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!
PATREON - / thomasgamedocs
MERCH - www.thomasmerchdocs.com
TWITTER - / thomasgdocs
SOURCES
- soundeffects.fandom.com/wiki/... (DK sound effect on Sound Effects Wiki)
- soundideas.sourceaudio.com/#!... (DK sound effect on publisher’s website)
- web.archive.org/web/201202090... (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

[@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.

[@Tr1Dylan]

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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@StevenWrightGonzalez]

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

[@flammableham0280]

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

[@flammableham0280]

@@gacd2104 yeah

[@atomickid]

@@flammableham0280 *clicks gun*

[@flammableham0280]

@@atomickid ?

[@ir489]

I also think of the weird voice effect they used for him in Mario party 64, which he didn’t mention in this video 😭

[@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.

[@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

[@awesomeocelot7475]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@Acemans]

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

[@XaviBruh]

His singing voice is amazing

[@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

[@supersabobros]

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

[@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.

[@Lumberjack_king]

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

[@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

[@groom_of_the_stool]

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

[@Light_Souls]

Doney kong voice has changed so much!

[@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

[@yolt9786]

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

[@thepacifier]

The cgi show is the true voice no doubt

[@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...

[@michaelcobb7821]

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 :(

[@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.

[@groom_of_the_stool]

He's finally here and performing for you!

[@XtDawg]

Finnaly another voice evolution video

[@rayseeklo]

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

[@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.

[@WhimsicalLittledawg]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@Lumberjack_king]

Sound libraries are fascinating

[@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.

[@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.

[@Its_Charlie_Young]

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

[@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.

[@CamTheCan]

Donkey Kong: RUH HEEEEEY

[@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!

[@swhawk]

Finally! Thanks for this long-awaited video (:

[@chunkvader473]

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

[@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.

[@bigman2679]

hey peter you remember the time i was donkey kong

[@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 😂😉🙈🙉🙊👏

[@Drewgoza]

I've been grinding your vids, loving them!

[@patrickcraig7360]

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

[@MissAshley42]

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

[@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

[@richardszoghy1907]

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

[@spencerock2187]

Grant is the best dk, hands down

[@JoBot__]

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

[@Mcl_Blue]

Please do a video on Ganondorf's voices

[@AJDaBaws]

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

[@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

[@SlushSlushieShrimpy]

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 💖

[@Yoshinski1]

Why does TGD sound the same?

[@the_dangle]

Idk it have that question to

[@Yoshinski1]

Imagine if this blows up lol

[@camohere]

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

[@CoolBoii420]

Lol

[@CoolBoii420]

@@Yoshinski1 your right

[@yeahappyday2233]

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

[@throatgoat]

love these voice evolutions

[@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 😁

[@sayoririeta3211]

DK should speak as dk rap

[@die-sas7462]

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

[@Sebby_Nineteen]

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

[@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?')

[@block91]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@OmarAlikaj]

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

[@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.

[@rodrigomarcondes5857]

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

[@Shadow1Yaz]

I love these videos!

[@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

[@imreallybadatnamingthings]

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

[@FirebirdDude]

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

[@imsofy]

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

[@Onlyitsmereid]

My favorite DK voice is from the 3D tv show about donkey kong country

[@chase3514]

Grant is the best, I even mastered the okay line

[@Dimensional597]

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

[@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-

[@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?

[@thatguyoverthere1440]

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

[@boboholz745]

Es, I was waiting for this 😍

[@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

[@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).

[@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).

[@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!?

[@pgj1997]

1:56 You absolute madlad

[@SuperYoonHo]

hey thanks for the great video

[@cubah1]

I don’t mind the new voices, I just wish they left the OG monkey sounds from MK 64. Every now and then DK can just use that sound bite. Same goes for yoshi. I want to still hear him make SMW sounds along his current voice.

[@casualartist4202]

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

[@KOBULT92]

The current voice feels fitting, but there will always be a soft spot in my heart for Grant's old 90s cool dude DK.

[@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!

[@nostimotatopancake9797]

My favourite Donkey Kong voice is the talking + singing one! 😃

[@BobtheExile]

Since you brought up Ganon in this video (however briefly), you should do a video on him. He's another character whose voice has changed, you did Link and Princess Zelda, might as well round out the Triforce Three

[@smoothbeak]

To me Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong etc are the versions in the Super Nintendo Donkey Kong County games

[@W1nt3rstar]

Hey Thomas! I was wondering if you can do tails for this series? I really want to see it! also I really enjoyed this video!