Banjo

Banjo is a brown honey bear and one of the two protagonists on which the series centers. He is always seen wearing a pair of yellow shorts, a shark tooth necklace, and a blue backpack. He first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing alongside Tiptup as a racer with a high top speed and low acceleration before starting in his own game several months later, and has since been the main character of every Banjo-Kazooie game yet. He has returned in the series's latest installment for the Xbox 360. A while back Banjo "adopted" a breegull named Kazooie who is often seen seeking shelter in his backpack. The pair has gone on numerous adventures together, the purpose of most of them being to stop the sinister plans of the evil witch Gruntilda. Banjo also has a younger sister named Tooty, who lives with him and Kazooie in a house at the bottom of Spiral Mountain. He also plays his namesake instrument.

However, Banjo wasn't born a Rare icon, despite being quickly loved by millions. He was originally planned to be a small time character in a Super Nintendo video game, Project Dream. After the Nintendo 64 was released, the game was moved to the new console. However, it was found to be too generic, and a rabbit was planned to become the new main character. However, this too was unsuccessful, so Rare tried a game based around Banjo himself, which became Banjo-Kazooie.

Personality
Banjo is easygoing and well-mannered, although can come off as a bit slow. An odd time he will try his hand at Kazooie style wit but he's no good at it. He seems brave, but showed signs to the contrary in Banjo-Tooie

Synopsis
Banjo first appeared in Diddy Kong Racing to help defeat Wizpig. Soon after he found himself in another racing adventure, Banjo-Pilot, where he could have first met Kazooie. Afterwards he was tired of his racing days and set up a home in Spiral Mountain with his sister, Tooty and Kazooie. That's when it really started.

After having his sister kidnapped by Gruntilda the witch, he raced to her lair with Kazooie in his backpack and managed to both rescue Tooty and defeat Gruntilda. After falling from her tower she was buried underground, where Klungo tried to free her. Contented, Banjo and his friends took a holiday to Hammerhead Beach in celebration.

Two months later Klungo created a mechanical suit for Grunty's ghost to inhabit, which was equipped with a time traveling feature. She then kidnapped Kazooie and took her 30 years into the past. Thankfully, Mumbo Jumbo was able to use his magic to send Banjo back as well and rescue Kazooie. Unfortunately for Grunty, her factory in Freezing Furnace was not able to sufficiently sustain her robotic suit and on her 4th fight with the duo her mecha-Grunty suit exploded and she was sent back to the future. Mumbo then sent Banjo back to the present day and all was well... or was it? Klungo was also there to help her past and present, which means he must have either had a time traveling device or was still a good fighter and scientist even 30 years ago.

22 months after these events Grunty was free again thanks to her sisters Mingella and Blobbelda, and even murdered Bottles, not ot mention thrashed Spiral Mountain! Banjo wanted revenge, and took off after the witches to Cauldron Keep. Along the way they zombified the duo's new ally, King Jingaling but both he and Bottles were soon restored to life at Cauldron Keep thanks to the B. O. B(Big O' Blaster), the very device which Grunty wanted to use to drain life force for herself. After a climatic battle which reduced her to a skull, all seemed well.

In Nuts & Bolts both he and Kazooie became overweight and lazy with no Grunty to fight. Upon her return though, the mysterious Lord of Games sent them both to Showdown Town to settle things once and for all. In the end Banjo came out on top and earned ownership of Spiral Mountain, whereas Grunty was sent to toil in L. O. G's video game factory.

Gallery
Banjo