Kirby
- This article is about the titular main protagonist of the Kirby series. For the playable song in the Japanese version of Donkey Konga, see Kirby!
| Kirby | |
|---|---|
 Artwork from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | |
| Species | Kirby |
| First appearance | Arcana (cameo) (1992, overall) Kirby's Dream Land (1992, Kirby series) Super Mario-kun ("Monster Boos Appear!! Escape the Museum of Terror!!") (1993, Super Mario-related media) |
| Latest appearance | Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (2024, Super Mario-related media) Kirby Air Riders (2025, Kirby series) |
| Latest portrayal | Makiko Ohmoto |
- “Hiii!!”
- —Kirby, Super Smash Bros.
Kirby is an inhabitant of Planet Popstar and the protagonist of the Kirby series. He lives in the kingdom of Dream Land, which is ruled by the series' main antagonist (but also often an ally), King Dedede. On his adventures, he runs into many other characters, such as the enigmatic Meta Knight, or the helpful and friendly Bandana Waddle Dee. Kirby defeats his foes by using his signature ability, inhaling items and enemies and spitting them out or copying their abilities.
Aside from some cameos, Kirby has rarely appeared alongside Mario in either of their series aside from a few issues of the German Club Nintendo magazine and, most notably, in the Super Smash Bros. titles–all of which are directed by Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of the Kirby series. He is voiced by Makiko Ohmoto, who also voices Ness in the Super Smash Bros. series.
History[edit]
Super Mario-kun[edit]
Kirby's first appearance in the Super Mario franchise is in volume 5 of Super Mario-kun. When Mario and his friends are being chased by Boos, Mario notices a circular character that he mistakes for another Boo. This character turns out to be Kirby, who helps Mario and his allies by swallowing the enemies. Kirby, however, seems to realize that he is not on Game Boy, and runs off. Kirby makes subsequent cameos in later volumes, such as in volume 7 when he shows up to inhale a collector's stolen goods.
Club Nintendo[edit]
Kirby made appearances in the German Club Nintendo comics. He is one of the few non-Super Mario characters to be a recurring character.
Kirby appears in the comic "Super Mario: Mario im Wunderland". In this comic, Mario gets to Wunderland by accident, which is a strange land where a wizard, whose name is Crab is said to be able to fulfill desires. Among others, Mario meets Kirby in Wunderland, and mistakes him for a pillow. This annoys Kirby, and since he says he wants to look like Mega Man, he joins Mario on his way to the wizard. When arriving there, however, Kirby just says that he would like to not be a pillow any longer. The wizard then turns him into a toaster.
In the story "Warios Weihnachtsmärchen", Kirby is caged in Wario's Bomb Shop and expresses his anger by commanding Wario to free him. Wario paints him black and sells him to Kid Klown as a "surprise bomb". When Kid Klown finds out about Kirby being the "surprise", both of them are angry at Wario. At the end of the story, they forgive him, as he gives some cookies to them.
Kirby appears in "Super Mario in Die Nacht des Grauens" as Mario's ally in the fight against Abigor. In this story, Kirby lives in a skyscraper together with several other Nintendo characters. In order to fight Abigor, who plans to take over the building, Kirby together with Mario and Link puts on some magic clothes and serums which turn them into aggressive ghostbusters. In this form, Kirby uses his inhale and temporary fire breath abilities to fight Abigor's allies.
Kirby is a background character in "Die Jagd nach dem Nintendo 64: Krawall im All". He is among the many characters to celebrate the Mario Brothers when they managed to find the Nintendo 64 first, before Bowser and Wario could.
New Famicom commercial[edit]
Kirby appears in a commercial for the New Famicom alongside several other characters. He and the others are later joined by Wario and Link.
Super Game Boy[edit]
Kirby appears alongside various Super Mario characters on the European cover art of the Super Game Boy.
Mario Kirby Meisaku Video[edit]
- WiKirby article: Mario Kirby Masterpiece Video
Kirby appears in his own story in the educational video Mario Kirby Meisaku Video. During the story, he helps a little lost dog find its mother, who was allegedly kidnapped by King Dedede.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros.[edit]
- SmashWiki article: Kirby (SSB)
Kirby appears in Super Smash Bros., where he is eight inches (20 centimeters) high, though his dimensions were heightened for this game in order to make him viable to fight. Kirby is the second lightest fighter behind Jigglypuff, and like it, though unlike most fighters, has five jumps, referencing his flight abilities in the Kirby series.
Several of Kirby's attacks are based on the various abilities throughout the Kirby series: his standard special move is Inhale, which allows him to suck up any opponents into his mouth and either spit them out as a star or copy them, allowing him to use their standard special move; his down special is Stone, which allows him to slam the ground as a stone; his up special is the Final Cutter, one of the Cutter ability's attacks, which allows him to leap into the air and slice the ground; his standard attack is based on the Vulcan Jab, one of the Fighter ability's attacks; and his side smash is based on the Smash Kick, another of the Fighter's moves. Most of Kirby's grab attacks are all based on moves used by the Backdrop and Suplex abilities, though his up throw is the Air Drop attack used by Ninja. Kirby's up aerial is an original move known as "Twinkle Star", which would later be used in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror as an attack for Kirby's Smash ability.
Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]
- SmashWiki article: Kirby (SSBM)
Kirby returns in Super Smash Bros. Melee. He is still a default character. He is lighter and slower in this game compared to in Super Smash Bros. Kirby is also given a side special move, the Hammer, which allows him to swing the hammer once on the ground and spinning vertically in the air. In addition, his dash attack has been changed to the Burning ability. "Twinkle Star" is now Kirby's standard aerial; his up aerial is completely new, being the Moon Somersault Kick from the Fighter ability; his forward aerial is now the Aerial Spin Kick, also from the Fighter ability. His appearance was also altered, becoming smoother due to the GameCube's heightened graphical abilities. His pink hue is also slightly brighter. Otherwise, not much else has changed between his original and Melee appearances.
In Adventure Mode, Kirby appears in Stage 5: Green Greens. The player must battle 18 Kirbys, each with a different copy ability from another character, though sometimes there will be a Kirby with no copied ability. In addition, by defeating every Kirby in under 30 seconds, the player can fight Giant Kirby as an additional opponent.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
- SmashWiki article: Kirby (SSBB)
Kirby returns in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Two other characters from the Kirby series, Meta Knight and King Dedede, are new fighters in this game. Kirby's moveset has been changed slightly: Kirby's Burning ability dash attack in Super Smash Bros. Melee has been replaced with a spinning kick similar to the Break Spin attack used by the Yo-Yo ability in Kirby Super Star, and the aerial Hammer swings horizontally rather than vertically. Kirby's Final Smash attack is called Cook Kirby, based on the Cook ability, debuting in Kirby Super Star, which draws in everything nearby for Kirby to cook it in a pot and release items while damaging enemies.
Stage 5 of Classic Mode always uses characters from the Kirby series, so Kirby has a chance of appearing in it, either as an enemy or as a partner. Stage 15 of All-Star Mode is also themed around the Kirby series.
The Subspace Emissary[edit]
In the beginning, a trophy of Mario and Kirby are thrown into an arena. The two come to life and fight. The player chooses either Mario or Kirby to play as. After the battle between the two, the winner resurrects the loser with a touch. The Subspace Army attacks the stadium, but Mario, Kirby, Peach, and Zelda oppose them. Mario is blown away by a cannon ball, and Kirby is ambushed by Petey Piranha, who has captured the princesses. Kirby then goes off against Petey. After either Peach or Zelda is freed, Kirby takes her for a ride off into the Sea of Clouds on his Warp Star before taking a hit and landing on the Halberd. Soon, an Arwing is shot down, blowing both the princess and Kirby off the Halberd on the ground below.
After the princess and Kirby land in a grassy area, Kirby runs away, leaving the princess behind. The princess turns around and sees Bowser with a Dark Cannon who immediately shoots her to transform her into a trophy. Kirby hops on King Dedede's Cargo and waits there.
After King Dedede collects the Link and Yoshi (or Mario and Pit) trophies, Kirby hops out. King Dedede then gasps and with his Final Cutter, Kirby destroys the large object that is holding the two trophies. Kirby quickly revives the two, and they all jump off the cargo. King Dedede turns around and leaves, but his cargo ends up blowing an engine from an arrow that is either fired by Link or Pit.
Kirby, Mario, Pit, Link, and Yoshi become a team and go to save the other trophies (the other princess, Ness, and Luigi). They reach King Dedede's castle, but they are still unable to rescue the trophies as Bowser escapes with the princess trophy in his Koopa Clown Car while the other trophies are buried under a large pile of stones. While Bowser steals the princess, the badge that Dedede had put on the princess falls. Kirby goes to inspect it and swallows it. The team then leaves because Dedede's Castle is destroyed by another Subspace Bomb. After leaving, they reach a desert below the castle where they follow the Ancient Minister. However the Ancient Minister sends R.O.B.s out to stop them, and he sets another bomb. It explodes, however Mario hops on Yoshi and rides off. Meanwhile, Pit and Link hop on Kirby's Warp Star and fly off. They escape before the explosion can reach them.
Later, Kirby and the others find the Ice Climbers, Marth, Lucas, the Pokémon Trainer, and Ike fighting the Subspace Army and subsequently join the fight. All of the other heroes join up with them afterward. Near the end, when the heroes are all fighting Ganondorf and Bowser in Ganondorf and Bowser's large Subspace Gunship, Kirby ends up destroying the gunship. He comes riding a Dragoon and flies right in the villain's large cannon, destroying not only the cannon but the whole ship itself. Ganondorf and Bowser escape going in the large black hole in the sky. All the heroes follow them inside.
The heroes are all in Subspace itself. Kirby and all the others attempt to fight Tabuu; however, they are all defeated with his Off Waves. The badge that Kirby swallowed turns out to have the power to turn a trophy back to life. Kirby is brought back and goes off to revive Link, Yoshi, Peach, Zelda, the Ice Climbers, Meta Knight, Lucario, R.O.B., Solid Snake, and even Wario, who also had been working with the Subspace Army and ended up in Subspace earlier on. Soon Kirby comes across Ganondorf in his trophy form, but before he could do anything, Bowser suddenly appears and starts attacking Ganondorf, having been betrayed by him earlier. Dedede (who revived Luigi and Ness with the badges) then reunites with Kirby. Kirby, as well as everyone else, fights Tabuu a second time and are able to defeat him (with some extra help).
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[edit]
- SmashWiki article: Kirby (SSB4)
Kirby returns as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. His Hammer is replaced with Hammer Flip, making it more similar to the move in Kirby Super Star. His Final Smash was changed to Ultra Sword, a Super Ability from Kirby's Return to Dream Land. Kirby's standard attack also gains a finisher in Smash Punch, an attack from the Fighter ability. Kirby's mobility is improved, but his attacks' damage output and knockback are decreased, while some of his moves are slower.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
- SmashWiki article: Kirby (SSBU)
Kirby returns as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. While many of his moves remain the same, Kirby's dash attack has reverted to his Burning ability tackle from Super Smash Bros. Melee. Kirby's down tilt is called Squish Kick. Kirby has received a significant amount of improvements over the previous installment, receiving higher mobility, higher ability to knock opponents back and damage in some of his attacks, reduced short hop timing and landing lag in his aerial attacks, and reduced startup or ending lag in some of his attacks.
In Adventure Mode: World of Light, Kirby is the initial playable character and protagonist and the only character to survive an attack from Galeem, who turns everyone in the world into spirits and transports them to the World of Light, leaving Kirby to rescue them. According to Masahiro Sakurai, the presence of puppet fighters from Kirby in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Spirits modes is due to Galeem managing to analyze Kirby throughout the story.[1]
Classic Mode route[edit]
At the start of rounds 1-6, multiple foods appear on the stage. By completing Kirby's Classic Mode route, it is possible to unlock Ness, Jigglypuff, Pac-Man, Zelda, Robin, Corrin, Lucas, or Palutena. Kirby's Classic Mode route pits him against characters known for eating.
| Gourmet Clash | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Opponent(s) | Stage | Song | |
| 1 | Pac-Man | Pac-Land | PAC-MAN | |
| 2 | Giant Yoshi | Yoshi's Island (Melee) | Ground Theme - Super Mario World | |
| 3 | Donkey Kong | Jungle Japes | Jungle Hijinxs | |
| 4 | Giant Wario | Gamer | WarioWare, Inc. | |
| 5 | King K. Rool | Kongo Jungle | Mangrove Cove | |
| 6 | Giant King Dedede | Fountain of Dreams | Gourmet Race (64) | |
| Final | Marx | Vs. Marx | ||
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga[edit]
Kirby makes a cameo appearance in the original version of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga on a poster advertising a movie known as Kirby Story, whose artwork featured Kirby riding a Warp Star through the air in the Yoshi Theater.
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
Since the 3.0 update of Mario Kart 8 and available from the start in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Kirby's amiibo is compatible. Placing it on the NFC sensor unlocks a custom Kirby-themed outfit for players to equip upon Miis. In fact, Kirby himself appears - merely as a picture - in the Mii Racing Suits menu; this picture stays right near the Mii suit design mentioned before.
Super Mario Maker[edit]
Kirby is one of the obtainable Costume Mario costumes in Super Mario Maker, unlocked by tapping the Kirby amiibo onto the Wii U GamePad. The sprite Kirby uses is the one from Kirby's Adventure. This costume also replaces the jumping, landing, and end-of-level sounds, all of which are also taken from Kirby's Adventure. The sound that plays when Mario obtains the costume is also the one that plays when Kirby gets a copy ability in Kirby's Adventure.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie[edit]
Though Kirby does not appear in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, he is referenced when a pink Luma imitates his hover move at one point in the film when Luigi uses the radio of Fox's crashed Arwing, whose signal is picked up by the Comet Observatory.
Unused appearances[edit]
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]
Though Kirby does not appear in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a piece of concept art for the film features a woman holding a bag that has Kirby on it on her baby stroller.[2]
Copy Abilities[edit]
Below is a chart of Copy Abilities that Kirby can gain from Super Mario characters in the Super Smash Bros. series. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, Kirby will only copy the character's default standard special move.
| Image | Character | Description | Games obtainable |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bowser | Kirby receives Bowser's hair and horns and gains his special: Fire Breath. Kirby can breath out fire, which can be angled up or down starting in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. However, the flame diminishes after being used for too long and must recharge. | Melee / Brawl / Nintendo 3DS / Wii U / Ultimate |
|
Bowser Jr./Koopalings | Regardless of which of the characters Kirby inhales, he will receive Bowser Jr.'s tuft of hair and a bandana resembling the one worn by Bowser Jr. He gains the ability Clown Cannon, which will cause a cannon to appear in Kirby's mouth upon pressing the special button. How far the cannonball travels depends on how long the special button is held. | Nintendo 3DS / Wii U / Ultimate |
|
Daisy | Kirby receives the crown Daisy wears on his head and gains the special move Toad. If Kirby pulls the Toad out while he is being attacked, Toad will release damaging spores. | Ultimate |
|
Diddy Kong | Kirby receives Diddy Kong's hat and his special move, Peanut Popgun. Using the move will have Kirby take out his version of the popgun. Holding the special button will charge the popgun and releasing will fire a peanut. The distance the peanut is launched depends on how long the button was held. Holding the button for too long, however, will cause the popgun to explode, dealing slight damage to Kirby and those around him. | Brawl / Nintendo 3DS / Wii U / Ultimate |
|
Dr. Mario | Kirby obtains a doctor's head mirror and Dr. Mario's special move, Megavitamin. Pressing the special button will have Kirby launch a Megavitamin forward, which will bounce around off the ground and walls for a time, disappearing either when it travels far enough or after dealing damage to an opponent. Due to Kirby's lower height, the Megavitamins do not bounce as high compared to when Dr. Mario launches them. | Melee / Nintendo 3DS / Wii U / Ultimate |
|
Donkey Kong | Kirby obtains a suit that resembles Donkey Kong's fur and his special move, Giant Punch. Upon pressing the special button, Kirby will begin charging the move by swinging his arm around. Pressing the button again will unleash the move and the amount of damage it does is based on how long it was charged. Using this move in the air will put Kirby into a helpless state. | All |
|
King K. Rool | Kirby will receive a hat resembling the top of King K. Rool's head along with his crown upon inhaling him. Kirby also receives the Blunderbuss, a special move where a rifle shoots a Kannonball projectile forward. Unlike K. Rool, Kirby does not don a pirate hat when performing this attack. | Ultimate |
|
Luigi | Kirby will obtain Luigi's green cap as well as his Fireball special move. Pressing the special button will send a green fireball forward, traveling a short distance forward and bouncing off of obstacles. The fireball does not touch the ground, so the momentum does not get lost as it continues. The fireball will dissipate after hitting an opponent or after enough time has passed. | All |
|
Mario | Kirby will obtain Mario's red cap as well as his Fireball special move. Pressing the special button will send a red fireball forward, bouncing along the ground and off of obstacles. The fireball will dissipate after hitting an opponent or after enough time has passed. However, due to Kirby's height, the fireballs do not bounce as high as Mario's. | All |
|
Peach | Kirby receives the crown Peach wears on his head and gains the special move Toad. If Kirby pulls the Toad out while he is being attacked, Toad will counter the move in Melee or release damaging spores in Brawl and onward. | Melee / Brawl / Nintendo 3DS / Wii U / Ultimate |
|
Piranha Plant | Kirby will don a full-body outfit resembling Piranha Plant's head, with Kirby's arm's and face peeking out through the mouth. Kirby will also receive the special move Ptooie which allows Kirby to spit out a spike ball and keep it airborne by blowing on it. This damage dealing ball can be launched either left/right or swallowed by Kirby if the move is canceled. | Ultimate |
|
Rosalina & Luma | Kirby receives Rosalina's silver crown and her special move, Luma Shot. By holding the special button, Kirby will receive a wand similar to Rosalina's and a Luma will appear in front of him. Releasing the button will send the Luma flying forward, damaging opponents in its way. How far it goes and how much damage it deals depends on how long it was charged. Unlike Rosalina's move, the Luma does not stick around or return to Kirby, instead disappearing after it reaches the end of the launched distance. | Nintendo 3DS / Wii U / Ultimate |
|
Wario | Regardless of what palette of Wario's Kirby inhales, Kirby will receive Wario's biker helmet and gain the move Chomp. Pressing the special button will make Kirby open up his mouth wide, followed by clamping down on opponents who get close. Repeatedly pressing the button will deal damage to the captured opponent and Kirby will throw the opponent away after some time has passed. Kirby can also use this move to eat certain items and projectiles. | Brawl / Nintendo 3DS / Wii U / Ultimate |
|
Yoshi | Kirby obtains a cap resembling the top of Yoshi's head and his large nose, along with his special move, Egg Lay. When the special button is pressed, Kirby will send out a long tongue, which he will use to grab opponents and pull them within him, trapping them in eggs.
Kirby uses Yoshi's tongue rather than his own, making Kirby appear to have two tongues in Melee and Brawl. |
All |
|
Kirby | Inhaling another Kirby will not do anything if the other Kirby does not have an ability. If the other Kirby does have an ability, it can be stolen, essentially swapping the abilities the Kirbys had. | All |
The gallery below shows the non-Super Mario characters Kirby can copy:
Kirby as Bayonetta
Kirby as Byleth
Kirby as Captain Falcon (Until for 3DS / Wii U)
Kirby as Captain Falcon (Ultimate)
Kirby as Charizard
Kirby as Chrom
Kirby as Cloud
Kirby as Corrin
Kirby as Dark Pit
Kirby as Duck Hunt
Kirby as Falco
Kirby as Fox
Kirby as Ganondorf(Melee and Ultimate)
Kirby as Ganondorf (Brawl and for 3DS / Wii U)
Kirby as Greninja
Kirby as Hero
Kirby as Ice Climbers
Kirby as Ike
Kirby as Incineroar
Kirby as Inkling
Kirby as Isabelle
Kirby as Ivysaur
Kirby as Jigglypuff
Kirby as Joker
Kirby as Kazuya
Kirby as Ken
Kirby as King Dedede
Kirby as Link
