Ninji : le ninja des rêves qui danse dans Wonder

Ninji: The Dream Ninja Dancing in Wonder

1237 mots | Temps de lecture : 6 minute(s)

In Mario's bestiary, few enemies can boast of being literally born in a dream. The Ninji—a name identical in French and English—is that little black star disguised as a ninja that has haunted the plumber's dreams since the late 1980s.

Long relegated to a supporting role, this miniature ninja made a surprising and spectacular return in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, where it becomes the dancing star of an entire musical level.

Summary

An enemy straight out of a Japanese dream

The Ninji made its grand debut in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, a game released in 1987 in Japan on the Famicom Disk System. At the time, it wasn't yet a Mario game: the title featured a family of heroes in a dreamlike universe, linked to a Fuji Television event.

Everything changed in 1988, when Nintendo decided to adapt this game for the West under the name Super Mario Bros. 2 on NES. The playable characters became Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad, but the setting and enemies were largely retained.

The Ninji was among the many enemies kept during this conversion. Its name, "Ninji," is a direct transliteration from Japanese: it has never been translated and remains identical in all European versions, including French, as indicated by the Super Mario Wiki.

Two varieties of Ninji to harass the plumber

In Super Mario Bros. 2, players encounter not one but two types of Ninji with distinct behaviors. The first rushes and leaps towards the hero: fast and tenacious, it relentlessly pursues Mario and quickly becomes annoying if allowed to get close.

The second merely jumps in place, never moving. It forms a kind of rhythmic barrier that must be overcome by timing. A delightful detail: in the Japanese version Doki Doki Panic, this jumping Ninji had three different jump heights, a nuance that disappeared in the Western version.

Like almost all enemies in this atypical episode, all Ninji can be picked up and thrown. Players can therefore use them as living projectiles to defeat other adversaries, a signature mechanic of Super Mario Bros. 2 inherited from its Doki Doki Panic origin.

A black star with a changing face

Visually, the Ninji is a small, black, star-shaped creature, halfway between a crouching ninja and a fleeting shadow. But its appearance has evolved significantly over the decades, to the point of changing its graphic personality.

The very first illustrations gave it a much more bestial appearance. One could distinguish a prominent fang and clawed paws, which reinforced its status as a small demon emerging from nightmares.

Modern versions, however, have softened this design. The original red spots have been reinterpreted as large round buttons, while the eyes have become rectangular, like the slits of a ninja hood. The result is a much cuter creature, yet still immediately recognizable.

A triumphant return in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

After years spent in the shadows, the Ninji returns to the forefront in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Unusually for an enemy in the saga, it takes on a dual role: it is both an adversary and an animated decorative element.

Its consecration bears a name: the level Danse Ninji ("Ninji Jump Party" in English), nestled in the Hot Desert region. This stage simply transforms the platform game into a rhythm game.

On screen, dozens of Ninji tap their feet and jump in time to the music. The player must then time their own jumps to the tempo: when synchronized, they make platforms appear, collect coins, and overcome obstacles effortlessly. The dancing Ninji become a real living metronome that indicates when to press the button, which has made this stage one of the most popular among players.

A survivor who has crossed generations

The Ninji is no mere extra: it's one of the oldest active enemies in the series, inherited from a game that wasn't even originally intended for Mario. This longevity makes it a small curiosity in Nintendo's history.

Thanks to the re-releases of Super Mario Bros. 2—notably the Super Mario All-Stars compilation on Super Nintendo and the Super Mario Advance port on Game Boy Advance—it has passed through the ages without ever being forgotten, its jumping and throwing mechanics intact.

Its grand return in Wonder perfectly illustrates Nintendo's attachment to its own heritage: an enemy more than thirty-five years old can once again become the star of an entire level. The little dream ninja has definitively earned its status as a discreet icon of the Mario galaxy.

Ninji at a glance

French Name Ninji
English Name Ninji
First Appearance Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987, Japan)
Arrival in the West Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988)
Category Recurring enemy (ninja)
Appearance Small black star-shaped creature with a ninja headpiece
Player's Ability Can pick it up and throw it
Star Return Super Mario Bros. Wonder — Ninji Dance Party
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FAQ

  • Is the name Ninji translated into English?
    No. Ninji is a direct transliteration from Japanese, kept as is in all European versions, including French, according to the Super Mario Wiki.
  • In which game does Ninji first appear?
    It first appears in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, released in Japan in 1987, before arriving in the West in Super Mario Bros. 2 in 1988.
  • How many types of Ninji exist in Super Mario Bros. 2?
    Two. The first rushes and pursues the player, the second jumps in place without moving. Both can be picked up and thrown.
  • What is the name of the level where Ninji is featured in Wonder?
    It's called Ninji Dance, or Ninji Jump Party in English, located in the Hot Desert region. It's a musical level based on rhythm.
  • Why is Ninji considered a historical enemy?
    It's one of the oldest enemies from Doki Doki Panic retained in Super Mario Bros. 2, making it one of the oldest creatures still present in the saga.
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