Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong, also known as DK, is a major character in both the Super Mario and Donkey Kong franchises. He is a powerful and carefree ape who resides on Donkey Kong Island, where he enjoys collecting bananas and spending time with his friends, particularly his best friend and sidekick, Diddy Kong. However, he has also been portrayed as an antagonist on multiple occasions, mainly in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Originally appearing as the villain in the 1981 arcade game, Donkey Kong, where he kidnaps Mario's girlfriend, Pauline, he was later reinvented as the protagonist in 1994's Donkey Kong Country, confirming that the original arcade Donkey Kong was actually Cranky Kong, the current Donkey Kong's grandfather. Since then, Donkey Kong has been a complex character, exhibiting both heroic and antagonistic traits. He is known for his iconic red tie and immense strength, and continues to feature prominently in various Mario and Donkey Kong games.