| “ | Me Mumbo, best shaman in all game. Can help Banjo and filthy feathered one. | „ |
| ~ Mumbo Jumbo |
Mumbo Jumbo is the deuteragonist of the Banjo-Kazooie series. He is a skull-masked shaman who aids Banjo and Kazooie by transforming them into various different creatures and objects.
He was voiced by the series' composer, Grant Kirkhope, in the first two games and Grunty's Revenge, who also voiced the Jinjos and Donkey Kong. In Nuts & Bolts, he was voiced by Steve Burke, who also voiced the Lord of Games.
Personality[]
While Mumbo initially helped Banjo and Kazooie defeat Gruntilda in order to get revenge against her for turning his head into a skull, since then, he has become genuine friends with them, particularly Banjo. Since then, he has become the sort of person that generally likes helping people out and has developed a very strong loyalty streak since he has stayed Banjo's friend ever since the events of the first game and would go to great lengths to help him. Another one of his most notable traits is that he's rather prideful in his magical abilities as a shaman since he introduces himself in the first game as "best shaman in all game", frequently praises his spells when they go right, and develops a pretty strong rivalry with Humba Wumba in the second game due to both of them seeing themselves as the best of their profession. However, he is capable of being modest too since whenever he prepares to use his magic in the second game, he remarks too himself that he hopes it will work, even though it always does, showing that his self-confidence can waver if he's trying something for the first time. He also seems to have a decent sense of humor since in the first game, he occasionally cracks jokes about what he transforms Banjo into.
English does not appear to be Mumbo Jumbo's first language; he always speaks in the third person and often doesn't refer to people by their name. For instance, he always refers to Banjo and Kazooie as "bear" and "bird" respectively.
Abilities[]
In Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge, Mumbo transforms the duo into various forms. While his spells must stay within a limited distance of the originating world, the transformations make Banjo completely incognito and allow him to explore otherwise inaccessible areas.
In Banjo-Tooie, Mumbo no longer performs the transformations as this role is given over to Humba Wumba, but instead plays a more active role in the game. He is able to stand on a Mumbo Pad and, provided he has a Glowbo, can perform a spell designed to make things easier for Banjo and Kazooie. While on foot, Mumbo can't do much but jump, swim, and attack with his Zap Stick, and he has less health than Banjo. It is obvious he is extremely skilled in his magic, due to the fact that he is able to revive those who have died (as seen in Banjo-Tooie when he revived the Aliens) and even send a person back in time (as seen in Grunty's Revenge).
In Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Mumbo builds all the odd vehicles that the duo dream up. He also plays roles in various other worlds.
History[]
Banjo-Kazooie[]
Mumbo first meets Banjo and Kazooie in his hut at Mumbo's Mountain. He offers to use his magic to help the heroes as long as they have collected enough Mumbo Tokens to pay his fee. Aside from Mumbo's Mountain, Mumbo can also be found in Bubblegloop Swamp, Freezeezy Peak, Mad Monster Mansion, Click Clock Wood, and even hidden in Gruntilda's Lair. However, in Click Clock Wood, Mumbo will only use his magic during spring, because in summer he is too bothered by the heat to help them, in autumn he is very busy sweeping leaves out of his hut, and in winter he goes on vacation.
After Banjo and Kazooie saves Tooty from the clutches of the wicked witch Gruntilda, Mumbo joins the heroes for celebratory barbecue, claiming the bear and bird duo wouldn't have gotten so far without his transformation spells while cooking fish on a grill until Tooty told everyone that Grunty got away and still must be defeated, causing Banjo and Kazooie to make a mad dash to the lair for the ultimate showdown with the evil witch. Mumbo would later join his allies on a tropical beach after Gruntilda's defeat, where he will show Banjo and Kazooie pictures of secret items if they have collected all 100 Jiggies in the game and tells them to find out in Banjo Tooie.
In an alternate non-canon scenario during the game over sequence, Mumbo will appear with a flower for Grunty after she succeeds in stealing Tooty's beauty. This scene becomes unavailable for the remainder of the game after Grunty's Furnace Fun is completed as Tooty is saved and no longer in danger of having her beauty taken from her, and Gruntilda is either waiting for Banjo and Kazooie at the top of her lair or stuck under a boulder if she is defeated.
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge[]
Two months after the events of Banjo-Kazooie, Mumbo discovered that Gruntilda had escaped imprisonment beneath a massive boulder in Spiral Mountain. He ran to tell Banjo of the trouble but arrived too late as Grunty kidnaps Kazooie and travels back in time to change history. Mumbo uses a spell to send Banjo after Grunty as well as send a message to Bozzeye to assist the bear.
Banjo eventually meets Mumbo's past self, who is in-training as a shaman and will transform Banjo into different forms if he collects Mumbo Tokens for him by defeating bosses. At the end of the game, Mumbo will return Banjo and Kazooie back to their own time period. However, depending the game files percentage, Mumbo will either goof up the spell and create a bunch of Banjo clones or he will go to his pad to learn a bee dance from Honey B.
Banjo-Tooie[]
Set two years after Banjo-Kazooie, Mumbo joins Banjo, Kazooie and Bottles in a game of cards at Banjo's house and had won most of the cash at the table. Suddenly, a brief but strong earthquake shakes the entire house, causing Mumbo to investigate outside. He discovers the Gruntilda had been freed by her sisters Mingella and Blobbelda, who plan to restore her now-skeletal body. Mumbo runs to warn the others, but is spotted by the witches before reaching Banjo's house. He succeeds in saving Banjo and Kazooie from Grunty's wrath, but Bottles is caught in a powerful explosion that destroys the bear's home. The next morning, after witnessing the death of Bottles, Mumbo tells Banjo and Kazooie to meet him at his skull so he can help them stop the witches.
Mumbo will appear in different levels and become a playable character if the heroes bring him a magical creature called a Glowbo. As Mumbo, the player can zap enemies with his Zap Stick and interact with Mumbo Pads to perform powerful spells. After Bottles is revived and Grunty is defeated at the end of the game, he will join Banjo, Kazooie, Jamjars and Humba Wumba for a "kick-a-round" with Grunty's disembodied head, to the witch's chagrin.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts[]
Eight years after Banjo-Tooie, Mumbo has become a mechanic in Showdown Town. He helps Banjo and Kazooie by building new vehicles they can use to complete various challenges, and even hosts some of them.
Transformation Spells[]
Banjo-Kazooie[]
- Mumbo's Mountain - Termite: The Termite can climb slippery slopes that the Talon Trot cannot.
- Bubble Gloop Swamp - Crocodile: The Crocodile is able to walk through piranha-infested waters unharmed, chomp to attack enemies, and is small enough to enter the giant crocodile head.
- Freezeazy Peak - Walrus: The Walrus can hop through freezing-cold waters unharmed, small enough to challenge Boggy to a sled race, and is welcome inside Wozza's cave.
- Mad Monster Mansion - Pumpkin: The Pumpkin is able to enter small openings and can hop across brambles unharmed.
- Click Clock Wood - Bee: The Bee can fly quickly and to enormous heights. It is also small enough to enter the Zubber's hive and can walk across Snarebears without being damaged.
- Bottles Bonus Special - Washing Machine: The Washing Machine is a reward for completing all of Bottles Bonuses. It is purely a cosmetic change and does not give Banjo any extra abilities.
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge[]
- Cliff Farm - Mouse: As a Mouse, Banjo is able to enter small openings and can gnaw through ropes and chains.
- Bad Magic Bayou - Candle: The Candle can brighten up dark areas, burn enemies and light other candles.
- Spiller's Harbor - Octopus: As a Octopus, Banjo can swim through hazardous waters unharmed and can shoot liquid projectiles.
- Freezing Furnace - Tank: The Tank can fire explosive projectiles and travel through hazardous areas unharmed.
Gallery[]
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 Heroes
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Isle O' Hags Showdown Town | ||
