Yeah it's pretty wild. I was never that big of a Funky fan back in the 90s. I viewed him as just another NPC. Then I noticed that everyone kept talking about him nonstop and realized he was the best character in Mario Kart Wii. I warmed up to him over the years.I think it’s crazy how Funky Kong has gradually risen as a mainstay in the franchise. I wanna day that whoever made the decision to add Funky Kong to Mario Kart Wii basically assured his success lol.
Chunky and Swanky Kong saved cinemaWith the movie closely reaching a billion at the box office, it seems Donkey Kong not only saved gaming, but he's saving cinema as well.
And some lame plumber too I guess.
Funky's theme in DKC is still one of my favorite tracks.
If someone had told me back when the thing was first announced that the Mario movie would have a scene where Swanky Kong gets into a car crash while Take On Me plays, I don't think I would have ever entertained the thought they might be serious. We live in strange times.Kenan Thompson playing Funky Kong in a comedy sketch is like something I would have dreamed of as a child.
I mean that literally. Like it's something I would have had a dream about when I was 7 years old, then I'd wake up the next morning and be like "that was a weird dream."
Funky is amazing in the DKC show (I don't know if I'm gonna be the only person in this thread who has any genuine appreciation for this show or if the hate is less so in the actual DK fandom but)I think it’s crazy how Funky Kong has gradually risen as a mainstay in the franchise. I wanna say that whoever made the decision to add Funky Kong to Mario Kart Wii basically assured his success lol.
I think people mainly criticize the DKC show for its poor animation. It even looked bad back then, especially when you compare it to stuff like Toy Story.
In terms of the content of the show, I think it’s pretty solid. It’s about as good as the Super Show, meaning that it’s not high art, but entertaining nevertheless. Apparently the show is extremely popular in Japan and is part of the reason why K. Rool is so popular over there
It's not generally considered a good show or a good representation of Donkey Kong Country, but I see a lot of genuine appreciation for the songs and some of the voice performances, particularly Cranky and K. Rool. In the K. Rool for Smash thread over on Smashboards, it was a tradition for years to welcome people with this:
I asked Kit and Krysta about how Nintendo views their brands internally and they had some interesting things to say about Donkey Kong and other IP. I'll put a timestamp in the video below (2:06:51) but I'll summarize here for anyone curious.
* Nintendo's hierarchy of IP basically goes Mario #1 (Pokemon tied at #1 if we wanted to count that as just "Nintendo") then just a smidge below is Zelda at #2, and then further down is the kind of B tier brands like DK, Kirby, and Yoshi.
* Nintendo has done brand/character recognition surveys with the general public before and DK surprisingly ranks high up. He's pretty much the one that comes after Mario. (Which I can believe given how business partners in IP expansion are showing interest in DK like theme parks, the Mario movie, and now Lego)
* It seems like Nintendo has no "brand managers" for their different IP with regards to charting out the future of the IP. It sounds like people are more assigned on a project by project basis like for a particular game. This may help explain why DK's handling this generation has been odd to us in the fandom. (They've mentioned before that Nintendo does have strict IP teams but it sounds like those are more for representing the IP correctly like "you need to adjust the size of Mario's mustache" sorta stuff)
I asked Kit and Krysta about how Nintendo views their brands internally and they had some interesting things to say about Donkey Kong and other IP. I'll put a timestamp in the video below (2:06:51) but I'll summarize here for anyone curious.
* Nintendo's hierarchy of IP basically goes Mario #1 (Pokemon tied at #1 if we wanted to count that as just "Nintendo") then just a smidge below is Zelda at #2, and then further down is the kind of B tier brands like DK, Kirby, and Yoshi.
* Nintendo has done brand/character recognition surveys with the general public before and DK surprisingly ranks high up. He's pretty much the one that comes after Mario. (Which I can believe given how business partners in IP expansion are showing interest in DK like theme parks, the Mario movie, and now Lego)
* It seems like Nintendo has no "brand managers" for their different IP with regards to charting out the future of the IP. It sounds like people are more assigned on a project by project basis like for a particular game. This may help explain why DK's handling this generation has been odd to us in the fandom. (They've mentioned before that Nintendo does have strict IP teams but it sounds like those are more for representing the IP correctly like "you need to adjust the size of Mario's mustache" sorta stuff)
Miyamoto is the DK brand manager. Hyle has stated this multiple times. That's why it's been internally brought back to EPD and why he negotiated with Universal for DK to be the second area of Super Nintendo World after Mario. DK is getting a theme park section in Japan in 2024, Florida in 2025 and it's rumored they're trying to expand Hollywood to allow DK to fit in there in 2026. DK was also half of the Mario movie and is definitely getting a spin off film or series of films. Miyamoto adores Donkey Kong. His goal is to make sure DK is taken care of by the time he retires. Maybe Miyamoto has or will pass the baton to the team lead for the upcoming EPD game. With that said, you really think with all this investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in the DK brand, that Nintendo's just going to be passive on DK as a game series?the Donkey Kong franchise not having a brand manager as Mario/Legend of Zelda have, might explain why we dont have a new Donkey Kong game 2D or 3D since Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freezy released on Wii U back in february 2014, Mario have Yoshiaki Kozuimi as it brand manager, Legend of Zelda have Eji Aonuma
It's not generally considered a good show or a good representation of Donkey Kong Country, but I see a lot of genuine appreciation for the songs and some of the voice performances, particularly Cranky and K. Rool. In the K. Rool for Smash thread over on Smashboards, it was a tradition for years to welcome people with this:
I do remember one of them saying on their podcast that their favorite DK game is Punch Out on Wii, so yeah they never really seemed like DK diehards lmaoI like Kit & Krysta and value their input, but this is just a huge blind spot for them. They frankly don't even like DK and never even mention the series. I watched their video promoting Tropical Freeze on Switch when they were at Nintendo Minute and you could tell they were not enjoying themselves lol. Krysta even went out of her way to say that she's not a DK fan.
You mean a blind spot like being hired to do marketing-centric work and then having a so-called realization years later about how this work in marketing essentially involves...doing marketing?I like Kit & Krysta and value their input, but this is just a huge blind spot for them.
The release of SM3DW+BF has been aligned with the park schedule. The DK expansion is announced for 2024, I can see a new DK game being released at the same time as well. Also, with the recent release of the movie, 2D Mario is a perfect Christmas title.I know people expect 2D Mario this holiday, but I really feel it’ll be DK’s time to shine. Seems like Nintendo’s big marketing push for DK is this year.
I feel like Mario Movie hype is too big this year for new Mario not be tentpole in that way, but I do forsee DK ending a direct in the near future, which 2d mario can't imo (3d absolutely can but I think not time yet). Like DK won't be the big holiday game but it will be a big release that ends a direct and gets a fair bit of marketing, Xeno 3 might be a good comparison but I expect better sales yet no dedicated directI know people expect 2D Mario this holiday, but I really feel it’ll be DK’s time to shine. Seems like Nintendo’s big marketing push for DK is this year.
He hates adventures because they're boring since he's literally godgot copies of the old rare games and am reading through the (admittedly well made) instruction booklets. Does anyone else think retro kind of fucked up with Tropical Freeze Switch considering Donkey Kong Country 1, 2, and I believe 64 all mention that Funky explicitly hates adventures?
Yes actually, I don't think the role suits his personality or his design very well (the poses they put him in as a playable character look awkward to me with all the clothes he wears).got copies of the old rare games and am reading through the (admittedly well made) instruction booklets. Does anyone else think retro kind of fucked up with Tropical Freeze Switch considering Donkey Kong Country 1, 2, and I believe 64 all mention that Funky explicitly hates adventures?
For me, it's more like...Funky is basically the "brilliant but lazy" Kong.My headcanon is that Funky's adventure in TF was all just a funky dream.
This is even more interesting with DKC2 and 3 in mind, Diddy had to take charge then Dixie and still he doesn't yet. Funky Kong secretly strongest character in the extended Mario and DK universes like all the mario rpg bosses, Gruntilda etc he demolishes everyoneFor me, it's more like...Funky is basically the "brilliant but lazy" Kong.
Between MKWii and Funky Mode, let alone how much he's apparently a mechanical genius/weapon smith savant, there's enough to showcase that if Funky was motivated enough, and the chips were down (re: DK and pals somehow failed), he's got more than enough natural ability to save the day all by himself.
He just doesn't see the need to, because at least for the time being, DK can handle things. He's fine being the "second banana". Because if such were otherwise, then Cranky would likely be looking at him to be the leader, and he likes chilling even more DK does.
If that's the case, let us never hope that as dire as it may get to cross the "DK" threshold, we never have to see the "Funky Mode" threshold crossed for real...!
Funky is basically the "brilliant but lazy" Kong.
the story of DKC2 is Cranky asked him too and he said no because he doesn't want to lolThis is even more interesting with DKC2 and 3 in mind, Diddy had to take charge then Dixie and still he doesn't yet. Funky Kong secretly strongest character in the extended Mario and DK universes like all the mario rpg bosses, Gruntilda etc he demolishes everyone
Imo next dk will probably be a big thing, they realize the potential with a movie, Lego toylike coming out and a theme park.
Probabaly expecting it to be huge or well, the best selling dk game, like 15-20mil
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