Animal
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- This article is about the Copy Ability. For Kirby's animal helpers debuting in Kirby's Dream Land 2, see Animal Friend.
Animal is a Copy Ability that made its debut (and so far only) appearance in Kirby: Squeak Squad. It gives Kirby an animal costume with claws that allow him to dig through soft dirt, snow or clouds in certain areas. In addition, Kirby gains a lunge attack that allows him to tackle enemies.
Characteristics
Kirby gains the Animal ability primarily from the mole-like enemy Gaw Gaw or its larger mid-boss counterpart Gao Gao. While using this ability, Kirby wears an animal suit with brown and beige fur that has features of several different mammalian creatures, including a mole, a beaver, and a fox. This suit covers most of his body, leaving only a hole in the front for his face, with the "animal"'s head laying on top like a hood.
Using this ability, Kirby gains the ability to dig and attack using his claws. In the former case, he is able to bore through soft terrain in specific patches throughout the stages of Kirby: Squeak Squad, which takes the form of either soil, sand, or snow. This allows him to uncover hidden items or passageways that he would not otherwise have been able to reach. Kirby also gains a short-range lunge attack, allowing him to pounce on enemies and then scratch them. After collecting the Ability Scroll for the Animal ability, Kirby also gains a drill-like rush attack that lets him dig through soft material even faster and increases his mobility.
Game appearances
Kirby: Squeak Squad
Animal debuts in Kirby: Squeak Squad. It is obtained by swallowing a Gaw Gaw, or the Mid-Boss Gao Gao.
Obtaining the Ability Scroll for Animal allows Kirby to perform the 'Claw Drill' attack, which propels him through the air like the Burning ability, but with the option of going downward in addition to left or right.
| Animal's moveset in Kirby: Squeak Squad Facing Right. Attack names are conjectural. | |||
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| Skill | Button Execution | Skill | Button Execution |
| Claw Swipe | B
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Leaping Claw Swipe | Dash + B
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| Dig | B in diggable spots
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Claw Drill | ↓, ←, or → + B in midair
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Kirby: Triple Deluxe
In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Animal Kirby makes a small cameo appearance as one of the collectible keychains.
Kirby Star Allies
In Kirby Star Allies, Animal Kirby makes a cameo on "The Great Labyrinth Battle" Celebration Picture, occupying the left side of the picture.
Kirby's Dream Buffet
In Kirby's Dream Buffet, Animal Kirby appears on one of the Character Treats, using his in-game sprite from Kirby: Squeak Squad.
Profiles
Flavor text
| Image | Game | Flavor text |
|---|---|---|
| File:USCover KSS.jpg | Kirby: Squeak Squad | You love dirt! DIG! Sweet dirt! DIG! DIG! DIG! DIG!! Can't dig everywhere... |
Kirby: Squeak Squad manual
- "Animal Kirby's got long, sharp claws, which are good for attacking or digging in soft ground."
Trivia
- A Copy Ability also called "Animal", with moves similar to the existing Animal ability, was planned to be included in Kirby's Adventure, but didn't make the cut.[1]
- The Animal Copy Ability makes an appearance in merchandise pertaining to and being illustrated in the style of Kirby: Right Back at Ya! despite it never actually appearing in the anime due to it ending years before Kirby: Squeak Squad's Japanese release.
- In an interview in Nintendo Dream's June 2022 issue regarding Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Shinya Kumazaki acknowledged how Drill may have reminded fans of Animal, and explained that the biggest reason why Animal wasn't included in the game was because the main enemies of the game are all animals, and thus, if Animal was in the game, all of them would need to give the ability.
Gallery
Sprite from Kirby: Squeak Squad
Icon from Kirby: Squeak Squad
Keychain from Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Videos
Official Kirby Portal video showcasing Animal
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Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アニマル Animaru |
Animal |
| Dutch | Beest | Beast |
| French | Animal | Animal |
| German | Tier | Animal |
| Italian | Animale | Animal |
| Korean | 애니멀 Aenimeol |
Animal |
| Portuguese | Animal | - |
| Russian | Зверь Zver' |
Beast |
| Spanish | Salvaje | Wild |
References
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