Clanker

"Bzzz...I am Clanker, witch's garbage grinder. Clanker not like dirty water, want fresh air."

- Clanker

Clanker is a character found at Clanker's Cavern in Banjo-Kazooie. He is an extremely large aquatic creature, sort of resembling a giant cyborg shark despite having a whale's blowhole, so his actual species is questionable; the Grunty's Furnace Fun quiz, however, always refers to him as a whale. He has organic bits (akin to deep skin tissue, perhaps) of his original body sticking out. Grunty uses him as her Garbage disposal but therefore has him in a worsening condition. He is attached to a chain connected in a deep area at the bottom of the room. Banjo has to swim through a key-loop 3 times to release him. If Banjo drowns after doing that, he'll have to re-do it. Banjo may enter Clanker via his teeth, blowhole and gills.

Earlier versions show Clanker appearing to be a living, organic creature. Many beta shots show Clanker opening his mouth fully wide open after knocking out his teeth, but it was never seen in the final version of the game.

Clanker appears in the background of the Clanker's River course in Banjo-Pilot.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
"Clanker was the star of his very own level, Clanker's Cavern in Banjo-Kazooie. Getting him here in one piece was difficult, but the many uses of his ramp-shaped head made it all worthwhile."

- Banjoland description

He returns in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts as part of Banjoland, but L.O.G. has separated him into multiple sections. His head sticks out of the wall as an exhibit while his teeth appear as a separate display; a portion of his body containing spinning blades serves as a tunnel; the remainder of him is lodged into the ground as a ramp and bridge. One of the challenges involves protecting his eyes from being stolen by attacking Gruntbots. His blowhole seems to be absent in this game.

Trivia

 * The sounds of Clanker speaking are different than any other character in the Banjo-Kazooie series, as he will make very long groans while speaking, whereas any other character makes constant short-timed mumbles.
 * The actual sounds that Clanker makes are Banjo's slowed down, as said by Grant Kirkhope in a "Guest Grumps" video. This was also stated in a Rare Revealed video.