Mini-Mario

This article is about the toy in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. For the form taken after collecting a Mini Mushroom, see Mini Mario. For the form in the Mario & Luigi series, see Mini-Mario (form).

Mini-Mario
Artwork from Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
First appearance	Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2004)
Latest appearance	Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) (2024)
Portrayed by	Charles Martinet (2004–2016, 2024)
Variant of	Mini
Variants Cursed Mini Mario Fire Mini Mario Gold Mini Mario Key Mini Mario
Comparable Mini Luigi Mini Peach Mini Pauline

“Mini-Mario toy! It walks! It talks! It says, "Mama mia!" Each one comes in its own crystal ball! Collect one, collect them all! Be the first one on your block to own the amazing new Mini-Mario toy! Hurry, before they're all sold out!”

—Commercial voiceover, Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Mini-Marios (written as Mini Marios from Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis up until Mario vs. Donkey Kong for the Nintendo Switch) are energetic Mario toys sold by the Mario Toy Company. They first appear in the original Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and they have appeared in all of the other installments of the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Mini-Marios are voiced by Charles Martinet in all games; they sound similar to Mario but higher-pitched similar to Baby Mario and with a robotic filter. The hands of Mini-Marios resemble, and are likely designed after, those of LEGO minifigures.

History

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong stealing Mini-Marios

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong and its remake, when Donkey Kong is watching his television set, he sees a commercial for the toys, which persuades him to immediately buy some Mini-Marios. Arriving at a toy store, DK is dismayed upon learning they are sold out of Mini-Mario toys. Put to great chagrin, Donkey Kong invades the Mario Toy Company, kidnaps its Toad employees, and steals the remaining toys for himself. Mario arrives to find Donkey Kong fleeing with a bag full of Mini-Marios. Mario chases Donkey Kong around various levels, trying to get the toys back. In the end, he retrieves all the toys and scolds Donkey Kong for his actions. When Donkey Kong cries over the incident, however, Mario cheers him up by letting him have his own Mini-Mario that actually likes him.

In the second half of the first six levels of the main worlds, there is a Mini-Mario in a crystal ball that Mario must reach in order to beat the level. In the seventh level of the main worlds, Mario has to guide the rescued Mini-Marios to a toy box. They follow behind Mario and can only jump one block high. For every Mini-Mario successfully put into the toy box, 1000 points are rewarded. The sixth Mini-Mario awards 5000 points. The number of Mini-Marios put into the toy box is equal to Mario's HP in the fights against Donkey Kong. In the plus worlds, Mario has to reach a Mini-Mario and lead it to a locked door so that it can unlock it. Unlike the main worlds, the plus worlds do not have levels involving the toy box.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

The walk cycles of a Mini Mario

Mini Marios (styled with a space instead of a hyphen for the first time) reappear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. In the game, Mario brings Pauline as his special guest for the grand opening of Super Mini Mario World, an attraction park based on the Mini Marios. Donkey Kong sees Pauline and falls in love with her, attempting to give her a Mini Donkey Kong toy out of affection. At the same time, Mario gives her a Mini Mario toy. When Pauline chooses Mario's Mini Mario over the Mini Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong becomes angry and kidnaps Pauline. The Mini Marios must traverse Super Mini Mario World in order to rescue Pauline.

In this game, Mini Marios replace Mario as the main playable characters, and can be controlled directly using the stylus. The objective of each standard level in the game is to direct at least one Mini Mario to the exit to complete the level. This game also introduces Gold Mini Marios. A single Gold Mini Mario appears in several levels in the game and is worth bonus points if it is the last Mini Mario to enter the exit.

Mini Marios can use hammers by touching them, causing them to wildly swing the hammers around for a short time, allowing them to destroy or temporarily stun any enemies in their paths. When a Mini Mario touches a Fire Flower, it temporarily transforms into Fire Mini Mario and can shoot fireballs at enemies to a similar effect.

Super Mini Mario World introduces other Mini toys, such as Mini Toads, Mini Peaches, and the aforementioned Mini Donkey Kongs. However, these Minis can only be used in the Construction Zone in Special Kit 1, Special Kit 2, and Special Kit 3 respectively.

On the Game Over screen, a Mini Mario can be heard mumbling about its dreams.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, the Minis play a similar role as in their previous appearance. Like in Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, the game is about guiding Mini Marios to a goal instead of Mario. In this game, however, the player cannot directly control the Mini Marios aside from starting them up; instead, the player must manipulate Pink Blocks and other objects in each level, to ensure all of the Mini Marios safely reach the door.

The game introduces a type of Mini Mario with a key, known as Key Mini Mario. They appear on the Key level of each floor, with one Key Mini Mario per level. Unlike Gold Mini Marios, which go at the end of a chain to get bonus points, a Key Mini Mario must be the first Mini in a level to enter the locked door, in order to unlock the door with the key.

Mini Marios also appear in each boss fight against Donkey Kong, where they must be fired from a cannon, allowing them to either damage Donkey Kong directly or cause an object to damage him.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!

Mini Marios reappear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!. They once again have to rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong, just like they did in the previous two games. Mini Toad, Mini Peach (known as Mini Princess in game), and Mini DK reappear alongside the Mini Marios, and a new toy, Mini Pauline, is introduced. Donkey Kong was too late to get in Mario's new park and get a free, new Mini Pauline toy, prompting him to kidnap her yet again.

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move

The Mini Marios once again appear in Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move. They are the default playable toy in the main game and are available on display from the start in the Toy Collection. Mini Marios are also the only playable characters in the minigames.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars

Mini Marios appear again in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, as well as their gold counterpart introduced in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. There is also a possessed Mini Mario at the start of certain levels, which the other minis must attack to make it free.

Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge

Mini Mario is one of the Mini Toys available in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge, accessible by scanning any amiibo depicting Mario (including Dr. Mario). Mini Mario's special ability is Wall Jump, which allows it to jump off of any wall it walks up to.

Super Mario-kun

The Mini Marios make an appearance in a Mario vs. Donkey Kong segment in volume 33 of Super Mario-kun. The story follows closely with the games with a few differences. For instance, while Donkey Kong is searching for Mini Marios in vain, a sales Toad offers a bootleg-like variant of Mini Mario, called Mimi Mario (ミミマリオ), to Donkey Kong, who he remarks as cute, but rejects. While Mario and Toad find Mario's company ransacked by Donkey Kong, Mario finds a remaining Mini Mario, who is damaged and malfunctions, frequently hitting Mario in the face. This Mini Mario, who talks, accompanies Mario and Toad and helps them defeat Donkey Kong. This Mini Mario is distinguished from other Mini Marios by its eyes, which resemble Mario's eyes.

In the segment, it has been shown that Donkey Kong controls the Mini Marios he has stolen using an embedded chip (which the Mini Mario that Mario has found removes). Additionally, the Mini Marios can combine and transform into weapons. One weapon shown is a gun that shoots Mini Mario heads while the other is a cannon that also shoots Mini Mario heads. At a last effort, Donkey Kong rides a mech to attack Mario, but the Mini Marios transform into a Mini Mario mech, which Mario uses to defeat Donkey Kong.

Super Smash Bros. series

In the Super Smash Bros. series, there are a few items of a Mini Mario. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there is a Mini Mario sticker that, when used on any fighter in The Subspace Emissary, boosts their shield's recharge rate by three points. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, there is an Advanced-class Neutral-type primary spirit of Mini Mario, which can only be obtained by purchasing it from Timmy & Tommy's location in World of Light for 1,000 points at regular price. Once it reaches level 99, it can be enhanced into an Ace-class spirit which, when used, increases the duration of the Hammer item in battles. In its initial form, the spirit depicts one of the solo artworks of Mini Mario used for Mario vs. Donkey Kong. In its enhanced form, the spirit depicts the toy's Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis solo artwork, where it wields two Hammers.

Profiles

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Sticker Mini Mario
	Artwork from: Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
	Effects in The Subspace Emissary: Shield Recovery +3
	Usable by: Anyone

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirits

Name	Image	Series / game	Type	Class	Strength / effect(s)	How to obtain	Spirit battle
							Opponent(s)	Battle conditions	Stage	Song
Mini Mario		Mario vs. Donkey Kong Series	Primary (3)	Advanced	Neutral Can be enhanced to Mini Mario & Hammers at Lv. 99	Timmy and Tommy's	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mini Mario & Hammers		Mario vs. Donkey Kong Series	Primary (3)	Ace	Neutral Hammer Duration ↑	Enhanced from Mini Mario	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mini-Mario.

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars

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  Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars

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  Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ミニマリオ[?] Mini Mario	Mini Mario
Chinese (simplified)	迷你马力欧[?] Mínǐ Mǎlì'ōu	Mini Mario
Chinese (traditional)	小型瑪利歐 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis) Xiǎoxíng Mǎlì'ōu	Small Mario
	玩偶瑪利歐 (Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!) Wán'ǒu Mǎlì'ōu	Doll Mario
	迷你瑪利歐 (since Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)[?] Mínǐ Mǎlì'ōu	Mini Mario
Dutch	Mini-Mario[?]	-
French	Mini-Mario	-
German	Mini-Mario	-
Italian	Minimario	Minimario
	Mini Mario[?]	-
Korean	미니 마리오[?] Mini Malio	Mini Mario
Portuguese (NOA)	Mini-Mario Mini Mario	-
Portuguese (NOE)	Mini-Mario Mini Mario	-
Russian	Мини-игрушка Марио[?] Mini-igrushka Mario	Mini toy Mario
	Заводной Марио (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)[?] Zavodnoy Mario	Wind-up Mario
Spanish (NOA)	Mini Mario[?]	-
Spanish (NOE)	Mini Mario	-
	Juguete de Mini-Mario	Mini-Mario Toy
	Minimario[?]	Minimario