrating, even the sporting events—it felt like a fairly organic progression that Funky finally embarked on a proper adventure in Tropical Freeze. Now, “Funky Mode” isn’t immaculate, regrettably. Sequestering the smiling simian off into his own mode comes with inconveniences. It’s… odd watching Funky run on all fours when his posture is historically more dignified than his hunched twin (though I am glad Retro Studios took care to craft other distinct animations for him). And when you also consider Funky’s laid-back nature, maybe making him playable was a somewhat unbecoming, demystifying choice.
Funky, a success story for asset reuse! His prominence and popularity are genuine, and thanks to his build, Funky’s inclusion in stuff is somewhat easier. And since he exudes an exotic charisma, he’ll never get subjected to the criticisms leveled at fluff like Baby Rosalina. (Image: Nintendo)
Regardless, I embrace “Funky Mode.” To start, there were no other viable options to headline it given the dearth of recurring characters that’s ironically plagued the franchise since Returns (nobody’s gonna cheer for a “Professor Chops Mode”). I also never cared for Returns‘ Super Kongs. I take no issue with them, to be clear, but watching the game literally play itself never came across as a satisfying solution to helping less experienced players. Adding a bonus character who deliberately serves this purpose, though? That’s smart, like Funky. He offers younger players an easier time, but they’re still playing the game themselves, still improving their skills; it almost reads as a continuation of his history as a guiding hand. Skilled players can even take advantage of Funky’s abilities to perform daring tricks the other Kongs can’t. This all conveys the shopkeep’s value: his promotion was the remaster’s selling point, the sole reason for veterans to double dip—and maybe it’ll lead into greater things in the future.
When Retro Studios decided to bring back a few more familiar faces for Tropical Freeze, there’s a reason Funky Kong made the cut. Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and Dixie Kong are the island’s main guardians, but Funky’s no less important! You don’t have to be on the frontline to make an impact, and any Country aficionado undoubtedly values Funky’s. And it’s never too late to step up, to tackle an adventure head-on—certainly not when you carry Funky’s foresight and experience! Much like the series itself, Funky has evolved over the years, and as the most useful auxiliary Kong embodies his community’s best qualities. Best of all, there’s no doubt he’ll stick around his pals perennially. I’m eager to see what he invents next!
Congratulations, Funky! I got the coins, you got the gear!
Also, I’m curious if the recent tweaks to Donkey Kong’s design will get folded into Funky. I’m inclined to think he doesn’t need them. The more comedic look suits the dopey DK, not the mellow mechanic. And while the Battletoads brow somewhat limited their facial expressions, Funky’s shades partially obfuscate his. In short, Funky’s cool as-is, and this could serve as another chance to differentiate the two a bit more. (Image: Source Gaming)
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