No Animal Sign
No Animal Signs[1] are objects featured in Donkey Kong Country 2 and 3 and their handheld counterparts, Donkey Kong Land 2 and III. They are located in levels with an Animal Friend, and their only purpose is to prevent them from crossing it, oftentimes at the end of a level. It can also be used as a clue to let the player know that the pictured Animal Friend can be found somewhere in the level before the sign and most likely can be used to open Bonus Levels.
In its Donkey Kong Country appearances, the corresponding Animal Friend is depicted on the No Animal Sign, with a red no symbol over it. In the Donkey Kong Land series, every sign only depicts the no symbol.
Overview
The Animal Friend disappears if the Kongs ride it past a No Animal Sign, otherwise, if it emerged from an Animal Barrel, it transforms back into the Kongs. The Kongs are usually rewarded with an item, such as an Extra Life Balloon. The rewards usually improve based on the level difficulty. There are a few instances where crossing a No Animal Sign reveals a DK Coin.
In Donkey Kong Country 3, crossing a No Animal Sign may turn the Animal Friend into an object that leads to a collectible, such as a Steel Keg meant to throw behind a Koin, or even a Bonus Barrel. Nibbla also has its own sign, but unlike the other Animal Friends, it stops at the sign and does not move past it.
In Donkey Kong Land III, No Animal Signs no longer spawn rewards when crossed. Some levels have an Animal Friend without a corresponding No Animal Sign. This means that the Animal Friend can reach and activate the Level Flag, but it is still unable to access the following level. Additionally, in the toboggan levels, No Animal Signs function as "No Sled" signs[2].
No Animal Signs do not appear in the first Donkey Kong Country, so DK and Diddy can finish a level with their mounted Animal Friend. However, it cannot proceed to the next level with the Kongs. This is also the case in its modern sequels, Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
While No Animal Signs do not appear in Donkey Kong 64, Rambi and Enguarde transform back into their respective Kong, DK and Lanky, if they go outside their intended region. Before this occurs, a red no symbol displays on-screen, accompanied by a menacing laugh.
Variants
| Name | Animal Friend | Games |
|---|---|---|
 No Ellie sign[3] |
Ellie the Elephant | Donkey Kong Country 3 |
 "no swordfish" sign[4] |
Enguarde the Swordfish | Donkey Kong Country 2 Donkey Kong Country 3 |
 No Nibbla sign |
Nibbla | Donkey Kong Country 3 |
 No Parry sign[5] |
Parry the Parallel Bird | Donkey Kong Country 3 |
 "No Rambi" sign |
Rambi the Rhino | Donkey Kong Country 2 |
 "No Rattly" sign[6] |
Rattly the Rattlesnake | Donkey Kong Country 2 |
 "No Squawks" sign[7] |
Squawks the Parrot Quawks |
Donkey Kong Country 2 Donkey Kong Country 3 |
 No Squitter sign[8] |
Squitter the Spider | Donkey Kong Country 2 Donkey Kong Country 3 |
Gallery
Sprite from Donkey Kong Land 2 and Donkey Kong Land III.
Sprite from Donkey Kong GB: Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong.
Ellie at a No Ellie sign in Donkey Kong Country 3.
Enguarde at a No Animal Sign in Donkey Kong Land 2.
Enguarde at a No Animal Sign in Donkey Kong Land III
References
- ^ Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest instruction booklet, page 16.
- ^ Nintendo Power Volume 103, page 86.
- ^ M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble Player's Guide. Page 19.
- ^ M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Player's Guide. Page 28.
- ^ M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble Player's Guide. Pages 35, 75.
- ^ M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Player's Guide. Page 92.
- ^ M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Player's Guide. Page 110.
- ^ M. Arakawa. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble Player's Guide. Pages 76, 77.
