Characters of the Kirby series

This is a list of characters in the Kirby video game series.

Main characters

Kirby

Main article: Kirby (character)

Kirby (カービィ, Kābii) has been the star of a number of namesake games developed by HAL Laboratory.

Kirby has appeared in over twenty games since 1992 and has starred in his own animated series. The Kirby series has sold over 30 million units worldwide. The core games of the series are platformers that follow a loose timeline matching the release order. They typically begin with an evil force threatening his home of Dream Land (Pupupuland プププランド) on the planet Popstar, most often the greedy King Dedede or mysterious Dark Matter. The main games always have Kirby with the same basic abilities- he can walk, run, jump, float, and inhale and spit out or devour his enemies. Following Kirby's Dream Land, Kirby was able to gain the abilities of the enemies he swallowed, such as Fire, Sword or Fighter.

King Dedede

King Dedede (デデデ大王, Dedede Daiō) is an antagonist of the series and arch-rival to Kirby, appearing in every game except Kirby & the Amazing Mirror. Often caring only about himself, he causes many problems for the inhabitants of Dream Land through selfish mischief. Despite this, he and Kirby have teamed up on occasions with the purpose of taking down a greater common foe. He has many of the same abilities as Kirby himself does, such as being able to inhale objects and spit them back out with tremendous force, and following Kirby's Dream Land, the ability to suck in air and fly.

Dedede is both an enemy and ally in the various games of the main series. Often he just acts in his own interests, such as stealing the food of Dream Land in Kirby's Dream Land, but in others, such as Kirby's Adventure he breaks up the Star Rod to protect Dream Land from Nightmare. In Kirby's Dream Land 2, Kirby's Dream Land 3, and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, he is possessed by Dark Matter, and is eventually freed by Kirby. Dedede often is the main instigator and final boss in the side series of puzzle and handheld arcade games, such as Kirby's Dream Course and Kirby's Block Ball. King Dedede was originally intended to be a playable character in Super Smash Bros., but was cut due to time constraints; he does however appear as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee and was finally added as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl due to being one of the most requested characters to be playable in Japan, where his main weapon, the "Jet Hammer" is a mechanized version of his mallet. He is voiced by Masahiro Sakurai in the game.

In the anime series Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, King Dedede, accompanied by his equally bumbling lackey, Escargoon, is presented as the illegitimate and incompetent ruler of Dream Land, with a castle atop a hill overlooking Cappy Town. He is very ill-tempered and rude. Dedede's main cause of inconvenience for the citizens of Dream Land is his constant purchasing of monsters from Nightmare Enterprises to enforce his laws, create chaos, or to get rid of Kirby, whom he feels is a threat to his popularity and authority. He is often seen broke or in enormous debt to Nightmare Enterprises. King Dedede is voiced by Kenichi Ogata in the original Japanese version and by Ted Lewis in the English dub.

Meta Knight

Meta Knight (メタナイト, Meta Naito) is an enigmatic character, created by Masahiro Sakurai. Meta Knight is voiced by Atsushi Kisaichi in the original Japan, Eric Stuart in the English dub of the anime, and Jay Ward in the English version of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He follows a code of honor, and usually gives Kirby a sword before they fight to be fair. He is called Kirby's rival, and while Kirby often battles him, they have also worked towards the same goals in the past. Little is known of his background other than his rivalry with Kirby, and how they share a similar appearance. He wields a powerful sword that can create small tornados, wears a blue cloak that doubles as a set of wings, and wears light blue-silver mask. In some games, his mask is removed, revealing that he looks like Kirby, except that his body is blue and eyes are white.

Meta Knight is often a boss in the games, but with the exception of the Kirby Super Star subgame, Revenge of Meta Knight, where he attempts to take over Dream Land with the intent to end Dream Land's "lazy lifestyle", he generally helps Kirby. In his first appearance in Kirby's Adventure, he fights Kirby to keep him from taking the a piece of the Star Rod to keep it out of Nightmare's hands He helps to defeat Dark Mind in Kirby & the Amazing Mirror by giving Kirby his sword, Master. In Kirby: Squeak Squad, he works to keep the chest containing Dark Nebula out of Kirby's hands. Meta Knight appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee as a trophy and also appears as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where he utilizes his sword as his main weapon.

Meta Knight is also a regular on the anime series Kirby: Right Back at Ya!. He is revealed as a member of the same group as Kirby, the Star Warriors, and is a high ranking and respected member of the Galaxy Soldier Army which fought against the armies of Nightmare, though he ended up being the only surviving member. He works for King Dedede, but is in truth an ally to Kirby and only stays with the king to keep a close eye on his schemes. He wields a golden, spiked sword called Galaxia which has some significance to the show's plot, and acts as a mentor to Kirby, occasionally training him or defending him when needed, but tries to make Kirby learn for himself so he may eventually be able to defeat Nightmare.

Dark Matter

Dark Matter is a recurring antagonist of the series. Its main form is that of a planet-sized dark cloud with a single eyeball. It can separate into smaller clouds lined with petal-like extensions. These can possess other beings, putting them under the control of Dark Matter. At the core of the giant cloud is 0, a giant eye, which controls the Dark Matter. It is a force of negative energy that lives a lonely existence. It is jealous of Dream Land's lifestyle, so it constantly targets it to recreate Pop Star into a dark world where no one can be happy.

In Kirby's Dream Land 2, one small cloud first appears as a masked, robed being, wielding a magical sword. It assumes its general form afterwards. In Kirby's Dream Land 3, Dark Matter attacks Pop Star, and possesses many of its inhabitants. Kirby eventually obtains the Heart Rod, and defeats it by destroying 0. It returns in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, where it attacks Pop Star and many other planets. After being repelled from all of the planets, it forms as the Dark Star. It is controlled by 0² (Zero Two), an angelic-looking form of 0 with a halo, and geometric, segmented wings, who is destroyed along with the star.

Nightmare

Nightmare (ナイトメア Naitomea) , also known as the Cloaked Nightmare, is the ultimate villain of Kirby's Adventure and its remake, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land. After Nightmare invades the Fountain of Dreams, King Dedede splits up the Star Rod into seven pieces and gives them to his lieutenants, preventing Nightmare from using it to spread bad dreams. Kirby not knowing this, finds the pieces, and reunites it. Nightmare soon tries to steal it, but Kirby ends up using it to defeat him. Nightmare starts out as an orb that shoots stars, and he eventually transforms into a humanoid, vampire-like being with a tornado for a body.

Nightmare is also the main villain of the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! anime. He runs 'NightMare Enterprises' (Holy Nightmare Co. in the Japanese version). In the dub, he is given the name of eNeMeE. The anime version of Nightmare already dominates much of the universe from the series' beginning. He uses his ability to create an endless number of creatures known as demon beasts to conquer civilizations. He also sells them to unsuspecting customers for a profit, via the Internet. His only opposition are the Star Warriors and Galaxy Soldier Army, but he defeated all but a few of them before the show begins. As told in one of Nightmare's lines later in the series, he is an embodiment of life's fear and suffering, and so he strives to bring more pain in order to increase his power, and will always exist as long as people hold fear in their hearts.

Supporting characters

Adeleine

Adeleine originally appeared in Kirby's Dream Land 3 as one of the boss characters; under the name "Ado". Her name was changed for her appearance in Kirby 64, where she appears as a miniboss early in the game and then a helper once she is defeated. Adeleine had no direct effect on the game-play, but her paintings provided clues on various puzzles and sometimes provided Kirby with power-ups or health restoration. She was also playable in the multiplayer mode for that game.

Dyna Blade

Dyna Blade (ダイナブレイド, Daina Buredo) is an enormous, armored bird that acts as both a friend and a foe in Kirby Super Star. In her self-titled game, she destroys all of Dream Land's crops to feed her chicks. Kirby defeats her not knowing this, so he ends up feeding the chicks and teaching them how to fly. For doing so, Dyna Blade helps Kirby get back on the Halberd only to be shot down by the ship's crew in the Revenge of Meta-Knight game. She makes a cameo appearance in Kirby's Air Ride, and also appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

In Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, Dyna Blade is shown as a legendary bird that is worshipped by the citizens of Dream Land. King Dedede hatches a plot to get rid of Kirby by tricking him into (seemingly) eating her egg, which infuriates Dyna Blade and cause her to chase and attack Kirby for much of the episode, until her chick appears and Kirby feeds it, placating Dyna.

Escargoon

Doctor Escargon (ドクター・エスカルゴン, Dokutaa Esukarugon) is an anthropomorphic snail that serves King Dedede in the anime series. He is voiced by Naoki Tatsuta in the Japanese version and Ted Lewis in the English dub. He originally leaves his mother's farm to become famous and make his mother proud, but ends up serving Dedede instead. He helps Dedede's plots by creating various inventions to help defeat Kirby.

Gooey

Gooey is Kirby's best friend, and described as a friendly blob of Dark Matter. He first appears in Kirby's Dream Land 2, and could be found in the various bags in the game under certain conditions. In that game, his only function was to restore Kirby's health, but in Kirby's Dream Land 3 he was a playable character. He is essentially a small blue blob of goo with a silly expression on his face. Gooey has similar powers to Kirby (except that he licks up enemies), and a second player can take control of him while the first player controls Kirby. In a single player game, Gooey can be summoned as a computer-controlled ally and during the game's final battle in space, Gooey's flying form is similar to Dark Matter.

Kirby's allies

Kirby's Dream Land 2 and Kirby's Dream Land 3 feature various allies that can team up with Kirby and share powers. Kirby's Dream Land 2 introduces Rick the Hamster, Coo the Owl, and Kine the Ocean Sunfish. Kirby's Dream Land 3 introduces Nago the cat, Pitch the Bird, and Chuchu the octopus.

Knuckle Joe

Knuckle Joe is a minor enemy that first appeared in Kirby Super Star. He gives Kirby the fighter ability when inhaled, and can also be summoned as a helper for that ability. He later makes his appearance in the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! anime as the son of a legendary Star Warrior who fought side by side with Meta Knight until he was turned into a monster by Nightmare and afterwards killed by his friend. Knuckle Joe attacked the unsuspecting Kirby, believing it was Kirby who killed his father. Meta Knight stops him in the nick of time, explaining to Joe the truth about his father's death. He appears multiple times afterwards, and eventually helps Kirby and his friends defeat Nightmare. Knuckle Joe later appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an Assist Trophy. He is voiced by Minami Takayama in the Japanese versions of both the Kirby anime and Super Smash Bros. Brawl and by Alésia Glidewell in the American version of that same game.

Sir Ebrum & Lady Like

Sir Ebrum (Pamu/Parm) and Lady Like (Memu) are characters in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!. They are the parents of Tiff and Tuff who work and live in King Dedede's Castle and keep peace between their strong-willed offspring and their rambuctious employer. Sir Ebrum is voiced by Takashi Nagasako in the Japanese version and Mike Pollock in the English dub, while Lady Like is voiced by Yuko Mizutani in the Japanese version and Kayzie Rogers in the English dub. Lady Like is usually the one out of the two who is suspicious of Dedede's plots since they put her children in danger as well, although even Sir Ebrum gets suspicious sometimes.

Tiff and Tuff

Tiff (フーム, Fūmu) and Tuff (ブン, Būn) are the brother and sister duo that accompany Kirby in the anime series. Tiff is voiced by Sayuri Yoshida in the original Japanese version and Kerry Williams in the English dub. Tuff is voiced by Rika Komatsu in the Japanese version and Tara Sands in the English dub. They live in Dedede's castle along with their parents, Sir Ebrum and Lady Like, and help Kirby in his fight against Dedede's plots and Nightmare's monsters. Tiff is more interested in academics, such as Chemistry and other studies, while Tuff is active in sports and other physical activities.

Enemies

Kracko

Kracko (クラッコ, Kurakko) is a recurring boss that first appeared in Kirby's Dream Land. It resembles a large cumulus cloud with spikes protruding from all sides, and a single large eyeball in the center. It attacks with electricity, rain, and by producing smaller enemies, such as Waddle Doos, Starmen, and Co-Krackos. Kracko is typically first seen in an "immature form", sometimes called Mini-Kracko or Kracko Jr. It retains its huge eye, but the eye is surrounded by four orbs, which it either spins rapidly or launches in different patterns. This form either fights as a mini-boss earlier in various games, or immediately prior to transforming to its "adult" form.

Kracko appears in the Kirby anime Kirby: Right Back at Ya! episode, "Secret of the Star Warrior/Dark and Stormy Knight". It is bought by King Dedede from Nightmare Enterprises to defeat Kirby. It attempts to attack him, but it is eventually defeated by Sword Kirby.

Lololo and Lalala

Lololo and Lalala (ロロロ と ラララ, Rororo to Rarara) are fictional characters from the Kirby series of video games created by HAL Laboratory. They are based on a pair of characters from the Adventures of Lolo series, a creation of HAL Laboratories on the Nintendo Entertainment System.

They also appear in the anime, where they are known as Fololo and Falala in the English dub, and they reside in King Dedede's castle. They were once a single monster working for Nightmare Enterprises called Lola, but were split into two by another monster named Splice 'n' Dice and sent to Dedede as punishment for being too soft-hearted.

Meta-Knights

The Meta-Knights are a group of soldiers led by Meta Knight, who often uses them to test Kirby's skills throughout Kirby's Adventure, which is their first appearance. The Meta-Knights include Axe Knight, Mace Knight, Javelin Knight, and Trident Knight, however, fans often refer to them as Meta Axe, Meta Chain, Meta Droid, and Meta Lance respectively. They are four distinct armored soldiers that each wield the weapon they are named for. Axe Knight moves along the floor, swinging axes around, so he must be attacked from behind; he does not turn around. Mace Knight swings his mace over his head and throws it for considerable range and power. Javelin Knight looks like a black pod that jumps around the room, and occasionally flashes and summons a spear to grab and spin with, until he discards it. Trident Knight moves forwards and backwards until it tosses an electrified trident at you. He throws them where you are, so range is not important.

The Meta-Knights return in Kirby Super Star where they aided Meta Knight in his attempt to conquer Dream Land via his warship, the Halberd. As their first appearance was in Kirby's Adventure, the four knights also appear in Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, the Game Boy Advance remake.

Paint Roller

Paint Roller first appeared as the boss of Ice Cream Island in Kirby's Adventure, in a small room with nothing but a floor, two platforms and four canvases. It wears a baseball cap and roller skates, and rolls around the room, drawing enemies that come to life and attack Kirby. It guarded the second fragment of the Star Rod as King Dedede has instructed. It later appears in the remake of Kirby's Adventure, titled Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, and then later appeared in Kirby: Canvas Curse as one of Drawcia's clones, in a boss level where the player had to help Kirby from being popped by using the Magic Paintbrush to finish all of his games.

Paint Roller also appears in the anime. It appears in the Kirby anime episode, "Dedede's Monsterpiece". He made his debut when he was delivered to King Dedede, who didn't care about fine art. He went to Dedede's newly-built art museum, where he went around messing with the paintings. Kirby inhaled PR's paintbrush, and became Paint Kirby. They dueled and dodged with their paintings, which can come to life, as well as their roller blades. Kirby eventually got the best of Paint Roller with a painted missile of his, which homed in on the monster and his painted bomb, causing a massive, messy paint explosion that took out the entire art museum and splattered paint all over Kirby in the process.

Waddle Dee

Waddle Dees are the most common enemies in the series. They have small stubby arms and small feet. Their face is always a light tan color, as are their feet, with their main bodies usually a dark red. They also appear in other colors, such as yellow, orange, or gold. They generally attack by running into Kirby, but they can also wield parasols and spears. Parasol wielding Waddle Dees can be used as allies in Kirby Super Star, and as a playable character in Kirby: Canvas Curse. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards has one Waddle Dee forming an alliance with Kirby after freed from the possession by Dark Matter. Waddle Dee occasionally appears in levels to help Kirby progress through them, usually using random means of transportation such as log rafts and mine carts.

In the Kirby anime Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, there is a multitude of Waddle Dees who serve as King Dedede's servants. They work around the castle as guards, maids, cooks, repairmen, or any other job that needs doing. However, they are rather clumsy and weak and can often mess up. They serve him because they serve anyone that feeds them and gives them shelter.

Waddle Doo

Waddle Doo is a fictional character and species from Nintendo's Kirby franchise. They look like Waddle Dees, but have only one huge eye. They appear in most games. If Kirby sucks up one of these, it will give him a beam ability, accompanied by a jester's hat in Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland. In Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, Kirby's friendly Waddle Dee was taken over by Dark Matter, and when he lifted his face back up, he was a Waddle Doo. These Waddle Doos can fire short-ranged beams, making them more powerful than Waddle Dees. In the anime, there is only one Waddle Doo, who serves as the captain of all the Waddle Dees.

Whispy Woods

Whispy Woods (ウイスピーウッズ, Uisupī Uzzu) is a large apple tree whose most common attack is dropping apples from his branches. He generally appears as a boss, usually the first one in many Kirby games.

The anime features him as the king of forest in Dream Land. Whispy is several hundred years old, and very wise, though he has a bit of a temper. He's very kind to his friends, but shows no mercy to those that threaten his kingdom. At first, he believes Kirby and his friends are intruders when they build a campfire around him. It turns out to be a setup by Dedede, who wants to destroy Whispy to build a golf course. After most of the forest burns, it is revived by one of Whispy's apples. Dedede continues to constantly try to build his golf course during the series, while Whispy becomes Kirby's ally.