Mini Donkey Kong

This article is about the character from the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. For the character seen in the Game & Watch version of Donkey Kong, see Mini Donkey Kong (Game & Watch).

Mini Donkey Kong
Artwork from Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge
First appearance	Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (2006)
Latest appearance	Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge (2016)
Latest portrayal	Takashi Nagasako (2006–present)
Variant of	Mini Kong
Comparable Donkey Kong's robot

Mini Donkey Kongs, also shortened to Mini DKs, are wind-up toys based on Donkey Kong that the Mario Toy Company sells. They appear in every game of the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, starting with Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. While Donkey Kong is the antagonist of most of the games in the series, Mini Donkey Kongs are always allies to the player. They were originally portrayed by Grant Kirkhope and Takashi Nagasako in a shared role until Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, where Nagasako became the sole performer.

History

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

In their debut game, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Mini Donkey Kongs have a key role in the story. After the success of the Mini Mario toy line in the original Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the Mini Mario Toy Company releases Mini Toad, Mini Peach, and Mini Donkey Kong. At the grand opening of Super Mini Mario World, Mario and Donkey Kong both offer Pauline toy versions of themselves. When Pauline picks Mini Mario over Mini Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong kidnaps Pauline. Mario travels to the roof of Super Mini Mario Land, eventually defeating Donkey Kong once again and saving Pauline. When Donkey Kong enters the room Pauline was kept in depressed, she takes a Mini Donkey Kong and kisses it.

While absent from the main campaign, Mini Donkey Kongs are playable in the Construction Zone, but only in Special Kit 3 (which can be unlocked by beating all 8 mini-games). There are also Fire Mini Donkey Kongs that appear when a normal Mini Donkey Kong collects a Fire Flower.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!

Mini Donkey Kongs return in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!. They are unlocked by defeating Donkey Kong in Floor 4+ and then beating rooftop levels 7, 8 and 9, which feature the toys instead of Mini Marios. The player can then choose to play with Mini Donkey Kongs in the option menu's Showroom and use Mini Donkey Kongs in the Construction Zone. They will replace the Mini Marios unless it is in a key, DK or Rooftop level. Additionally, if the player sets their character to "Minis", it will appear if there are 4 or more minis in a selected level.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini Land Mayhem!

Mini Donkey Kong is seen again in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini Land Mayhem!. It is first seen in Sandstorm Steps in the fourth level. Like the other minis that are not Mini Marios, it must be freed from a capsule that must be touched by another mini. It becomes available for use in the Construction Zone after beating Donkey Kong in the same world for Multi Door levels only. They can be unlocked for use in other levels after creating 99 levels. In plus mode, Mini Donkey Kongs appear in levels other than the fourth of a world, where it still keeps the same function. Regardless, they must reach the goal with other minis in the right order to beat the level.

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move

Mini Donkey Kongs also appear in Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move. In this game, it is unlocked when Giant Jungle in the Main Game is unlocked and accessed. The player can then choose to play as it in the level select screen.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars

Mini Donkey Kongs reappear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars. In the Main Game, they do not appear until Orbiting Observatory. They are redesigned to have visible eyes and stand upright when walking. In the Workshop, they are already available and not required to be unlocked via the Workshop Store.

Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge

Mini Donkey Kong returns in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge. Its unique ability, Quick Climb, has it run on all fours to climb up steep slopes that force other Mini Toys to reverse direction and slide down. Mini Donkey Kong is the only Mini Toy that can unlock Barrel Blast Jungle and be used in any of its levels, as both require Quick Climb. These levels are based on Donkey Kong Country Returns, as opposed to the jungle levels of previous games in the series which were often more generic.

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mini Donkey Kong.

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis screenshot

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis Mini Donkey Kong plush by Epoch

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars artwork

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
German	Mini-Donkey Kong[?]	-
Italian	Minidonkey Kong[?]	-	early games
	MiniDK[?]		recent games