1980s Bandai x Nintendo Donkey Kong keshi gomu set

In the 1970s - perhaps the Golden Age of Japanese toys - sofubi, chogokin, jumbos, and many other toys reigned the toy world. The 1980s saw the growth of another toy type: rubber eraser (aka keshi gomu) toys. The technique wasn't invented in the 80s, and there were certainly keshi toys before then, but the 80s were the heyday, when Kinnikuman figures (which became M.U.S.C.L.E. toys in the USA) and many series based on licensed properties were produced.

Bandai led the way, both with Kinkeshi (Kinnikuman + keshi gomu = Kinkeshi) and other lines based on Mario Bros, Kamen Rider, Makaimura, Zelda, and many more, including Nintendo's Donkey Kong.

There were 2 Donkey Kong keshi sets (that I'm familiar with). The one shown here was released in 1994. The 16 figures were sold in gachapon machines, with two figures per gacha. So it was a relatively small set. Here's a look at the figures in the set:

I lurv my Canon S120 the way DK lurvs the rhino.

So, these standard figures, which are about 1-1.5" tall, stand on their own no problem.

Or sit and contemplate you.

 More after the jump:

This thing is TINY - maybe .5" wide.

Some of the one-piece figures, like this DK mounting a tuna, don't stand on their own. But they straddle with confidence.

Also not a stander...

Many keshi figures were released with their accessories physically attached to them, and you twisted them off to free them. This is why vintage keshi with "parts" tend to be much harder to find.

Probably could stand without barrel arm.

Little booklet that came in the gacha ball with the figures.

A look at the licensing mark. Different keshi provided different marks, depending on size, maker, etc, Some provided the year and other information. Here we just have "Nintendo"