Lanky Kong : l'orang-outan barré de Donkey Kong 64

Lanky Kong: Donkey Kong 64's Goofy Orangutan

1030 mots | Temps de lecture : 5 minute(s)

Arms that almost drag on the ground, a goofy smile, and an impossible gait: Lanky Kong (name identical in English) is undoubtedly the most outlandish member of the Kong family. This tall orangutan debuted in Donkey Kong 64 in 1999 and has never truly left players' memories.

Between his comical powers, his blue color, and his cult verse in the famous DK Rap, Lanky has become a small video game legend. Here's everything you need to know about the clown of Donkey Kong's crew.

Summary

Who is Lanky Kong?

Lanky Kong is the only orangutan in the Kong family, and it shows at first glance: orange fur, a red nose, blue eyes, and especially endlessly long arms that brush the ground. He wears blue overalls over a white shirt that is clearly too small for him.

According to the game's story, he came from a distant island before joining Donkey Kong Island, where he discovered a kinship with the rest of the gang. Character-wise, Lanky is the resident clown: repeated grimaces, absurd humor, and a perpetual prankster attitude make him the most eccentric Kong in the group.

The Blue Kong from Donkey Kong 64

Donkey Kong 64, released in 1999 on Nintendo 64 and developed by the British studio Rare, is the game that introduced Lanky. He is one of the five playable Kongs, alongside Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Tiny Kong, and Chunky Kong.

Each Kong is associated with a color, and Lanky's is blue. Specifically, he is the only one who can collect the blue bananas, blue banana coins, and blue blueprints scattered throughout the levels. To activate his special abilities, he must first step on pads marked with his likeness, a common principle for all Kongs in the game.

An arsenal of comical powers

Lanky's powers are like the character himself: completely wild. His iconic abilities in Donkey Kong 64 bear famous English names:

  • OrangStand: he stands on his hands to walk and climb slopes too steep for the other Kongs.
  • OrangStand Sprint: an accelerated version of this handstand, which he activates by spending Crystal Coconuts.
  • Baboon Balloon: he literally inflates like a balloon and floats in the air for a few moments.

Added to this is his personal weapon, the Grape Shooter, which fires grapes to defeat enemies, pop blue banana balloons, and activate certain switches.

"He has no style, he has no grace": the star of the DK Rap

Lanky became a true internet icon largely thanks to the DK Rap, the delightfully kitsch theme song from Donkey Kong 64. Composed by Grant Kirkhope, this song introduces the Kongs one after another, and the verse dedicated to Lanky has remained memorable.

It features the lines: "He has no style, he has no grace / This Kong has a funny face." This deliberately mocking passage, which also alludes to his handstand and his ability to inflate himself, turned Lanky into a cult meme, regularly quoted and reinterpreted by Nintendo fans.

From Barrel Blast to Bananza: his reappearances

After 1999, Lanky never completely disappeared. He reappears as an unlockable racer in Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast, a racing game developed by Paon, released in 2007 in Japan and North America, then in 2008 in Europe under the title Donkey Kong Jet Race.

The Super Smash Bros. series also paid him several nods: he appears as a trophy in the Brawl and Wii U installments, then as a spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. More recently, the orangutan makes a cameo in Donkey Kong Bananza (2025), notably through an unlockable statue and a sign bearing his likeness. This proves that, decades later, this crazy Kong has lost none of his unique charm.

Lanky Kong's Identity Card

Name (FR) Lanky Kong
Name (EN) Lanky Kong
Name (JP) ランキーコング (Rankī Kongu)
Species Orangutan
First Appearance Donkey Kong 64 (1999, Nintendo 64)
Original Studio Rare
Associated Color Blue (blue bananas)
Notable Games Donkey Kong 64, Barrel Blast, Smash Bros.

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FAQ

  • What is Lanky Kong's French name?
    His official French name is Lanky Kong, strictly identical to the English: the character has never been translated or renamed in French-speaking Europe.
  • In which game does Lanky Kong first appear?
    He debuts in Donkey Kong 64, released in 1999 on Nintendo 64 and developed by the Rare studio. He is one of the five playable Kongs in it.
  • What species is Lanky Kong?
    Lanky Kong is an orangutan, recognizable by his orange fur and very long arms. He is the only orangutan in the Kong family.
  • Why is Lanky Kong so famous among fans?
    Mostly because of his verse in the DK Rap, the Donkey Kong 64 theme song by Grant Kirkhope: the lines "He has no style, he has no grace, this Kong has a funny face" made him a cult meme.
  • What color is associated with Lanky Kong in Donkey Kong 64?
    Blue. He is the only Kong capable of collecting the blue bananas, blue banana coins, and blue blueprints in the game.
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