Though her appearances have been limited, Dixie Kong remains one of the more popular characters in the Donkey Kong series. With her blonde ponytail and her big smile, she is instantly recognizable and deserves far more attention than Nintendo tends to give her. Let’s take a look at the history of this fun-loving monkey.

Dixie Kong’s Debut

Donkey Kong Country was a massive hit, meaning that a sequel was inevitable. However, in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, Donkey Kong was kidnapped, meaning Diddy Kong needed a new platforming partner. As such, in came Diddy’s girlfriend, Dixie. As the pair traversed through unique worlds with stellar music, Dixie could spin her blonde ponytail like a propellor, allowing her to hover into certain areas and slow her falls. This added a new layer to the already amazing gameplay. If she was the character the player was controlling when they finished a level, she would also jam out with a mean guitar solo.

Dixie Gets a Starring Role

In the third entry of the Donkey Kong Country series, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble, neither Donkey Kong nor Diddy Kong was playable. Instead, Dixie was the star, and she teamed up with her younger cousin Kiddy Kong to save Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. Once again, Dixie could use her ponytail to propel herself through the air.

The Screens and the Comic Pages

Dixie had a lead role in the German comic Bumm-Badabumm im Urwald, which was based on Donkey Kong Country 2. She also made appearances in other Donkey Kong Country-related comics and on the Donkey Kong Country TV show, where she was voiced by Louise Vallance. Most recently, she had a cameo appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where she can be seen in the audience during the fight between Mario and Donkey Kong.

Dixie’s Return to Donkey Kong Country

When the Donkey Kong Country series made its modern debut on the Wii with Donkey Kong Country Returns, Dixie was nowhere to be seen. However, the game’s Wii-U sequel, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, featured Dixie making her return. In the game, she is one of the Kongs that assists Donkey Kong in his adventure through the Lost Mangroves to save Donkey Kong Island. Of course, she could still use her ponytail to hover through the air.

Other Appearances

Over the years, Dixie has had playable roles in various Donkey Kong and Super Mario spin-off games. She was a playable racer in Diddy Kong Racing DS and Mario Kart Tour, and she was also playable in games such as the Donkey Konga series, Mario Superstar Baseball, and Mario Hoops 3-on-3. In addition, she was planned as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii, but, alas, she was cut from the roster.

The Future of Dixie Kong

Since the Nintendo Switch 2’s release is right around the corner, fans of Dixie have to wonder what her presence on that console will be like. Gamers are already speculating about whether or not she will appear in the upcoming game, Donkey Kong Bananza. Furthermore, whenever a new Super Smash Bros. comes out on the Nintendo Switch 2, will Dixie finally take her place in the playable roster? Since Diddy Kong has been a playable fighter for years, it only seems right for Dixie to get a chance to shine as a fighter. Here’s hoping that this monkey gets plenty more chances to twirl her ponytail through the air.