| Funky Kong | |
|---|---|
 Design used for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | |
| Basic Information | |
Creator(s) |
Rare |
| Donkey Kong | |
| Donkey Kong Country | |
First appearance |
Donkey Kong Country (1994) |
Latest appearance |
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Booster Course Pass) (2023) |
| Biographical Information | |
Gender |
Male |
Home |
Donkey Kong Island |
Residence |
Donkey Kong Island |
Species |
Kong |
| Personal Information | |
| Hobbies Surfing | |
| Occupation Vehicle rental services, usually involving flight | |
Funky Kong (Japanese: ファンキーコング) is a recurring Kong in the Donkey Kong franchise. Funky first appears in Donkey Kong Country, which established him as a supporting character, but although some games give Funky a playable role instead.
Physical appearance[]
Funky Kong's current appearance, as first seen in DK: King of Swing
Funky's appearance varies greatly between the different Donkey Kong games. However, Funky has consistently worn sunglasses, distinguishing him from the other Kongs.
In Donkey Kong Country, Funky wears a red bandana with white polka dots, a distinctive necklace with the text RARE engraved on it, sunglasses, and flip-flops. Funky always carries a green surfboard that faintly shows the Nintendo logo.
In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Funky's appearance has barely changed, but he does wear different sunglasses.
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Funky not only wears his signature bandana and sunglasses, but now also a white tank top, blue shorts, and black boots. Funky is also wearing a yellow tool belt.
In Donkey Kong 64, Funky's appearance has changed quite a bit. He wears a military-style uniform and red sunglasses. He has a large, rocket-like weapon strapped to his back.
Funky's design was standardized in DK: King of Swing, in which he wears his signature bandana, blue shorts, a white tank top, and sunglasses. The design was reused for later appearances, such as Mario Kart Wii and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
Family and social interaction[]
No significant information about Funky Kong's family background is revealed in the Donkey Kong games. He is consistently portrayed as a good friend of Donkey Kong, who is also popular with the other members of the Kong family. Funky's hobbies include surfing, flying, and innovative weapons.
History[]
Donkey Kong Country[]
Donkey Kong Country artwork
In Donkey Kong Country, Funky Kong is the owner of his independently operated airline Funky's Flights, where he allows Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong to utilize his Jumbo Barrel to not only travel to any previously visited worlds on the world map but also to travel around faster, until entering a world. His role is technically optional because Donkey or Diddy can defeat a world boss again to access the main map, Donkey Kong Island.
In both the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance versions, Funky hosts the Funky's Fishing minigame, but the former only includes his name in the title instead of any direct role.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[]
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest artwork
In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Funky has roughly the same role, except he now operates a successor location titled Funky's Flights II in every world of Crocodile Isle except the Lost World. Funky also charges Diddy and Dixie two Banana Coins the first time they wish to rent the Biplane Barrel in each of the worlds.
In the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2, Funky Kong continues to operate Funky's Flights II, and he now also hosts a namesake minigame, Funky's Flights, with stages that Diddy and Dixie can complete to earn Video Game Hero Coins from Funky. Funky no longer leases the Biplane Barrel, which is replaced by the Gyrocopter. Funky does not allow Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong to use the Gyrocopter until they have completed the first challenge, Aerial Loop. Funky never charges Diddy and Dixie any Banana Coins to use the Gyrocopter, in favor of the player having the convenient option to select the Gyrocopter from the pause menu on the world map whenever desired, much like the Jumbo Barrel in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country.
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![]
Funky Kong's artwork for Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
Funky Kong at Funky's Rentals in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Funky Kong had a slight career change from leasing a flight vehicle to instead rent out boats for Dixie to use. He also gives Kiddy Kong to be Dixie's sidekick during her adventure.
The Motor Boat is the only vehicle available at first, but Funky gradually builds a few more types of boats as the player progresses and supplies him with the necessary items. Dixie and Kiddy must rent the Motor Boat to access the first world, Lake Orangatanga, and the second world directly after, Kremwood Forest.
After Dixie and Kiddy complete Kremwood Forest, the player receives a Patch, which Funky needs to construct the first new vehicle, the Hover Craft. After receiving the Patch, Funky builds the Hover Craft, which Dixie and Kiddy can then use to go over rocks and access the third and fourth worlds, Cotton Top Cove and Mekanos.
The next items that Funky needs are two Skis, received by defeating the boss of Cotton Top Cove and Mekanos respectively, so that he can build the Turbo Ski, allowing the Kongs to travel up waterfalls on the map and thereby unlocking access to the remaining worlds.
If Dixie and Kiddy collect every DK Coin, Funky allows them to use his final vehicle, the Gyrocopter. Unlike Funky's other three vehicles, the Gyrocopter is a helicopter-like vehicle that Dixie and Kiddy can use to fly to secret caves at very high altitudes; this is the only time that Funky provides a flight-based service, as in the first two Donkey Kong Country titles.
In the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 3, Funky also hosts four challenges—Destroy, Disarm, Protect, and Race—all involving the use of his watercraft as well as being based on an early Rare title, Cobra Triangle. "Protect" is the only challenge where Funky appears directly, as one of multiple Kongs whom Dixie or Kiddy have to protect from being kidnapped by the Kremlings. When Dixie and Kiddy clear all four challenges, Funky rewards them a Banana Bird.
Donkey Kong Land series[]
Donkey Kong Land / Donkey Kong Land III[]
Funky Kong does not not appear in Donkey Kong Land and Donkey Kong Land III, games that are based on Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, respectively. In Donkey Kong Land, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong have to travel around the world map by foot, as the worlds are connected directly, while in Donkey Kong Land III, Dixie and Kiddy have to pay Bear for his teleportation service that takes them to the main world map.
Donkey Kong Land 2[]
Funky does appear in Donkey Kong Land 2, where his role is the same as in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
Donkey Kong 64[]
Funky's appearance in Donkey Kong 64
In Donkey Kong 64, Funky is not involved in vehicle transportation at all, rather being a weapons specialist who runs Funky's Store in every stage except Hideout Helm.
The most essential thing that Funky sells to each of the Kongs is their own weapon, at three Banana Coins each: Donkey Kong can receive the Coconut Gun, which shoots coconuts; Diddy Kong can get the Peanut Popguns, two small pistols that shoot peanuts; Lanky Kong can get the Grape Shooter, a blowgun to shoot grapes; Tiny Kong can get the Feather Bow, a crossbow that shoots red feathers; and Chunky Kong can get the Pineapple Launcher, a bazooka-like weapon for shooting pineapples.
Funky also offers several upgrades, increasing the maximum number of shots with ammo belts, selling homing ammo, and even a rifle scope. Funky also refills the Kongs' ammo supply each time they visit if it is below maximum.
Funky has a role in the ending. While King K. Rool is distracted by Candy Kong, Funky comes to launch a boot at K. Rool, launching the latter out of the boxing ring, where the final battle took place.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[]
Funky as a playable character in the Nintendo Switch version of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Funky appears in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze as a supporting character once again. He is the owner of Funky's Fly 'n' Buy, where he sells the following items:
- Red Balloons that give an extra life (cost three Banana Coins).
- Blue Balloons that refill the air gauge after it has been depleted (cost five Banana Coins).
- Green Balloons that lift the Kongs back to the level once after a crash (costs seven Banana Coins).
- Squawks, who alerts of any Puzzle Piece nearby (costs ten Banana Coins).
- A Crash Guard, which protects a Rocket Barrel or Mine Cart from a single hit (costs ten Banana Coins).
- Banana Juice, which gives the Kongs temporary invincibility (costs 15 Banana Coins).
- Heart Boost, which adds an extra heart to the Kongs' health for an entire level (costs 15 Banana Coins).
- Additional DK Barrels for spawning Diddy, Dixie, or Cranky Kong (cost 15 Banana Coins).
The Nintendo Switch version of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze does feature a beginner mode that can be completed with Funky Kong, made easier by his ability to Double Jump, hover with his surfboard, perform continual Roll Attacks, and also continual Corkscrews while underwater. Furthermore, Funky has a surfboard that protects him from being damaged by spikes. While Funky is being played as, his shop is managed by a parrot named Tawks.
DK: King of Swing[]
In DK: King of Swing, Funky is playable from the start in Jungle Jam mode. He has a jump ability of 2/5 and an attack ability of 4/5.
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[]
Funky is one of the playable characters in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast. He has to be unlocked first, by clearing Diamond Cup as a Kong. His rival is Kludge.
DK: Jungle Climber[]
In DK: Jungle Climber, Funky joins the Kongs in taking a vacation to Sun Sun Island. Funky also provides a flight service during the main adventure, and he can be visited whenever the player presses the X button on the world map. When visited, Funky allows Donkey Kong to use his Biplane Barrel to travel to a small island corresponding to the current world if Donkey Kong has collected enough Oil Barrels first; this is necessary because the small island has an additional level to complete.
In other media[]
In the Donkey Kong Country television series, Funky Kong works as both a pilot and courier. He often expressing himself as spiritual by frequently speaking of "karma" and various "vibes". Funky's fur is also golden. He is portrayed by Damon D'Oliveira.
In "Hooray for Holly-Kongo Bongo," Funky briefly tries to write a film, until Bluster Kong takes over the direction and therefore the entire film project. Funky Kong suffers from the disregard of his contribution to the script, prompting him to end the project.
Mario appearances[]
Mario Kart Wii[]
Funky Kong with his kart in Mario Kart Wii.
Mario Kart Wii is Funky Kong's first appearance in a Mario game. He is an unlockable driver whom the player can unlock by winning at least four Expert Ghosts in Time Trial mode.
Mario Super Sluggers[]
Months later, Funky would return as a playable character in Mario Super Sluggers.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[]
Funky Kong makes a cameo appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where there is a photograph of him surfing on a wall in Cranky's Cabin.
Crossover appearances[]
Super Smash Bros. series[]
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[]
Trophies of Funky appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Funky is featured in the form of a spirit. In Adventure Mode: World of Light, Funky Kong's spirit runs a shop on DK Island, where he sells spirits specialized mainly in transportation, in addition to the usual snacks and support items.
Etymology[]
The adjective "funky" means "out there" or "crazy".