Ninji

Ninjis are black (or sometimes purple) star-shaped creatures appearing in a number of Mario games. Apparently, they come from the dreams of NES players.

Ninjis have had many changes over the years. Their artwork originally depicted them as having fangs and claws on their feet. They shared the same sprite in Super Mario World. Their eyes were also different. However, in Super Mario All-Stars, they were recolored purple and given a goofy expression, with white teeth and more detailed ears. Starting with Paper Mario onwards, they took on a friendlier appearance and do not appear to have claws or fangs. Instead of a visible mouth, they have red cheek-blushes, and their eyes have changed to be more rectangular than two circles. They are primarily black, but some games still show purple on them.

''Super Mario Bros. 2
Ninjis made their debut appearance in Super Mario Bros. 2 and also appear in the game's SNES remake, which is part of Super Mario All-Stars, and its Game Boy Advance remake, Super Mario Advance. In these games, Ninjis serve Wart, the tyrannical ruler of the dream world known as Subcon. There are two types of Ninji: the first type charges at Mario, suddenly jumping as they approach; the second type remains in one place and jumps up and down. In Super Mario Advance, Giant Ninjis appear as somewhat rare enemies. These giant Ninjis use the same attack pattern as their smaller counterparts, either jumping in place or charging towards a character. If the player pickes up the Giant Ninji and throws it and lands on land, a heart with come out of it.

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.

Strangely, Ninjis are not mentioned in the instruction manual of Super Mario Advance.

''Super Mario World
Ninjis also appear in Super Mario World, using their same sprites from the NES version of Super Mario Bros. 2. In this game, they serve Bowser during his rule of Dinosaur Land. They make their appearance in only one level - the final level, in fact. They blend in the darkness and are difficult to see in Bowser's Castle (unless the searchlight is activated). The Mario Mania Player's Guide (1991) describes Ninjis as Mini-Ninjas, stating that they have been driven insane by their long isolation in Bowser's Castle. It is unknown if these Ninjis are still manifested from dreams like their Super Mario Bros. 2 counterparts, or if they are a naturally occurring species in the Mushroom World. They jump in place and can be defeated with stomps, fireballs, or a cape attack. They are one of the few enemies not seen in the credits.

''Paper Mario
In Paper Mario, Ninjis are characters living in Starborn Valley and act as the caretakers of the Star Kids. In this game they come in two colors: black and purple.

''Mario vs. Donkey Kong
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a toy version of the Ninji only appears, known as the Mini Ninji.

''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
Despite appearing prominently in its opening sequence, Ninjis only appeared once in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, in the episode "Karate Koopa", where they aided Karate Koopa in his plan to capture Princess Toadstool and sell her into slavery for a fortune. In reference to their English namesake, they served as skilled martial artists and spoke in thick Japanese accents.

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

Nintendo Adventure Books
In Unjust Desserts, some Ninji are shrunk by Magikoopa, and eaten by Yoshi, though Mario never encounters any in the dinosaur's body, 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 will tell him that the gray gunk is better than the blue. Some Ninji are also spotted loitering around the WMUSH radio station when Iggy takes it over.

Super Mario World television series
In the Super Mario World animated series, Ninjis, though brown in color, appeared in the episode "The Yoshi Shuffle" as spectators to Yoshi and Mario's football game against Bully, Big Mouth and Cheatsy and several Koopa Football Players in the Neon Castle.

''Super Mario Adventures
In Super Mario Adventures, Ninjis, depicted as wielding spears, 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 Koopaling's Tower, aiding Wendy O. Koopa and a brigade of Koopa Troopas in stopping her escape. Later, a Ninji, apparently buying a camera from Friendly Floyd, appears at Bowser's wedding to Princess Toadstool.

''Hotel Mario
The Ninjis in Hotel Mario were called Mini-Ninjis, but there is no difference between the regular and miniature ones, like in Super Mario World.

''Mario Party Advance
In Mario Party Advance, Ninji lives on the first floor of Horror Condo. His quest involves getting him a rare Toad Force V DVD; the aforementioned DVD is only owned by Mushbert, who lives in the Mushroom Condo. After giving Ninji the DVD, he gives the player Tile Trial, a Gaddget. The ending states that he gave up cartoons and sold the DVD.