User:Waddlez3121/Sandbox/Kirby's Characteristics

In spite of his simple surface and unassuming lack of immediate complexity, Kirby has a wide set of characteristics that define him. This page will discuss them and define them more clearly.

Physical traits

Exterior appearance

• Kirby is small and pink
• round torso/head
• red feet and nub-like hands but no arms or legs
• blue eyes
  • occasionally shown as iridescent
• color variants (move species up here?)

Kirby is round and stout, with all possible sources confirming his height of eight inches (20 centimeters).    His torso is not distinct from his head, as they are one and the same. His pink complexion extends all over his body, except his red oval feet. This simple color scheme lends itself to many color variants, some of whom are more prominent.  ^{KDC and KatAM-related citations}

His eyes are depicted in a different manner from many fictional characters, being long black ovals with a blue fading iris at the bottom. These irises have recently been shown to be iridescent, such as in Kirby and the Forgotten Land's pre-rendered cutscenes. ^{can this even be cited?} However, gameplay and other cutscenes use the less extravagant in-game model without this trait. Aside from the iridescence, this is a common way to illustrate eyes in the Kirby series; this is a trait shared with those such as Waddle Dees and Awoofies.

Interior anatomy

• Kirby is unclear
• needs food; can inhale or just eat normally
• respiratory system
  • lungs
  • nose/nostrils implied by earlier media
  • may not need to breathe at all, actually? (consider Mint Leaf, Hypernova, can survive in space and usually water)
• no skeleton/teeth
• tongue
• hand nubs slide around
  • human-like restrictions
• skin is rubbery soft
  • NO FUR
• sweat

Kirby's precise anatomy is variously described as "top-secret",  "classified",  and "an utter mystery". ^{ideally would like to cite exactly these words for each three phrases, but these were written from memory} This is due to the lack of concrete information given, which HAL Laboratory enjoys playing up frequently. In spite of that, various details have been established about his internal workings.

Kirby clearly needs food, as it is directly tied to his well-being. He is capable of eating normally and seems to favor this, but he can also simply inhale food to gain the same nutritional value. He can also suffer from food poisoning, evident from when he inhales Mariel or one of Yggy Woods's cherries.  ^{KDL3 and KSA citations if possible} As for what his mouth contains, he decidedly does not have teeth, as their only appearance in Kirby Super Star was removed in the remake.  He does have a tongue, allowing him to better enjoy the food he loves so much. ^{cite tongue}

In most situations, Kirby does not appear to need to breathe, as he can spend an unlimited time underwater or even survive the depths of space. However, he does have a respiratory system, and his lungs are mentioned a handful of times throughout supplementary material. ^{source has something to do with Heavy Blocks} He is also said to have a nose, though it is imperceptible on its own. It is evidenced only by unillustrated mentions of it in flavor text, or by the running gag of Sleep Kirby producing a snot bubble from a location above his mouth. The exact capacity of Kirby's lungs in unclear, as many games allow him to inhale for an infinite duration. Items such as Miracle Fruit and the Mint Leaf feature Kirby inhaling or exhaling incredible amounts of air.

Kirby's skin is rubbery and soft,  with remarkable stretching capacities allowing him to get away with feats that would stump the passing observer, such as Hypernova, Full-Belly Kirby, and Mouthful Mode. His hands are simply nubs, although their surface can accept items and implements such as tools and devices, allowing him to grab items he otherwise could not. It can also resist heavy injury, from brutal poundings from Bonkers to the sharp implements of Gigant Edge and Kibble Blade, none of which leave a scratch or bruise on him. His body features can move very widely, with both hands and feet boasting a wide range of motion. Under the skin is no skeleton, but he does have some rigidity to his form. In (media) with (person), it was mentioned that a muscular man was used as the basis for Kirby's movements, providing a range of motion not unlike humans. ^{I forgot the circumstances for this quote but I know it's out there}

Abilities

• flexible
• Copy Abilities
• inhale
  • mystery of what happens to inhaled objects
  • exhales things as Drop Stars
• vitality
• hover
• limited endurance of temperature extremes (frozen water and lava versus just hanging out in a snow field or a volcano)

Communication

• can't speak intelligibly; silent protagonist
  • limited to monosyllables, grunts, etc.
  • didn't some source say he purrs?
  • contrast other entities like Meta Knight (please don't imply that he's related to Kirby)
  • non-game media shows full sentences
• Kirby can understand language
  • can write, though not well
  • does attempt to speak
  • questionable whether he can read (KF2 letter, KBR invitation, etc.)

Personality

• personality basics:
  • gluttonous
  • cheery
  • oblivious/simple
  • determined/persistent (mention how SqSq is just Kirby's demonstration of spite)
  • heroic to a fault (Marx, Magolor; Nightmare Wizard also benefitted from Kirby's actions even if not directed to help him)
• hobbies
  • fishing
  • casual Warp Star drives
  • singing (badly)
• quick learner (Copy Abilities and Robobot Armor kinda depend on the player's skill; compare/contrast the anime?)
• becomes more expressive over time (redundant point IMO since almost every game can take place in any order)
  • technical limitations
• Kirby has varied in exact proportions
  • early designs were pointy and gave him cheek lines
  • early 2000's made him plumper
  • modern designs are rounder and find a middle ground
• silent protagonist
  • neutral character for the player to express their emotions through

Gender

• Almost universally referred to as male in the west
• East Asia presents him as more non-binary, acting in both male and female gender roles

I won't bother listing all the comparing and contrasting done in this area but that could probably stay

Species

• There are multiple similar entities (can we call this a species if Dark Matter didn't get the title of species? clearly there's a bunch of those too)