Ninji

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Ninji
Render of Ninji used on the Play Nintendo website.
Artwork of a Ninji from Play Nintendo and Super Mario Party Jamboree
First appearance Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987, overall)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988, Super Mario franchise)
Latest appearance Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (2024)
Variants
Notable members
“I am the darkness!”
Ninji, Paper Mario: Color Splash

Ninjis (alternatively Ninjies)[1][2] are black and star-shaped devil-like creatures and enemies first appearing in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic and Super Mario Bros. 2, with the game manuals stating that they haunt the dreams of Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System players, respectively.[3][4] Ninjis were originally portrayed with a fang and clawed feet in artwork, but later appearances remove their claws and replace their teeth with round buttons. Their large eyes are also made rectangular, closer resembling eyeholes in a stereotypical ninja costume.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic / Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]

Artwork of "Ninji - 1" from the Super Mario Bros. 2 manual (pg. 24).
A Ninji's original design for Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic and the Western Super Mario Bros. 2

Ninjis first appear in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic and Super Mario Bros. 2. In this game, Ninjis serve Wart, a mischievous frog-like monster who had seized control of the dream world known as Subcon. There are two types of Ninji: the first type, called Ninji - 1, charges at the player, suddenly jumping as it approaches;[3][4] the second type, called Ninji - 2, remains in one place and jumps up and down.[5][6] In Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, this Ninji type has three jump heights, but the middle jump height was not retained in Super Mario Bros. 2. The Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros. swaps the names for Ninji A and Ninji B, though not its anglophone localizations.

Ninjis are depicted as purple instead of black in Super Mario All-Stars, BS Super Mario USA and Super Mario Advance, with additional pink inside their ears, as well as buckteeth/fangs. Big Ninjis also appear as somewhat rare enemies in Super Mario Advance. Big Ninjis only jump in place. Like most enemies in Super Mario Bros. 2 and its remakes, all variations of Ninjis can be picked up and thrown at other enemies to defeat them. Big Ninjis yield a Heart if they are thrown to the ground or defeated.

Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]

Ninji

Ninjis, also named Mini-Ninjas,[7] are enemies in Super Mario World and its remake. They are encountered in the Front Door and Back Door levels only, where they have been driven crazy from their isolation there.[7] Ninjis blend in the darkness and are difficult to see unless the searchlight is activated; to accomplish this effect, they reuse their tri-color Super Mario Bros. 2 sprites rather than receiving new sprites. They jump in place and can be defeated with stomps, fireballs, or a cape attack. Like in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, they have three jump heights, though the difference is more pronounced. Despite using their previous 8-bit sprites, the artwork for this game reinterprets their red spots as buttons, while previously they had been depicted as parts of the creature's mouth. This interpretation is used for all further depictions, including reissues of Super Mario Bros. 2, despite not looking like the sprites in that game. Ninjis are one of the few enemies absent from the ending credits.

Super Mario Run[edit]

Ninjis are enemies in Super Mario Run. They behave similarly to how they did in Super Mario Bros. 2; jumping periodically in one place. Their running variants do not appear. They appear in the levels Airship Cannons...Fire!, Firing the Airship's Burners, Throwing It All Overboard, and Airship Armada. Their design in this game is similar to their Super Mario Bros. 2 or Super Mario World sprites, but with a chubbier body similar to their Super Mario Advance artwork. These enemies drop an additional three coins onto the course when stomped, on top of the usual coins granted directly to the player. This does not happen if they are defeated by other means, like with a roll.

Super Mario Maker 2[edit]

The Super Mario Maker 2 Course World level Rolling Snowballs.
A Ninji Speedrun in Super Mario Maker 2
Artwork of Ninji Ghost from Super Mario Maker 2
A Ninji Ghost in Super Mario Maker 2

While Ninjis do not appear as usable enemies in Super Mario Maker 2, the Ninji Speedruns mode introduced in version 2.0 uses Ninji Ghosts to represent other players in speedrun competitions of uploaded levels. If the player representing the Ninji is riding a Yoshi, it will appear to ride a green car. Beating the levels rewards the player's Mii with Ninji-themed clothing. Additionally, during the initial playthrough of a level, a Ninji labeled Ninji Recon gives the player advice. Several Ninji Ghosts can also occasionally be seen in the background on the main Course World menu. Starting in version 3.0, Ninji Ghosts also represent other players’ progress in a Super World.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder[edit]

Ninjis in Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Ninjis in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Ninjis return in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. They serve as both enemies and background elements that appear prominently in Ninji Jump Party as well as in Break Time! Raise the Stage, tapping their feet and jumping to the beat of the music.[8]

DIC cartoons[edit]

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show![edit]

“It's-a the Mario Brothers! Stop-a them!”
Ninji, "Karate Koopa"
A Ninji from The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

Despite appearing prominently in its opening sequence, Ninjis only appear once in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, in the episode "Karate Koopa", where they are simply referred to once as blackbelt ninjas by Toad[9] and aid Karate Koopa in his plan to capture Princess Toadstool and sell her into slavery for a fortune. Somewhat parodying their namesake, they are skilled in hand-to-hand combat and speak in thick Japanese accents.

Super Mario World television series[edit]

Goombas, Boo Buddies, and Ninjis
Ninjis in the Super Mario World television series episode "The Yoshi Shuffle".

In the Super Mario World animated series, Ninjis appear only in the episode "The Yoshi Shuffle" as spectators to Yoshi and Mario's football game against Bully, Big Mouth, Cheatsy and several Koopa Football Players in the Neon Castle. Here, they are brown in color, have red teeth, distinct fingered hands, and stubby feet without claws.

Super Mario-kun[edit]

Ninji from Super Mario-kun. Page 170, volume 4.
Ninjis in Super Mario-kun

Ninjis make a few appearances throughout Super Mario-kun, most prominently in the Super Mario World arc, where they are seen protecting the Back Door room. Their depiction in the manga is used in some later artwork, particularly the eye hole and buttons.

Chapter 7 from volume 4 sees Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi accidentally going over Bowser's Castle and ending up in the outskirts of the Valley of Bowser, where the Ninjis' village is located. While in the village, they are attacked by a group of Ninjis who plan on cashing in on Mario's bounty. Of the group, two characters are highlighted: an unnamed female Ninji with lighter colors and a ribbon, and an older and easy-to-anger sensei named Hakkunsai.

Nintendo Comics System[edit]

In Nintendo Comics System, Ninjis only make minor appearances, with one appearing in the background of the story The Legend, while several, having been beaten senseless by a sleepwalking Mario who believes himself to be Dirk Drain-Head, appear in Bedtime for Drain-Head.

Nintendo Adventure Books[edit]

Ninjis appear in the Nintendo Adventure Books as recurring enemies.

In Doors to Doom, a couple of Ninjis, calling themselves the 'Right & Wrong Brothers', can be found serving as the guardians to the first gates to Wart's lair, where one of them always tells the truth and one always lies. They are guarding two doors; Mario and Luigi must figure out the right question to ask them in order to find out which of the two doors is the correct one that leads to Wart. Also, there are other Ninjis mentioned when the brothers are journeying through Subcon.

In Unjust Desserts, some Ninji are shrunk by Magikoopa and eaten by Yoshi, though Mario never encounters any inside Yoshi, only in the palace garden.

In Brain Drain, if Luigi (who has had his mind switched with a Koopa Troopa's due to the Synapse Switcher) gets a serving of gooey rations in the cafeteria of Iggy Koopa's base, a Ninji he sits beside tells him that the gray gunk is better than the blue. Some Ninjis are also spotted loitering around the WMUSH radio station when Iggy takes it over.

Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up[edit]

Luigi as a veterinarian.
Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up

A Ninji makes a small cameo in the coloring book game Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up, on the Veterinarian page alongside a Tweeter.

Super Mario Adventures[edit]

In Super Mario Adventures, Ninjis make several appearances, first appearing in the siege of Princess Toadstool's castle. Ninjis also appear when Princess Toadstool attempts to escape her confinement in the Koopalings' tower, aiding Wendy O. Koopa and a brigade of spear-wielding Koopa Troopas in stopping her escape. Later, several Ninjis appear at Bowser's wedding to Princess Toadstool, with one apparently buying a camera from Friendly Floyd.

Hotel Mario[edit]

Mini Ninja

The Ninjis in Hotel Mario are called Mini Ninjas.[10] They appear as enemies in Stages 3, 4, 5, and 8 of Roy's HardBrick Hotel. They routinely look left and right before hopping in one direction. Their jump is slow and aimless and they can be defeated by jumping on them.

Paper Mario series[edit]

Paper Mario[edit]

NinjiPM.png

In Paper Mario, several Ninjis live in Starborn Valley and act as the caretakers of the Star Kids. After Chapter 6, there is a Ninji at Merlon's house waiting for Mario. When Mario visits Merlon, the Ninji informs him that Merle, Merlon's son, wishes for Mario to come see him in Starborn Valley.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star[edit]

A screenshot of Paper Mario: Sticker Star
A Ninji dodges Mario's attack in Paper Mario: Sticker Star.

After 12 years of absence, Ninjis return to the Paper Mario series in Paper Mario: Sticker Star, this time as enemies. They only appear in World 3, and are the weakest enemy that can be encountered in the forest, being only slightly stronger than Goombas. Despite this, Ninjis are still aggressive and chase Mario if they see him. In the overworld, Ninjis tend to hide in the poisoned waters or trees of the forest levels, much like the Bzzaps! in Paper Mario.

In battle, a Ninji can either turn itself into a throwing star and hurl itself at Mario, or it can run up to Mario and slam him. Mario must watch the positions of Ninjis, as they are one of the few enemies that can dodge Mario's attacks (the others being Paragoombas, Shiny Paragoombas and the Wiggler Segments). If they are jumping, they cannot be hammered, and if they are standing still, they cannot be jumped on. If Ninjis are hit with the 'wrong' attacks, they disappear in a cloud of smoke and leave a decoy log behind, causing the attack to miss; they then run back into battle while falling from the top screen. This may cause Mario to fall on his face. Ninjis can be hit with the Hurlhammer sticker even when they are jumping. They can also dodge Shell sticker attacks if they are jumping. If Ninjis are sleeping, crumpled, stopped, or dizzy, they are not able to dodge Mario's jump attacks. A Ninji may drop a Throwing Star sticker when defeated.

Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]

Toad Trainworks
Ninjis in Paper Mario: Color Splash

Ninjis return in Paper Mario: Color Splash keeping their appearance from the previous game. Unlike in Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Ninjis cannot dodge jump attacks, though they still dodge hammer attacks. When approached by Mario outside of battle, they disappear briefly, and then reappear in front of him.

Ninji are primarily found in Fort Cobalt, where they are found in a corridor filled with crates that is entered if Mario fails the last fence puzzle. One Ninji can be found sleeping, and wakes up if Mario hits his hammer nearby. Ninjis make a brief appearance among the minions causing havoc at the Toad Trainworks when the Sunset Express needs repairs. The Ninjis fought in Toad Trainworks are unavoidable. A Ninji is the third-round opponent in Roshambo Temple #5, although after Larry Koopa is defeated, it will be replaced by the Rock Paper Wizard until beaten.

Paper Mario: The Origami King[edit]

An origami Ninji from Paper Mario: The Origami King.
An origami Ninji holding branches
Paper Ninjis
Paper Ninjis

Both normal paper and origami Folded Soldier versions of Ninjis appear in Paper Mario: The Origami King, predominantly in Shogun Studios. Origami Ninji first appear as enemies in the Ninja Attraction. They appear in a mostly empty room and emerge from square panels of the floor. Near the end of the level, Mario is ambushed by a swarm of Ninji that jump at him from the ceiling in front of the Thwomp picture. A variant of Ninji that holds tree branches is battled at the Spring of Jungle Mist.

Ninjis are completely immune to hammer strikes even when going for a first strike; the Ninji turns into a log and appears above Mario for a surprise attack.

Various Ninjis appear in Shogun Studios, practicing breathing underwater with reed pipes. One Ninji is saddened over forgetting his reed. If Mario gives him a Straw from the Tranquil Pipes Teahouse, he will accept it, trading Mario his Shuriken as thanks. He then jumps into the water, using the straw in the same fashion as a reed.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong[edit]

Ninji in Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Remade Ninji

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Ninjis[11] appear with a toy-based design. They are first seen in Fire Mountain, the third world in the game. They jump up and down in one spot, acting much like the second type of Ninjis in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic and Super Mario Bros. 2, and can give Mario a boost to higher places if he jumps on their heads. They cannot be destroyed, and touching one results in Mario losing a life.

Ninji
Original Ninji

In the original Game Boy Advance version, these Ninjis have a purple coloration like the version of the Ninjis seen in the reissues of Super Mario Bros. 2. In the Nintendo Switch remake, Ninjis were redesigned to more closely resemble the current design of Ninjis, now being black with red buttons.

Mario Party series[edit]

Mario Party Advance[edit]

Ninji in Mario Party Advance.
“It's no mere TV show. It's a lifestyle! It's so cool! The hero is so incredibly-- Oh, sorry. I got a bit carried away there.”
Ninji, Mario Party Advance

A Ninji appears as an NPC in Mario Party Advance. He resides on the first floor of the Horror Condo. When his room is entered, he asks for a favor on his behalf. If his request is accepted, he explains that he wants a DVD of Toad Force V. He rambles about the show, saying that it is a lifestyle and constantly praising it, until he realizes that he got carried away. After his monologue, he further explains that the DVD is limited-edition, and that someone in Mushroom Condo might have a copy of it. After the player gets the DVD from Mushbert and gives it to Ninji, he is ecstatic about having a copy of the DVD, and gives the Tile Trial Gaddget in gratitude. He then begins to happily watch the DVD.

Super Mario Party Jamboree[edit]

This section is referring to a subject in an upcoming or recently released game. When the game is released, or more information about this subject is found, this section may need major rewriting. This notice should be removed after a month has passed since the game was first released.

Ninji obtains a Star in Super Mario Party Jamboree.
Ninji in Super Mario Party Jamboree.

Ninji debuts as a playable character in the Mario Party series in Super Mario Party Jamboree.

WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase[edit]

A Ninji sometimes appears as an enemy in the Mario Adv. microgame in WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase.

Mario & Luigi series[edit]

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam[edit]

Ninjis appear in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam as enemies in Gloomy Woods. One is fought in Neo Bowser Castle alongside a Paper Ninji, a Spiny and a Paper Spiny as one of Bowser's last lines of defense. They now act more like how actual ninjas would, even using camouflage sheets to hide themselves in the overworld. In battle, regular Ninjis use ninjitsu-styled attacks, such as creating shadow clones of themselves to attack the trio. The fake Ninjis can be told apart from the real one by their blue-colored buttons, as opposed to the genuine one's red buttons. Jump or Hammer attacks also cannot be used consecutively against them, as they avoid taking damage via substitution with a log. If there is a Paper Ninji present, a regular Ninji can fold it into a shuriken and throw it at a bro, who must hammer it back.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[edit]

Ninjis reappear in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, as allies and enemies in the Bowser Jr.'s Journey mode. They are ranged troopers, their Special Skill is Hurt or Heal, and they are strong against Tail Boos and Big Tail Goombas.

Mario Golf: Super Rush[edit]

Artwork of Ninji in Mario Golf: Super Rush
Ninji in Mario Golf: Super Rush

A Ninji, referred to as Nimble Ninji on a Play Nintendo article,[12] makes his playable debut in the franchise in Mario Golf: Super Rush as of version 3.0.0. He has the highest speed which is tied with Yoshi and average stamina. His Special Shot is the Hop Skipper, which bounces multiple times on the ground depending on the distance traveled, while his Special Dash is the Glide Dash, which allows Ninji to glide with his cloak.

Profiles and statistics[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]

  • Ninji - 1
  • Instruction booklet bio: He is a little devil who appears in the dreams of NES players. He moves fast and will persistently chase you.
  • Ninji - 2
  • Instruction booklet bio: He stays in one spot and jumps repeatedly. A strange guy.

Super Mario Run[edit]

  • Notebook bio: This enemy leaps and jumps like a ninja. Oddly, these guys are also pretty good at operating airships...

Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten[edit]

ハックン (JP) / Ninji (EN)
A Ninji from Super Mario World.
Original text (Japanese) Translation
種族しゅぞく ビーストぞく Tribe Beast clan
性格せいかく やんちゃ Disposition Mischievous
登場とうじょうゲーム ワールド、USAユーエスエー Game appearances World, USA
アメリカニンジャ登場!!

黒装束くろしょうぞくをつつみ、アメリカめいをニンジというところからみて、忍者にんじゃ一種いっしゅのようだ。上下佐右じょうげさゆう素早すばやうごくものと、1カしょねているものの2種類しゅるいがいる。[13]

American Ninja is here!

Dressed in black, they appear to be a type of ninja, judging from their American name, Ninji. There are two types of ninja: those who move quickly up and down and to the right, and those who jump around in one place.

Paper Mario series[edit]

Paper Mario[edit]

  • Tattles
    • "He's one of the Ninjis. Because the Ninjis are so small, it must be hard for 'em to keep the Star Kids in line."
    • "He's one of the Ninjis. The Ninjis are excellent baby-sitters for the Star Kids. Of course, they have to run around constantly, but hey. They're working really hard."
    • "He's one of the Ninjis. The Ninjis take care of the Star Kids. I hear that they're great cooks."
    • "He's one of the Ninjis. The Ninjis are taking care of the Star Kids. Merle is in charge. He seems really busy, though."

Paper Mario: Sticker Star[edit]

Paper Mario: Sticker Star enemy
Ninji
A Ninji from Paper Mario: Sticker Star Max HP 9 Role Common Location(s) Leaflitter Path, Strike Lake, Loop Loop River, Tree Branch Trail, Gauntlet Pond
Attack 5 Stickers Ice Flower, Shiny Jump, Throwing Star
Defense 0 Moves Throwing Star Transformation (5), Slam (3)

Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]

Paper Mario: Color Splash enemy
Ninji
Ninji from Paper Mario: Color Splash HP 23 Type Normal Role Common Card
Strong None Weak None Card drop rate 3
A Ninji card from Paper Mario: Color Splash
Moves Jump Attack (5), Knife Attack (15), Group Attack (15), Blowback Attack (12)
Location(s) Fort Cobalt, Toad Trainworks
Quotes Usual: "Ninji shield!" ~ "See ya!" ~ "I am the darkness!" ~ "Ninja double!"
Enemy class
ENEMY_JUMP
Dropped items
Hammer Scraps 10 Red paint 16 Yellow paint 16 Blue paint 16 Orange paint 8 Green paint 8 Purple paint 8

Paper Mario: The Origami King[edit]

Paper Mario: The Origami King enemy
Ninji
An origami Ninji from Paper Mario: The Origami King. HP 20 Moves Location(s)
Type Normal Ninja Drop (15-21), Shuriken Toss (7), Ninja Strike (6), Ninja Decoy (2), Sure-They-Can (?), Clone Sure-They-Can (11), Tower Attack (28), Clone Tower Attack (?) Ninja Attraction, Shogun Studios, Origami Castle
Role Common
Item drops Mushroom
If they spot a hammer coming, they'll use their Ninji Vanish ability to turn things around. Stomp 'em instead!
Paper Mario: The Origami King enemy
(Grass) Ninji
An origami (Grass) Ninji from Paper Mario: The Origami King. HP 30 Moves Location(s)
Type Normal Ninja Drop (?), Shuriken Toss (?), Ninja Strike (?), Ninja Decoy (?), Sure-They-Can (?), Clone Sure-They-Can (?), Tower Attack (?), Clone Tower Attack (?) Spring of Jungle Mist
Role Common
Item drops Mushroom
Ninjis who like to lurk in tall grass. If you hit one with a hammer, expect an angry counterattack.

Mario & Luigi series[edit]

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam[edit]

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam enemy
Ninji
A Ninji, in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam HP 70 POW 60 (55) Defense 79 (71) Speed 92
Role Common Type Normal Weakness None Location(s) Gloomy Woods, Neo Bowser Castle
Level 13 Experience 44 (39) Coins 30 Item drop Refreshing Herb - 8%
1-Up Mushroom - 4%
Notice: Stats in parentheses are from the game's Easy Mode.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[edit]

  • Bowser Jr.'s Journey profile: They're ever ready for battle, with shuriken in hand. They supposedly like to discipline foes with a tail.

Mario Golf: Super Rush[edit]

  • Play Nintendo: The shell-shielded Koopa Troopa can make the ball bounce several times, while Nimble Ninji can use Glide Dash and float over opponents on the way to the next hole.[12]

Play Nintendo[edit]

  • Small, nimble, and always ready for battle.
    These foes are speedy and quiet. They leap and jump like a ninja to attack, with shuriken in hand!
    Ninjies are also kind of small. But what they lack in size, they make up for in enthusiasm!
    [14]

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Ninji.

List of appearances[edit]

# Title Role Release date Format

1 Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic Common enemy 1987 Family Computer Disk System
2 Super Mario Bros. 2 Common enemy 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System
3 Super Mario World Enemy 1990 Super Nintendo Entertainment System
4 Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up Cameo 1991 MS-DOS
5 Super Mario All-Stars Common enemy 1993 Super Nintendo Entertainment System
6 Hotel Mario Enemy 1994 Philips CD-i
7 Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World Common enemy 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System
8 BS Super Mario USA Common enemy 1996 Super Famicom (Satellaview)
9 Paper Mario Non-playable character 2000 Nintendo 64
10 Super Mario Advance Common enemy 2001 Game Boy Advance
11 Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Enemy 2001 Game Boy Advance
12 Mario vs. Donkey Kong Enemy 2004 Game Boy Advance
13 Mario Party Advance Non-playable character 2005 Game Boy Advance
14 WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase Cameo (Mario Adv.) 2009 Wii (WiiWare)
15 Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition Common enemy 2010 Wii
16 Paper Mario: Sticker Star Enemy 2012 Nintendo 3DS
17 NES Remix 2 Enemy 2014 Wii U (Nintendo eShop)
18 NES Remix Pack Enemy 2014 Wii U
19 Ultimate NES Remix Enemy 2014 Nintendo 3DS
20 Nintendo Badge Arcade Badge 2014 Nintendo 3DS (Nintendo eShop)
21 Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Enemy 2015 Nintendo 3DS
22 Paper Mario: Color Splash Enemy 2016 Wii U
23 Super Mario Run Enemy 2016 iOS, Android
24 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey Enemy / Recruitable ally (Bowser Jr.'s Journey) 2018 Nintendo 3DS
25 Super Mario Maker 2 (version 2.0.0) Player position 2019 Nintendo Switch
26 Paper Mario: The Origami King Enemy (Folded) / Non-playable character (Paper) 2020 Nintendo Switch
27 Mario Golf: Super Rush (version 3.0.0) Playable character 2021 Nintendo Switch
28 Super Mario Bros. Wonder Enemy / Non-playable character 2023 Nintendo Switch
29 Mario vs. Donkey Kong Enemy 2024 Nintendo Switch
30 Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Enemy 2024 Nintendo Switch
31 Super Mario Party Jamboree Playable character 2024 Nintendo Switch

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ハックン[?]
Hakkun
Possibly based on "Hattori-kun" from the manga series Ninja Hattori-kun, or his namesake「服部半蔵」(Hattori Hanzō), combined with the honorific「~くん」(-kun)
ハックンA[3][15]
Hakkun A
Ninji A Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic / Super Mario USA, Ninji - 1
ハックンB[5][15]
Hakkun B
Ninji B Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic / Super Mario USA, Ninji - 2
ニンジ[16]
Ninji
Transliteration of the Super Mario Bros. 2 name
カタカタハックン[17]
Katakata Hakkun
Mechanical Ninji Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Chinese (simplified) 哈库[18]
Hākù
From the Japanese name
Chinese (traditional) 哈庫[?]
Hākù
From the Japanese name
Dutch Ninji[?] -
French Ninji[?] -
Mini Ninja[19] Hotel Mario
German Ninji[?] -
Mini-Ninja[20] Mini Ninja
Italian Ninji[?] -
Ninji 1; Ninji 2[21]/Ninji A; Ninji B[22]
Tappetto ninja[?] Ninja short stack The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
Korean 닌군[?]
Ningun
Portmanteau of "ninja" and ~군 (-gun), the Korean translation of the honorific suffix「~くん」(-kun)
Portuguese Ninji[?] -
Russian Ниндзик[?]
Nindzik
Diminutive of ниндзя (nindzya, "ninja")
Spanish Ninji[?] -

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Defeat 9 or more Ninjies." – Paper Mario Missions. Super Mario Run.
  2. ^ "Ninjies are also kind of small. But what they lack in size, they make up for in enthusiasm!" – Ninji's bio on Play Nintendo.
  3. ^ a b c "「ファミコン少年しょうねんゆめあらわ悪夢あくむせる小悪魔こあくまうごきがはやく、しつこくいかけてくる。」 ("They are lesser demons who manifest as nightmares in the dreams of Famicom boys. They move fast and will persistently chase you.")" – 1987. Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic instruction booklet (ハックンAエー). Nintendo (Japanese). Page 31.
  4. ^ a b "He is a little devil who appears in the dreams of NES players. He moves fast and will persistently chase you." – 1988. Super Mario Bros. 2 instruction booklet (Ninji - 1 description). Nintendo of America (American English). Page 24.
  5. ^ a b "場所ばしょ移動いどうしないで、そのでジャンプをかえすだけのヘンなヤツ。」 ("They do not stray from their spot and jump repeatedly like strange guys.")" – 1987. Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic instruction booklet (ハックンBビー). Nintendo (Japanese). Page 31.
  6. ^ "He stays in one spot and jumps repeatedly. A strange guy." – 1988. Super Mario Bros. 2 instruction booklet (Ninji - 2 description). Nintendo of America (American English). Page 24.
  7. ^ a b "Being cooped up in Bowser's Castle has driven the Mini-Ninja batty. He bounces up and down, waiting for a hapless hero to use for a punching bag." – August 1991. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 52.
  8. ^ Nintendo 公式チャンネル (October 6, 2023). スーパーマリオブラザーズ ワンダー CM みんなでプレイ篇. YouTube (Japanese). Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  9. ^ "Blackbelt ninjas! Run for it!" – Toad. Karate Koopa.
  10. ^ Hotel Mario instruction booklet. Page 15.
  11. ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Game Boy Advance ROM string (NINJI) and Nintendo Switch internal filename (Model/Ninji.bfres.zs)
  12. ^ a b Another round of free DLC for Mario Golf: Super Rush!. Play Nintendo website. Retrieved September 26, 2021. (Archived September 26, 2021, 14:29:12 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  13. ^ 1994. Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten. Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 157.
  14. ^ 2024. Play Nintendo. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Japanese Super Mario USA entry on the official Mario Portal. nintendo.co.jp (Japanese). Retrieved May 23, 2024. (Archived January 25, 2022, 06:52:34 UTC via archive.today.)
  16. ^ 1994. Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten. Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 225.
  17. ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong Shogakukan book[page number needed]
  18. ^ From the ending scenes of Super Mario Advance as localized by iQue. Reference: August 28, 2013. 神游 超级马力欧2敌人官译 (Official names for iQue Super Mario 2 enemies). Baidu Tieba (Simplified Chinese). Archived February 26, 2017, 16:11:09 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  19. ^ French Hotel Mario instruction booklet. Page 8.
  20. ^ Menold, Marcus, Claude M. Moyse, and Andreas G. Kämmerer, editors (1993). Der offizielle Nintendo Spieleberater "Super Mario World". Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 20.
  21. ^ Super Mario Bros. 2 Italian manual. Page 24.
  22. ^ November 15, 2018. Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN 889367436X. Page 68.