Why doesn't Donkey Kong sound like he used to?

Donkey Kong is one of Nintendo's oldest and most important characters. But listen to how he sounds in the 80s, the 90s versus in modern games like Donkey Kong Country Returns, the character's voice has totally changed! So why won't Nintendo leave the voice of their oldest mascot alone? Let's find out!
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SOURCES
soundeffects.f... (DK sound effect on Sound Effects Wiki)
soundideas.sou... (DK sound effect on publisher’s website)
web.archive.or... (Grant Kirkhope’s website)
• The Kongversation - 73... (Grant Kirkhope review - starts at 43:00)
CREDITS
• Goldeneye Composer, Gr... (Grant Kirkhope interview footage)

[@TeamBlueToad]

I feel like both Grant's and Takashi's takes on DK are pretty good! I really like how both of them attempted to do a more cartoonish voice for the ape.

[@robbiewalker2831]

I’m more into Soupy and Grant’s DK voices. I just like the general idea of DK being a very likable goofball because just by being himself, he is a cool guy for this reason (much like Richard Epcar’s Bo-Bobo voice); a complete opposite of Richard Yearwood, where it feels that DK is an unlikable moron, because he’s trying to hard to be cool for no reason.

[@YYmmmYY]

@@robbiewalker2831 takashi turns dk into a clown with no coolness too

[@x3ln0ng1d7]

Nagasako sounds more natural, but Kirkhope's "OKAY" is so iconic that I can't help but love both of them

[@Liggliluff]

Shame they wouldn't use Nagasako for Smash Bros and have him imitate that "OKAY" for a taunt

[@orangeslash1667]

@@Liggliluff The problem is that Nagasako's DK voice is too Goofy to work in a fighting game. Nintendo confirmed that DK was inspired by King Kong, so it makes sense that DK would be more serious if the focus is combat.

[@rocketleax5]

@@orangeslash1667 Eh, the game is not that serious. There's a lot of goofy characters so I think that was a bad move on their part. Robbed us from seeing Dk going "Okay!" while taunting.

[@orangeslash1667]

@@rocketleax5 Sakurai wanted DK's personally to be like his arcade game incarnation, which was also inspired by King Kong. Why because his arcade game design is much larger than the Country design, which makes it easier to work in a fighting game format. Sakurai likes to simplify characters if it's the easy answer.

[@supagb7700]

@@orangeslash1667Diddy, Bowser, K. Rool, and Dedede also got the same treatment to their voices as DK. I wish they didn’t make that decision because it kinda takes away a bit of the charm of those characters. Not to mention, characters like Banjo and Bowser Jr. have their voices unchanged.

[@SemiHypercube]

I can't believe Grant Kirkhope was the one behind the "Ohh, Banana" voice clip

[@ZipplyZane]

And apparently he thinks of it as Eh, banana.

[@siggern2005]

donkey kong 64 vibes

[@zachcoats4849]

There is a lot of charm in the dk 64 Donkey Kong voice, but I do really like the modern ones laugh and monkey screams. The Mario Striker games have to be the modern voice at it's best if you ask me.

[@KremBotop]

Chirs Sutherland did many voices for the SNES DKC games, so it wouldn't be that outlandish to consider the idea that he might have also done DK's grunts there. His various Kremling voices are truly legendary

[@yellohammer8571]

Yeah. I'm sure you're familiar with Chris Sutherland; he also voiced Banjo and Kazooie from the Banjo-Kazooie series by Rare.

[@orangeslash1667]

@@yellohammer8571 Chris also played King K Rool.

[@ChuyitoAlarcón]

And the killer instinct announcer

[@XxTR1D]

They both sounded great. The “HEY-HE” is probably the first voice line you’d think of, but honestly most of grants are the next ones to mind.

[@chargemannyn2918]

“OH-KAY!”

[@bigdog1731]

DK’s “OK” is definitely his most famous voice line

[@ivoryvt]

The first one I think of is actually one of DK's hurt sounds from DKC Returns. I always thought it sounded funny. "Hreh!"

[@Gabo2oo]

Probably depends on your age tbh. The first ones I think of after the "hey-he" are the ones from Retro's DKC games since I've heard them so much whenever starting a level.

[@SamtheBravesFan]

3:44 That's a very famous sound effect, it's used VERY commonly in cartoons for chimp and monkey screeches.

[@RhsndhejHdhehha]

It sounds very strange

[@LunarWingCloud]

Been loving the "Why doesn't X sound like they used to?" series. Definitely unique content and really informative

[@paulgilbert5278]

Yeah

[@lurkathon]

@I Z yeah

[@TheCartoonGamer8000]

10:00 I believe they just wanted to take a new direction with Donkey Kong's voice - like you said, new voice samples for new games. Grant's voice was also used in 2010's Mario Vs. DK Mini-Land Mayhem (alongside Nagasako), and an E3 demo for Jungle Beat used Grant's samples as well.

[@FlamHam]

I know Grant hasn’t recorded the voice for DK since the 90’s but whenever I think of DK, I always thank if that one “Okay!” voice line every time.

[@gacd2104]

It's too iconic

[@FlamHam]

@@gacd2104 yeah

[@atomickid]

@@FlamHam *clicks gun*

[@FlamHam]

@@atomickid ?

[@lorelaimorace-kk1xz]

@@atomickid WHAT

[@StevenWrightGonzalez]

DK's Voice from DK64 is very iconic for me (same stands for Diddy) but his current voice is great.

[@morpheuslordofoneiroi3293]

He's about to sound worse than he's ever been when that movie comes out. He'll have Seth Rogan's laugh.

[@ultrawariowarefan1431]

We don’t know yet

[@CinnamonOwO]

Or better lmao, we gotta wait until Spring 2023

[@nickyisgaming]

Bros boutta evolve into a whole human say goodbye to the ape we know

[@TwiDash]

What do you mean?! That shits gonna be hilarious lmao

[@Heymrk]

No. No. There is no Mario movie. No.

[@DaNintendude]

imo Takashi's voice is a more refined, more animalistic take on what Grant started. You can hear a lot of the same personality, just expanded upon to fit DK more as a character. His newer voice is awesome and it's my favorite. But it wouldn't be here without what Grant started.

[@dhgmrz17]

Also I don't feel like the voices divert enough to be nearly as jarring. Also Grant not being a voice actor plays it it not being as refined, but I think you can tell his voice clips did have some influence on how modern DKs voice sounds.

[@AkiraLionPilot]

Not completely Donkey Kong related, but my grandmother actually met Soupy Sales (supercade Donkey Kong’s voice) when she was a little girl. Her parents had connections in show biz lol

[@supasphoje]

For the clip at 1:38, that's actually Levi Stubbs from an ep where Mother Brain, DK and Gameboy switch bodies, though Garry Chalk does voice him normally in that show.

[@KeyKong1981]

What I really like about both Grant and Takashi's voices is that they bring out different facets of DK's personality. Grant's deep voice represents DK's relaxed but more simpleton mannerisms while Takashi just goes ham and represents DK's more playful, mischievous and animalistic side, they're both great in their own right

[@awesomeocelot7475]

Honestly I liked how Grant’s DK voice actually let him talk a bit as he said a few words.

[@finchvink]

That silly little "huagh huagh" noise DK used to make in the N64 games never fails to make me laugh... I like how every rendition of DK gives him a different personality. Or, indeed, aspects of his personality! Grant's DK is my favourite, but I love the cartoon too so Richard and Sterling are high on my list as well. Again, both media give the character a different vibe, but it fits regardless, I think. ...I've never seen Captain N, even though I own a cel of DK from it - but that voice coming from him sounded.... really weird, lol. I love DK a lot and am happy to see you cover him in this episode!

[@matejamicic3037]

the huagh huagh always annoyed me in mario party 2

[@k-leb4671]

I was hoping you'd mention DKC as well. DK does technically have a voice in that game - when he's hurt, when he does his chest-pounding idle animation, when he's calling out from inside a DK Barrel, and possibly other times I can't remember.

[@chunkvader473]

God I love this channel so much. It always feel like such a sweet,relaxing and entertaining episode

[@kjul.]

What an obscure story, can't believe I watched this video all the way to the end. :D To be honest, Donkey Kong's modern voice fits his character the best!

[@Acemans]

To me the "realistic gorilla" sound and the "OKAY" is by far the best

[@XaviBruh]

His singing voice is amazing

[@swhawk]

Finally! Thanks for this long-awaited video (:

[@patrickcraig7360]

I was literally thinking when this video was going to drop the other day. Good stuff

[@rookie6480]

To add to the list of voices, Charles Martinet, yes that Charles Martinet, also voiced Donkey Kong for the Mario in Real Time event. Here's an example of his voice for the character: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJTHnHmpi6utg6s

[@coolbeans7349]

thought i was about to get rick rolled, but that video was interesting definitely wouldn't have found that on my own.

[@XtDawg]

Finnaly another voice evolution video

[@JunneClay]

OMG THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!! It's weird because yesterday I was wondering who voiced DK in MP1 and MP2 and was kinda hoping you made a video on it!

[@Drewgoza]

I've been grinding your vids, loving them!

[@richardszoghy1907]

I didnt expect to get aerial spammed by Diddy in the middle of the video. Great video btw

[@DaleStrickland]

This is my favorite series on your channel. I'm a voice actor and I love hearing about the decisions that get made by these companies 😁

[@Gobershmat]

Grant Kirkhope wrote the DK rap, voiced donkey Kong, made the soundtrack for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and made 2 Dream SMP songs. I just keep learning more about this guy.

[@chase3514]

Grant is the best, I even mastered the okay line

[@Lumberjack_king]

9:17 weird choice considering before this he only played minor 1 off villains Gannon is the series villain

[@darreljones8645]

My grade school years were (basically) the 1980's, so naturally I watched Saturday Morning Supercade, a programming block of cartoons based on video games. I had no idea Soupy Sales was DK in that show.

[@throatgoat]

love these voice evolutions

[@supersabobros]

Donkey Kong is gonna have the weirdest voice in the Mario movie!

[@scoobingtonmcghee977]

you can't deny that the donkey kong country show music actually bopped

[@cyclops8238]

The Man who provided donkey Kong's singing voice also sang the zoboomafoo theme.

[@Heymrk]

He's finally here and performing for you!

[@NishiOxnard]

It feels weird the sounds in DKC 1-3 were just skipped in this video. :O They're more than just robotic beeps, and maybe even used animal sounds before Mario Kart 64 did. It's kinda hard to tell what Rare did or used for that...

[@bigzam69-i7l]

I thought the same thing. The video feels off by saying “no voice in the games until mk64”

[@DekaruX]

Yeah I hated that, I was expecting those games analysis the most :(

[@iniminimoshimo]

I grew up playing the dk 64 game so that voice is always the one I think of. I still have the "ooooh banana" sound play in my head quite often when I find bananas in a game lol But Takashi's voice is, imo, close enough in spirit that it doesn't take away from the Grant's voice :)

[@rileyalt1251]

Grant probably gets my soft spot, but I can’t deny that Takashi does a fantastic Kong, correctly pointed out as very Scooby-like. The sampled Gorilla noises are very funny to me and do the job pretty well too, I think the only mainline voices that don’t work for me are the strange Bowser-sounding smash voice clips.

[@jemandtheholograms9895]

You forgot to talk about the dkc series on super Nintendo, for example the sound dk make when he dies, as well as when you don't move for awhile and then he start banging his chest, or when his eyes pop out when you're on the edge about to fall down 😂😉🙈🙉🙊👏

[@WhimsicalLittledawg]

The deep beep sound that Donkey Kong makes is terrifying for some reason.

[@Its_Charlie_Young]

Garry Chalk voiced DK once? Damn, now I want an Optimus Primal figure that transforms into Donkey Kong.

[@yolt9786]

Every time I heard “Meh-rio” instead of Mario I contemplated drinking a pint of drain cleaner

[@Light_Souls]

Doney kong voice has changed so much!

[@block91]

0:47 I thought the beep sound meant you had to save Lady, and I still do to this day.

[@michaelsegal3558]

I’m Canadian and even I didn’t know the Donkey Kong County show was Canadian based and I used to love that show

[@SlushieSLURPZ]

I really LOVE all of your videos!! I've been watching most of them for the last few days- its so soothing to listen to you talking about my most beloved topic 💖

[@CwapPlatinum]

The Donkey Kong voice in his own cartoon will be canon to me. I did a double-take at the Captain N voice lmaoo

[@C4rrots]

Was anyone else kind of scared of Donkey Kong's voice in the N64 and Game Cube games? Idk why, but it always terrified me as a kid when I heard those noises lol

[@die-sas7462]

i was waiting for this video and I'm not disappointed, great job

[@JoBot__]

That Donkey Kong Country show might just be the most cursed thing I've ever seen.

[@KMDEOD]

I grew up with both DK64 and the current voice for DK, I personally love them!

[@AJDaBaws]

Lmao, yesterday I looked up who voiced Donkey Kong in the games because I was curious.

[@tiburondrogado7612]

To me honestly his canon voice will always be Grant Kirkhope that's literally how a talkative DK should sound like,i mean c'mon how can you hear the "OKAAAY" and the "COOOOL" lines and say it's not the best one? Lol But regardless,as much as i prefer Grant,i've gotten used to Nagasako he does a great job at the role even though i much prefer a speaking DK.

[@Mcl_Blue]

Please do a video on Ganondorf's voices

[@rtyuik7]

wait a minute, you jump all the way from the 80s-90s cartoons to MarioKart64? what about the "hirkey-hickey" and "oof!" noises he made in DonkeyKongCountry? (or at least, thats MY name for when DK beats a boss or a bonus level, and starts posing for the 4th Wall while the fanfare plays-- 'hirkey hirkey hirk, hickey hickey hickey hick!'...or when hes trapped in a DK-Barrel, '[thump thump] hirk-hirk-hirk?')

[@chrisbarone515]

I believe Patrick Warburton would make the best voice for a Talking Donkey Kong. Richard Yearwood is a great two.

[@tjh6678]

Absolutely. His neutral voice has similar energy to Grant Kirkhope's DK, while his raw raging screams for characters like Joe Swanson gives some strong Nagasako vibes. The best of both worlds. Tho, The Rock would be the next best choice to me personally.

[@OmarAlikaj]

The audio used for DK in Mario Kart 64 was also used in one episode of "The Emperor's New School."

[@pgj1997]

1:56 You absolute madlad

[@Housestationlive]

@1:58 excellent vibes over this track ^^

[@TSMSnation]

I have never, in my LIFE, heard of Saturday Supercade, nor did I know there was this much animated materials of the original mario design, WHAT!?

[@trentoninnewjersey]

6:12 Poor Grant Kirkhope not getting his credit for the DK Rap in the Mario movie

[@Lumberjack_king]

Sound libraries are fascinating

[@yeahappyday2233]

Wow I never new donkey kong had a scooby doo type of voice

[@bananachild1936]

Grant Kirkhope DK all the way for me. Because that's just how I imagined a Donkey Kong would sound like if it ever talks or grunts. A total brute, a banana brain, and an absolute bro. But the main Japanese guy who voices DK today is starting to grow on me, albeit still a bit weird in the ears to hear sometimes.

[@Gojirilla]

I'll always love the sound of Kirkhope's DK the most, but I totally understand people preferring the more ape like sounds of Nagasako.

[@MissAshley42]

As hilarious as Kirkhope's DK sounds, I much prefer DK going full-on monke. He sounds so savage!

[@Mrtyjr]

Thanks, I very much enjoyed this vid. Also Interesting story behind DK's voice during DK64 and early GameCube era. I liked that voice more than its current one which sounds overly enthusiastic (all the time) to me. How about also doing a video on Diddy Kong's voice and how his changed?

[@orangeslash1667]

Diddy was originally voiced by Chris Sutherland, he also voiced Chunky Kong, Lanky Kong, and even King K Rool. After the Rare buyout, Diddy would then be played by Katsumi Suzuki. However in Smash bros they would use Chimpanzee sounds. Rare confirmed that they originally were going to use Donkey Kong Jr. for DK's partner but Nintendo would not allow it, so Rare made to create their own character( Diddy Kong).

[@becca1chan8773]

Honestly Garry Chalk was a surprise. Now I kinda want Ron Perlman to voice Donkey Kong ... as something as a deep cut casting gag.

[@StephanS]

The gorilla sounds at 11:40 sound like the kleer skeletons from Serious Sam. I am pretty sure that this was a Sound Ideas Library, very common and wide spread back then.

[@RyanCoomer]

I regularly visit buffets in different cities around the states. Before I go to a buffet, I will place 6 corndogs in my jacket pockets. After entering the buffet, I sneak the corndogs into some of the fried food section trays. It is such a joy for me to see other customers of the buffet eat my corndogs thinking they were part of the buffet.

[@FirebirdDude]

In Mario Kart 64 I thought Yoshi's voice was a collection of sound effects, too.

[@rodrigomarcondes5857]

Nagasako's voice is what immediately comes to my mind when i think DK

[@Dimensional597]

Surprised the donkey kong series only came into only Canada I also had the nice experience of actually watching the series

[@madnessarcade7447]

Yes, we did go to the zoo and observe the gorillas, but found that when they did move it was completely unsuitable for a fast-paced video game, so all of the animation had to be done by hand," he says. "We went through about 15 different versions of how DK could move. DK's movement in the final game is based loosely on how a horse moves, but I recall laughing at some of the other animal-themed attempts - including a rabbit and a frog." I read this once and misremembered and thought it was for the voice

[@thatguyoverthere1440]

Thank GOD! YES!! THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!!!!

[@casualartist4202]

6:57 that fall sound is forever the funniest thing i will ever hear

[@Sebby_Nineteen]

Nothing will beat Grant's "Yeah..." clip.

[@MasterGalaxy120]

Mario Power Tennis voices clips of Donkey Kong sound similar to Grant Kirkhoope voices from Donkey Kong 64.

[@yellohammer8571]

Hey, Thomas. You know what would make a great video in the "why doesn't X sound like X used to" category? One on Samus Aran from the Metroid series. There may be only a few voice actresses from the series, in both Japanese and English, but they would make a great video, considering their history in voice acting.

[@meaganh637]

Yeah he should do about Chuck E. Cheese or Arthur or Looney Tunes?

[@imsofy]

So cool...these videos are always amazing. You should also do koopa...I think it can be interesting

[@MrCreamyPockets]

"ey diddy, come on up little buddeh"

[@michaelsegal3558]

It was a dark day in the video game world when Rare was bought out by Microsoft

[@jbsMUWcreations2089]

Next should be: Why doesn't Diddy Kongs voice sounds like it used to

[@orangeslash1667]

Diddy was originally voiced by Chris Sutherland, he also voiced Chunky Kong, Lanky Kong, and even King K Rool. After the Rare buyout, Diddy would then be played by Katsumi Suzuki. However in Smash bros they would use Chimpanzee sounds. Rare confirmed that they originally were going to use Donkey Kong Jr. for DK's partner but Nintendo would not allow it, so Rare made to create their own character( Diddy Kong).

[@imreallybadatnamingthings]

My favorite voice of DK is definitely Takashi's voice, as DKCR was the FIRST VIDEO GAME I EVER PLAYED. EVER

[@Aladite]

I have to admit, I grew up on Takashi's voice for dk, and it's honestly fitting, giving dk lots of personality! Grant did a real good job too, since a lot of the voice tracks are very memorable and just as full of personality as well! Garry Chalk in the game master TV show though, what in the world-

[@itsmeharro]

9:27 This sound right here It's perfect

[@alvarostockle]

A weird but pretty decent DK DS game in which you have to use the L/R buttons to control DK's hands was my first experience with a DK game with voice acting, so Takashi's voice is DK's voice to me, but I can't deny how iconic Grant Kirkhope's take is!

[@IslamicSoulEditz]

Why does TGD sound the same?

[@the_dangle]

Idk it have that question to

[@IslamicSoulEditz]

Imagine if this blows up lol

[@camohere]

Well I mean you could ask any other KZbinr and get the same response

[@CoolBoii420]

Lol

[@CoolBoii420]

@@IslamicSoulEditz your right

[@spencerock2187]

Grant is the best dk, hands down

[@ashthedragon]

DK Country cartoon was not only dubbed to french and japanese, also into Spanish, both latin Spanish and European Spanish. I know since I've watched it in European Spanish when I was a Kid, and was later re-run in Latin Spanish.

[@beady5831]

There's also a German dub

[@CamTheCan]

Donkey Kong: RUH HEEEEEY

[@kirkmangaming]

12:44 Mario Golf: Super Rush is my main game right now, and I have always been a little put off by Donkey Kong’s voice acting. Maybe I’m just used to hearing the ‘Grant’ voice of my childhood!

[@590488]

Takashi's DK is so iconic that I always hear his voice in my head when I think of DK. However I still find it weird to hear him in Mario party

[@zyargstanfurina]

i came back from the movie, it was epic

[@waeon]

I wish they kept DK64's voice, he sounds very cool and makes DK sound more intimidating, I don't hate the current voice but I don't really care for it, he just sounds goofy now

[@kirbymario2633]

another thing is that since yoshi’s voice is an backwards record scratch for Mario 64, it’s also another voice that didn’t have to have an actor for