When Diddy Kong Racing was released in 1997 developer Rareware indicated that all of the playable characters in the game would be seen someday in other Rareware games.  The idea was to create a cast of familiar characters to serve as company mascots.  Some characters in the game (such as Diddy Kong) need no introduction.  Others went on to appear in future Rareware games, but to my knowledge a few of these folks slipped between the cracks and were denied future roles.

For the record, the characters who went on to fame and fortune that I know of are Diddy Kong (Donkey Kong Country, etc.), Krash the Kremling (Donkey Kong 64), Banjo the Bear (Banjo-Kazooie), Conker the Squirrel (Conker's Bad Fur Day), and Tiptup the Turtle (Banjo-Kazooie).  Does anyone know if Timber the Tiger, Pipsy the Mouse, Bumper the Badger, Drumstick the Rooster, or T.T. the Stopwatch went on to appear in other projects?  I'm curious who appeared in a cameo here or there and who has just been kicked to the curb.