"Dandelion" redirects here. For the plant that appears inDonkey Kong Jungle Beat and theSuper Mario Galaxy games, seeBanandelion. For the plant named "dandelion" inSuper Mario Run, seeFluff (object).

Donkey Kong putting out the flames on aTiki Torch with an air blow

Blowing is a move performed byDonkey Kong andDiddy Kong inDonkey Kong Country Returns and itsNintendo 3DS andNintendo Switch ports that can move or dissipate certain objects and extinguish flaming enemies.

History[edit]

Donkey Kong Country Returns /Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D[edit]

TheKongs can blow air by having the player repeatedly shake theWii Remote or push the/ button on theNintendo 3DS while the character is crouching. Diddy Kong is only able to perform this action when he is controlled independently in multiplayer. The move does not appear inDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, being replaced with the ability to pluck items from the ground.

The ability was incorporated into the game at the behest ofShigeru Miyamoto, the game's supervisor.^[1][2] Miyamoto came up with the request during a prolonged play session with a prototype of the game; he noticed that Donkey Kong kicked up dust as he was moving, which Miyamoto likened to the character blowing air. One of the game's senior designers, Mike Wikan, found the blowing mechanic to create a playful and whimsical contrast to Donkey Kong's sense of strength and weight.^[3]

List of objects that can be blown onto[edit]

There are a multitude of objects that are affected by Donkey Kong's breath. When blown onto, many of these objects reveal items such asbananas,Banana Coins, andPuzzle Pieces, while others cause something to occur. The appearance of these objects is mostly influenced by the environment they are found in. Their role is similar to that of itemcontainers.

Two dandelion pairs inDonkey Kong Country Returns 3D

Below is a list of each object, with a description on its appearance and how it behaves:

• Dandelion^[4] — If its seeds are blown away, it might uncover an item. Dandelions vary slightly in size and are widespread throughoutDonkey Kong Island, being most common in theJungle andRuins areas.

DK next to some beach grass

• Beach grass^[5] — Tufts offoxtail grass grown sparsely throughout theBeach. Blowing a beach grass will disperse its seeds and, at most times, leave an item.
• Lantern^[6] — An illuminating object found in mines and caverns. Lanterns are hanging above the ground, sometimes requiring the Kongs to stand on an elevated platform in order to reach them. If blown, the light inside a lantern will flicker out, often producing an item.
• Fountain Flower — A flower with four red petals and a small bud at the top. When Donkey Kong blows on the petals, they spin swiftly as water leaks out of the bud. Eventually, the flower flies off and water flows out like a fountain, giving nourishment to a vine, which grows from the water. The vine's buds then bloom into flowers with items in them as the Fountain Flower continues spewing water. They are only found inFlutter Flyaway.
• Musical horn^[7] — A device fixed on the ground. When blown into, it produces a soft trumpet jingle and an item. Musical horns are placed across theFactory.
• Lightbulb^[8] — An object with a small red propeller attached to it. Blowing on the propeller causes it to rotate increasingly faster, lighting up the lightbulb to capacity which causes it to break and free an item. Lightbulbs are found in the Factory.
• Tiki head — A burning statuette that will turn to ashes and collapse shortly after the fire is put out, producing an item. Tiki heads mostly appear inFurious Fire.
• Candle bowl — A small candle held in a bowl. Blowing on it will swoosh the flame, potentially causing an item to appear. Candle bowls are spread throughout theVolcano.
• Helicopter flower — Objects that, when blown onto, pluck themselves out of the ground and start flying with an item using propeller-like appendages. They hover above the ground for a short while before flying away, offering the Kongs a chance to grab their item. Most of these objects resemble flowers with short stems and long petals, which are red in theJungle andForest, pink on theBeach, and dark purple on theCliff. However, magnets with propellers replace them in theFactory, as do chili peppers with large leaves in the Volcano.
• Windmill^[9] — Objects with multiple red (blue in the Cliff world) and white blades that spin around when blown onto. They often cause multiple bananas to drop from a place, or cause platforms to rise above the ground. To take effect, the windmills need to be blown onto for several moments.

• 

  Dandelions

• 

  Fountain Flower

• 

  Lightbulb

• 

  Silhouette of a musical horn

• 

  DK blowing into a lantern

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  Windmill

• 

  A windmill as it appears in the Cliff

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

InThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, duringMario's battle with Donkey Kong, Mario summons aFire Flower, but Donkey Kong blows on it to extinguish it, denying Mario the power-up.

References[edit]

• Donkey Kong moves
• Donkey Kong Country Returns