Kimberly (Space Ace | Saturday Morning Cartoons | Arcade)

Kimberly, often affectionately called Kimmy or Kimmie, made her first appearance as the deuteragonist in the 1983 laserdisc arcade game Space Ace, developed by Cinematronics and animated by Don Bluth's studio. Released shortly after the success of Dragon's Lair, the game introduced her as the spirited girlfriend and professional partner of the hero Dexter, who transforms into the muscular Space Ace when energized. Voiced by Lorna Cook in the original arcade version, Kimberly is depicted as a curvaceous young woman with long red hair, fair skin, and a form-fitting outfit, embodying the stylized aesthetic characteristic of Don Bluth's animated characters during this period.

In the game's narrative, Kimberly serves primarily as the damsel in distress, kidnapped at the outset by the villainous Commander Borf, who seeks to conquer Earth using his Infanto Ray—a device that regresses victims to infancy. As Dexter pursues Borf to rescue her, Kimberly provides occasional radio communication, displaying a sassy and sarcastic demeanor that highlights her strong personality despite her captive role. She exhibits fondness for infants, notably expressing interest in adopting a regressed "Baby Borf" in certain scenes, and engages in playful banter with Dexter, reflecting her role as both a love interest and a capable ally in their shared adventures against interstellar threats.

Beyond the arcade original, Kimberly appeared in a short-lived animated segment within the 1984 television series Saturday Supercade, part of Ruby-Spears' anthology based on popular video games, where she was voiced by Nancy Cartwright. The character has since been featured in various home ports, remasters, and digital re-releases of Space Ace, maintaining her iconic status among fans of classic laserdisc games. While no major sequels expanded her backstory significantly, Kimberly remains a memorable figure in retro gaming culture for her blend of vulnerability and wit in Don Bluth's science-fiction inspired universe.

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