Editing Donkey Kong (character) (section)

===In popular culture===
{{seealso|Donkey Kong#Cultural impact|l1=Cultural impact of ''Donkey Kong''}}
[[File:Monster Jam - 2008 - Tacoma, Wa (3453973810).jpg|thumb|right|A Donkey Kong-themed [[monster truck]] at [[Monster Jam]] in 2008]]

Donkey Kong is a [[pop culture]] icon.<ref>{{cite web |title=News Blips: Black Ops Bans, Halo Waypoint App, Battle.net Dial-In Authenticator, and More |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/news-blips-black-ops-bans-halo-waypoint-app-battlenet-dial-in-authenticator-and-more/ |website=[[VentureBeat]] |access-date=February 28, 2025 |date=November 11, 2010}}</ref> ''Donkey Kong'' remains one of Nintendo's bestselling franchises, with 82 million copies sold by 2025.<ref name="PasteFranchises" /> Considered Nintendo's second-biggest character,<ref name="GRadar: Bananza" /> journalists described Donkey Kong as a mascot for both Nintendo and the video game industry.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references: ''Eurogamer'',<ref name="Euro33rd" /> ''GamesRadar+'',<ref>{{cite web |title=The 12 greatest arcade machines of all time |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-12-greatest-arcade-machines-of-all-time/ |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=November 27, 2023 |date=June 29, 2009 |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204234731/https://www.gamesradar.com/the-12-greatest-arcade-machines-of-all-time/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ''IGN'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Casamassina |first1=Matt |title=Donkey Kong Jungle Beat |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/12/donkey-kong-jungle-beat |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=November 27, 2023 |date=March 11, 2005 |archive-date=October 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017122456/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/12/donkey-kong-jungle-beat |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Wired''<ref name="Wired25" />}} The catchphrase "it's on like Donkey Kong" has entered pop culture vernacular,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Elston |first1=Brett |title=Nintendo trying to trademark "It's on like Donkey Kong" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/nintendo-trying-to-trademark-its-on-like-donkey-kong/ |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=November 9, 2023 |date=November 10, 2010 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109124614/https://www.gamesradar.com/nintendo-trying-to-trademark-its-on-like-donkey-kong/ |url-status=live}}</ref> used in television series, films, music, and news headlines to say something is "going down".<ref name="WiredTrademark">{{cite magazine |last1=Schreier |first1=Jason |title=Nintendo Trademarks 'It's On Like Donkey Kong' |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/11/donkey-kong-trademark/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=November 9, 2023 |date=November 10, 2010 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109124616/https://www.wired.com/2010/11/donkey-kong-trademark/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gross |first1=Doug |title=Nintendo seeks to trademark 'On like Donkey Kong' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/gaming.gadgets/11/10/on.like.donkey.kong/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=November 9, 2023 |date=November 10, 2010 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109042835/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/gaming.gadgets/11/10/on.like.donkey.kong/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PCW: On">{{cite web |last1=Purewal |first1=Sarah Jacobsson |title=Nintendo Wants to Trademark 'It's On Like Donkey Kong' |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/498587/nintendo_wants_to_trademark_its_on_like_donkey_kong.html |website=[[PC World]] |access-date=November 9, 2023 |date=November 11, 2010 |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109124616/https://www.pcworld.com/article/498587/nintendo_wants_to_trademark_its_on_like_donkey_kong.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, the [[Monster Jam]] racing series obtained the license to use Donkey Kong's appearance for a [[monster truck]]. The truck debuted in a December 2007 show in [[Minneapolis]] and toured with Monster Jam throughout 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Donkey Kong Truck Hits Monster Jam |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/12/07/donkey-kong-truck-hits-monster-jam |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=November 25, 2023 |date=December 7, 2007 |archive-date=November 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125143742/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/12/07/donkey-kong-truck-hits-monster-jam |url-status=live}}</ref>

Ralph, the protagonist of the video game-themed [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]] film ''[[Wreck-It Ralph]]'' (2012), was inspired by Donkey Kong.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scheden |first1=Jesse |title=The Familiar Faces of Wreck-It Ralph |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/09/the-familiar-faces-of-wreck-it-ralph |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=April 25, 2025 |date=June 8, 2012}}</ref> He is introduced as the antagonist of a ''Donkey Kong''-like arcade game and has similar proportions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Cindy |title=Wreck-It Ralph is Disney's Love Letter to Video Games |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/21/wreck-it-ralph-is-disneys-love-letter-to-video-games |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=April 25, 2025 |date=August 21, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Maytum |first1=Matthew Mpoke |title=Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 review: "Ralph and Vanellope are still good company" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/ralph-breaks-the-internet-wreck-it-ralph-2-review/ |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=April 25, 2025 |date=November 14, 2018}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' described him as "a kind of human version of Donkey Kong".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Breznican |first1=Anthony |title=Disney's D23: Secret world of video game characters revealed in 'Wreck-It Ralph' |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/08/20/disneys-d23-secret-world-of-video-game-characters-revealed-in-wreck-it-ralph/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=April 25, 2025 |date=August 20, 2011}}</ref> The director, [[Rich Moore]], said Ralph was conceived as an animal similar to Donkey Kong before becoming more distinct,<ref>{{cite web |title='Wreck-It Ralph' video characters get their game on |url=https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/life/movies/2012/10/28/wreck-it-ralph-video-characters-get-their-game-on/1661183/ |website=[[USA Today]] |access-date=April 25, 2025 |date=October 18, 2012}}</ref> and the animators used Donkey Kong as a reference when designing 8-bit sprites of Ralph.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |title=Wreck-it Ralph animator urged movie director to 'respect the pixel' for character designs |url=https://www.polygon.com/2012/10/29/3573936/wreck-it-ralph-animator-urged-movie-director-to-respect-the-pixel-for |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=April 25, 2025 |date=October 29, 2012}}</ref>

Donkey Kong appears in Patrick Jean's ''[[Pixels (2010 film)|Pixels]]'' (2010), a short film which depicts 1980s video game characters attacking New York City.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vary |first1=Adam B. |title=Look out, Adam Sandler! It's Donkey Kong's Space Invading Frogger! |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/11/11/adam-sandler-pixels/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=April 25, 2025 |date=November 11, 2010}}</ref> He reappears in the feature film adaptation ''[[Pixels (2015 film)|Pixels]]'' (2015), which expands the premise to depict alien invaders using the characters to conquer Earth.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harp |first1=Justin |title=You need to see Tetris and Donkey Kong vs Adam Sandler in crazy new Pixels trailer |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a656479/you-need-to-see-tetris-and-donkey-kong-vs-adam-sandler-in-crazy-new-pixels-trailer/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=April 25, 2025 |date=July 3, 2015}}</ref> The director, Chris Columbus, said Donkey Kong's inclusion required months of negotiations, and Nintendo granted permission after determining the filmmakers were treating him with respect.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Calvert |first1=Darren |title=Donkey Kong Nearly Missed Out On Pixels Stardom |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/07/donkey_kong_nearly_missed_out_on_pixels_stardom |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |access-date=November 27, 2023 |date=July 23, 2015 |archive-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201141432/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/07/donkey_kong_nearly_missed_out_on_pixels_stardom |url-status=live}}</ref> The film ''[[War for the Planet of the Apes]]'' (2017) features treacherous apes nicknamed "donkeys" in reference to Donkey Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://in.ign.com/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes/102093/preview/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-trailer-commentary-by-director-matt-reeves |title=War for the Planet of the Apes: Trailer commentary by director Matt Reeves |last=Collura |first=Scott |date=December 10, 2016 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021072703/https://in.ign.com/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes/102093/preview/war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-trailer-commentary-by-director-matt-reeves |url-status=live}}</ref>

Donkey Kong has inspired [[internet meme]]s,<ref name="KotakuCockBlast" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Foster |first1=George |title=Donkey Kong's Funky Victory Animation In Mario Strikers: Battle League Is Getting Memed |url=https://www.thegamer.com/donkey-kong-victory-animation-mario-strikers-battle-league-meme/ |website=[[TheGamer]] |access-date=April 26, 2025 |date=June 2, 2022}}</ref> including a 2022 phenomenon in which [[Twitter]] users responded to posts from the [[Pringles]] account by [[spamming]] a picture of Donkey Kong shooting lightning from his groin.<ref name="KotakuCockBlast">{{cite web |last1=Zwiezen |first1=Zack |title=The Donkey Kong Cock Blast Pringles Meme, (Unfortunately) Explained |url=https://kotaku.com/pringles-twitter-donkey-kong-cock-blast-cockblast-meme-1848644039 |website=[[Kotaku]] |access-date=April 26, 2025 |date=March 11, 2022}}</ref> The [[transgender rights movement]] adopted Donkey Kong as an icon after the [[YouTuber]] [[Hbomberguy|Harry "Hbomberguy" Brewis]] livestreamed a playthrough of ''Donkey Kong 64'' for over 50 hours to raise funds for the British charity [[Mermaids (charity)|Mermaids]] in 2019, in response to the [[National Lottery Community Fund]] considering canceling a £500,000 grant. [[Laura Kate Dale]], a transgender game journalist, wrote for the [[BBC]] that posting images of Donkey Kong became "a powerful act of protest and a way to remind one man that his attempt to remove financial support from the trans community failed" following the livestream.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dale |first1=Laura |title=How Donkey Kong became a trans icon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/51zq42Wb04L2yWWpvpQzLsz/how-donkey-kong-became-a-trans-icon |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=April 23, 2025 |date=April 9, 2020 |author-link=Laura Kate Dale}}</ref>