Super Mario Bros. (Japan 1985 Nintendo Set A)
The first ever Nintendo kinkeshis were made in 1985. These were also the first piece of figurine related merchendise to feature their new popular character, Super Mario. Sold in individual boxes (instead of the more traditional vending machine kinkeshis are known for) these figures also featured early designs of the Super Mario Bros. mythos. Characters like King Koopa/Bowser were designed with long hair (which would be used later on after Super Mario 2 USA). Known to collectors as the Set A series these can be identified by their bright pastel colors and Nintendo ® marking on their backs. The known documented colors characters have been found in are yellow, pink, flesh and winter green (also very different from your normal colors used for kinkeshis). The Set A figures are very rare and hard to come by in any condition. Later on Nintendo released 4 figures in the same fashion which are Balloon Fighter, Wrecker Crew Mario, Ice Climbers and Ninja Kun, which are easier to find at most japanese flea markets. Even myself don't possess many of the molds from the Set A collection but here is what I have.
The marking found on the back of all Set A figures looks like this
The original run of Set A Super Mario Bros figures didn't have a catalog insert but the later on 2nd release Set of 4 with Balloon Fighter and company came with a insert
Here are some character design changes that are seen in the later Set B Kinkeshis
Bowser / King Koopa Comparison Note that the later on Bowser is made to match the 8-bit game version instead of meeting up the the look shown on box art and Super Mario Bros. ads
Goomba Comparison Little changes made, namely eye shape
Hammer Bros. Comparison Again, matching more to their 8-bit game counterpart, a more obvious helmet
Cheep Cheep Comparison Thinner and quicker ^_^
Koopa Paratroopa Comparison The latter design would be the standard look for Koopa Troopas after that
