Winky
| Winky | |
|---|---|
 Artwork fromDonkey Kong Country | |
| Full name | Winky the Frog[1] |
| Species | Frog |
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Country (1994) |
| Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Bananza (cameo) (2025) |
Winky is a frogAnimal Friend with a high jumping ability inDonkey Kong Country.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country[edit]
Winky is an ally inDonkey Kong Country. His abilities include being able to jump higher than the Kongs, which is useful for reaching collectibles such asBananas orExtra Life Balloons, and Winky can defeatZingers by jumping on them. Winky is first encountered inWinky's Walkway. InBouncy Bonanza, hisanimal crate appears in a small room shortly after theStar Barrel. InMillstone Mayhem, Winky's crate is on a pathway reachable only by using atire. InRope Bridge Rumble, Winky's crate can be found in the first Bonus Area, and he can be brought into the main level.
Game designerGregg Mayles expressed a dislike of Winky as a player character, citing poor controls.[2]Steve Mayles similarly expressed a dislike towards Winky.[3]
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[edit]
A Winky figure appears in background of theMonkey Museum, where it is labeled at a price of five dollars, inDonkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Cranky also mentioned Winky and Expresso in the instruction manual.[4] Winky has been replaced by another Animal Friend with a high-jumping ability,Rattly.
In theremake, the Winky figure no longer appears, though a small Winky can be seen hopping around in a cage atCranky's Hut, as well as in the environment of swamp levels.
Club Nintendo[edit]
In theClub Nintendo comic "Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24", Cranky andKiddy Kong are briefly seen riding Winky to an airport.
Donkey Kong 64[edit]
Winky and Expresso are mentioned by Cranky in the game manual ofDonkey Kong 64 in hopes for their reappearance,[5][6] similarly toDonkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest's manual.
Picross NP Vol.8[edit]
Winky makes a cameo appearance inPicross NP Vol.8 as one of the images that must be cleared.
Donkey Konga 3[edit]
InDonkey Konga 3, multiple frogs resembling Winky appear swimming in the waters of the campground portion of the Vacation (Natsu) background.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Winky has made a few cameo appearances in theSuper Smash Bros. series. InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, he is mentioned inKass' PALtrophy description. InSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U, there is another trophy of Winky, and it can be acquired either at random in one of the game's modes, such as in Vs. matches, or by purchasing it at thetrophy shop. InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, Winky appears as a Novicesupport spirit, occupying one support slot when used, and thespirit increases the power of foot-based attacks.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle[edit]
In theDonkey Kong Adventure story ofMario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, the design ofRabbid Cranky'sCroaker Disposer is based on Winky the Frog. The weapon's flavor text reads: "Whether it'sMonkey Mines or monkey shines, Winky is always BOUNCING with enthusiasm.", referencing the first area in the originalDonkey Kong Country where Winky can be found. The weapon is also described as an officially licensedBarrel Bolt.
Donkey Kong Bananza[edit]
Winky appears asfossils inDonkey Kong Bananza. The Frog fossil first appears in theTempest Layer, while an alternate color of the fossil appears in theForbidden Layer.
Profiles[edit]
Donkey Kong Country[edit]
- Instruction booklet description:
- English (United States):
You wouldn't know it by looking at him, but Winky is one of the most powerful animals. He can jump higher than any of them, and with his strong legs, he can jump attack some enemies that even Donkey can't touch. Winky is fond of damp, dark places, but he is known to turn up almost anywhere![7]
- English (United States):
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
| Trophy Winky | ||
 | ||
| Category: Series Related | ||
( )Appears in:SNESDonkey Kong Country (11/1994) | ||
| ()Trophy Box: 18: Animal Friends and Items | ||
| How to unlock: Random | ||
| The Kongs have all kinds of animal friends. Mammal friends, fish friends, bird friends. Winky is a frog. He defeats those pesky Zingers by bouncing on top of them. You might worry about falling off that slippery back of his, but all concern will wash away as you are hopping through the skies.(American English) | ||
| The Kongs' Animal Friends come in all shapes and sizes. There are mammals, fish, birds... There's even a frog! Winky's high-hopping abilities make him really useful when it comes to taking out those pesky Zingers. Best of all, you don't need to worry about accidentally falling off that slippery back of his – it just never happens!(British English) | ||
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
| Spirit #154 Winky | ||
| Series/game | Donkey Kong Series |
| Type | Support | |
| Slots | 1 | |
| Class | Novice | |
| Strength / effect(s) | Foot Attack ↑ | |
| How to obtain | Spirit Board | |
| Spirit battle | Opponent(s) | Greninja |
| Conditions |
| |
| Stage | Mushroom Kingdom U | |
| Song | Jungle Level (Brawl) |
Gallery[edit]
- For this subject's image gallery, seeGallery:Winky.
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)
Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)
Naming[edit]
Winky's name is derived from theBritish slang term for penis.Rare is known for putting innuendos in their games; as an example,Gruntilda, the villain in theBanjo-Kazooie series, has "Winkybunion" as her last name, referencing the slang term according toGrant Kirkhope.[8]
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ウィンキー[9] Winkī | Winky | |
| German | Winky[?] | - | |
| Italian | Winky[?] | - | |
| Russian | Винки[?] Vinki | Winky | |
| Spanish | Winky[?] | - |
References[edit]
- ^2000.Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color) instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (English). Page 16.
- ^"They had rubbish controls and hits to test player skill. Good design. As was Squitter, that [Steve Mayles] scoffed at and said wouldn't work" – Ghoulyboy (June 23, 2017).Post.Twitter (English). Archived May 31, 2021, 04:43:31 UTC from theoriginal via Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 27, 2017. (ScreenshotMedia:Twitter Ghoulyboy 2017-06-23 tweet Winky.png.)
- ^"Yes, it was always best to never get on the frog." – WinkySteve (June 23, 2017).Post.Twitter (English). Archived April 18, 2023, 23:58:24 UTC from theoriginal via Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 27, 2017. (ScreenshotMedia:Twitter WinkySteve 2017-06-23 tweet Winky.png.)
- ^"A more tragic looking bunch of useless no-hopers you'll never see! I liked Expresso and Winky--where have they gone?" – 1995.Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (English). Page 25.
- ^"I just hope they've included poor old Winky and Expresso this time instead of thatbone-brained rhino that always seems to get in the games." – 1999.Donkey Kong 64 instruction booklet.Nintendo of Europe (British English). Page 18.
- ^1999.Donkey Kong 64 instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (English). Page 27.
- ^1994.Donkey Kong Country instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (English). Page 25.
- ^"You know, like, Gruntilda's second name is 'Winkybunion', right? [...] 'Winky', in theUK, is a slang name for a gentleman's private parts." – Kirkhope, Grant (March 28, 2016).Banjo-Kazooie | Let's Play Finale | Super Beard Bros. (16:24).YouTube. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^Appears in theJapanese name of the level Winky's Walkway from the gameDonkey Kong 2001.
