Donkey Kong (cereal)
Donkey Kong was a breakfast cereal produced by Ralston Purina, who also produced the Donkey Kong Junior and Nintendo Cereal System cereals. The Donkey Kong cereal was based on the game of the same name, and it features artwork of Mario, Pauline, and Donkey Kong on the front of the box. This artwork was commissioned in 1981 by Nintendo's agency Dentsu, and it was illustrated by Leslie Cabarga, who also drew the first North American artwork of Mario on a flyer promoting the Donkey Kong arcade game.[1] The cereal itself began production in late 1982 and was discontinued in 1984.[2] Each box of Donkey Kong cereal contains sweetened corn cereal pieces shaped like barrels.
Some boxes of the cereal came with arcade stickers or four Ralston All-Stars baseball cards packed inside, while others featured a template for a Donkey Kong mobile on the back of the box.[2] Other boxes featured a promotion titled the "Donkey Kong Instant Winner Game." Each box featuring this promotion contained a Donkey Kong Game Card, which depicted Mario on one of six levels. Five of the six levels corresponded to a prize:
- Red level: Donkey Kong arcade cabinet
- Yellow level: Atari 2600 with Donkey Kong cartridge
- Orange level: Not an instant win level
- Green level: Donkey Kong Game & Watch system
- Blue level: Donkey Kong children's slumber bag
- Purple level: Donkey Kong shoelaces
A Second Chance drawing was held for any unclaimed prizes, excluding shoelaces.
Several animated commercials were produced for the cereal,[3] and they featured Larry Moran as the voice of Mario,[2] Jo Belle Yonely as the voice of Pauline, and William Marshall as the narrator.[4] Notably, these commercials feature Mario being referred to by Pauline as "Mario" instead of "Jumpman," as well as Moran voicing Mario in a high-pitched Italian accent before Charles Martinet became the character's definitive voice actor, even saying the phrase "Here we go!" before it was established as one of his catchphrases.
Boxes of Donkey Kong cereal appear in episode 1,529 of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where they can be seen alongside boxes of Pac-Man cereal as Mister Rogers walks down a cereal aisle in a grocery store.
The Donkey Kong cereal makes a cameo in the North American Mario Kart 8 Direct broadcast on April 30, 2014, in which a man who owns various Super Mario-themed merchandise is seen eating a bowl of the cereal while watching footage of the game.
Gallery[edit]
Full scan of cereal box and "Donkey Kong Instant Winner Game" promotion
Mobile template
Print advertisement
Screenshot of animated commercial
Screenshot of animated commercial
Original artwork sketch for the box cover
Animation cel featuring Mario
The Donkey Kong cereal in the North American Mario Kart 8 Direct
References[edit]
- ^ Nic. Donkey Kong Cereals box art. Original Video Game Art. Retrieved August 3, 2025. (Archived August 3, 2025, 04:21:14 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ a b c Donkey Kong Cereal. VG Legacy. Archived March 26, 2023, 08:01:55 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ Donkey Kong Cereal Commercials Collection - YouTube
- ^ Donkey Kong Cereal. Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 3, 2025. (Archived August 3, 2025, 05:00:14 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
