Donkey Kong (DK) is a fictional gorilla and the main character of the
Donkey Kong video game series, as well as a supporting character Mario
franchise. A popular character, DK has appeared in many video games,
along with his friend Diddy Kong. Donkey Kong appeared as Mario's
first opponent in Nintendo's popular 1981 arcade game, Donkey Kong.
Soon becoming more friendly, he has starred in his own Donkey Kong
series, starting with sequels of the arcade game and 1994's Donkey
Kong Country for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). He
remains an important ally in the Mario series, such as the Mario Kart
games. DK debuted at the same time as Mario, and he still appears with
the plumber on occasion, appearing as a playable character in the
Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. series, and is the primary antagonist
in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games starting in 2004.In 1981, Nintendo
was pursuing a license to make a game based on the Popeye comic strip.
When this relationship was canceled, Nintendo decided to take the
opportunity to create original characters that could then be marketed
and used in later games. Shigeru Miyamoto came up with many characters
and plot concepts, but he eventually settled on a love triangle
between gorilla, carpenter, and girlfriend, that mirrored the rivalry
between Bluto and Popeye for Olive Oyl.Bluto was replaced by an ape,
which Miyamoto said was "nothing too evil or repulsive", and the pet
of the main character. Miyamoto has also named "Beauty and the Beast"
and the 1933 film King Kong as influences for the character.Miyamoto
used "donkey" to convey "stubborn" in English; the name Donkey Kong
was intended to convey "stubborn ape" to the American audience. When
he suggested this name to Nintendo of America, people laughed, but the
name stuck.
Donkey Kong video game series, as well as a supporting character Mario
franchise. A popular character, DK has appeared in many video games,
along with his friend Diddy Kong. Donkey Kong appeared as Mario's
first opponent in Nintendo's popular 1981 arcade game, Donkey Kong.
Soon becoming more friendly, he has starred in his own Donkey Kong
series, starting with sequels of the arcade game and 1994's Donkey
Kong Country for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). He
remains an important ally in the Mario series, such as the Mario Kart
games. DK debuted at the same time as Mario, and he still appears with
the plumber on occasion, appearing as a playable character in the
Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. series, and is the primary antagonist
in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games starting in 2004.In 1981, Nintendo
was pursuing a license to make a game based on the Popeye comic strip.
When this relationship was canceled, Nintendo decided to take the
opportunity to create original characters that could then be marketed
and used in later games. Shigeru Miyamoto came up with many characters
and plot concepts, but he eventually settled on a love triangle
between gorilla, carpenter, and girlfriend, that mirrored the rivalry
between Bluto and Popeye for Olive Oyl.Bluto was replaced by an ape,
which Miyamoto said was "nothing too evil or repulsive", and the pet
of the main character. Miyamoto has also named "Beauty and the Beast"
and the 1933 film King Kong as influences for the character.Miyamoto
used "donkey" to convey "stubborn" in English; the name Donkey Kong
was intended to convey "stubborn ape" to the American audience. When
he suggested this name to Nintendo of America, people laughed, but the
name stuck.
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