Animal Friend
- This article is about the animal companions in Kirby's Dream Land 2 and Kirby's Dream Land 3. For the ability in Kirby: Squeak Squad, see Animal. For other helpful characters, see Category:Allies.
The Animal Friends are a group of animal-like creatures who serve as Kirby's allies. They made their debut in Kirby's Dream Land 2. More specifically, the term refers to the rideable animal companions which Kirby can mount and combine his powers with. There are six of them in total.
The first three, which debuted in Kirby's Dream Land 2, are Rick, who resembles a hamster, Kine, who resembles a sunfish, and Coo, who resembles an owl. The other three, which joined the originals in Kirby's Dream Land 3, are Nago, who resembles a cat, ChuChu, who resembles an octopus, and Pitch, who resembles a bird.
Most of the animal friends are somewhat larger than Kirby, and all of them provide their own unique way of moving once they are paired up with him. Kirby can only travel with one Animal Friend at a time and will have to switch out between them based on what task needs solving.
Game appearances
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Rick, Kine, and Coo first appear in this title. They each have their distinct advantages and disadvantages when paired up with, and will use their own special version of whichever Copy Ability Kirby has equipped. Using their power is necessary to collect some of the Rainbow Drops. To find them, Kirby will have to free them from a bag by defeating the Mid-Boss on guard. If that animal friend is already freed, Gooey or Girl blob will appear instead.
Kirby's Star Stacker
In Kirby's Star Stacker (both versions), Rick, Kine, and Coo feature prominently, both on the puzzle board as blocks that need to be moved around and in cutscenes and illustrations. Unlike in the main series titles, there is no functional difference between the animal friends in gameplay.
Kirby's Dream Land 3
In addition to the previous three, Nago, ChuChu, and Pitch appear in this title. Unlike the previous, they can be found in the open in various rooms, and Kirby will have to pick between them. Using each one in specific situations is necessary to get all of the Heart Stars.
Kirby Star Allies
Rick & Kine & Coo
| “ | Three pals from Kirby's Dream Land 2 join the fray! They've formed a dream-team trio, so they can help each other out. Rick rules the land. Kine swims the seas. Coo soars through skies. Animal friends forever! | ” | — Flavor text of Rick & Kine & Coo in Story Mode and The Ultimate Choice |
| “ | "Friends by air, sea, and land!" This triple-deluxe pack of pals from Kirby's Dream Land 2 is here to help! You'll hear 'em coming: pitter-patter, splish-splash, and flutter-flap! |
” | — Guest Star Rick & Kine & Coo Animal Trio Pause Screen description in Kirby Star Allies |
In Kirby Star Allies, Rick, Kine, and Coo appear as Dream Friends, albeit rolled into a single character. They switch out based on which attacks are being used, playing in a tag-team style; when not attacking, Rick is used by default, Kine is used while swimming, and Coo is used when in the air after using Flutter or Parasol Coo. Their abilities are based on fusion Copy Abilities from Kirby's Dream Land 2 and Kirby's Dream Land 3, and are capable of providing the Bluster, Sizzle, Splash, and (under rare circumstances) Blizzard elements to other abilities. In addition, while using Stone Rick, Rick can participate in Curling, Geokinesis, and Rock Painter. Rick also retains his abilities to not slip on ice and to damage enemies by jumping on them. Kine has the distinction of being the fastest swimmer of all the available characters. While guarding, Rick hides in a bag which is similar to the ones they were held in from Dream Land 2. Their unique rooms in Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! recreate stages from Dream Land 2 and/or utilize Rick & Kine & Coo's abilities. The trio's Friend Star bullets are Sizzle-based.
| Rick & Kine & Coo moveset in Kirby Star Allies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill | Button Execution | Description | Damage |
| Fire Rick | B
|
Rick breathes fireballs in a close range like he does in Kirby's Dream Land 2 and 3.
|
8→4 (2nd hit onward) |
| Stone Rick | Dash + B
|
Rick transforms into a rolling stone like he does in Kirby's Dream Land 2 and 3. Like the Stone ability, this can pound stakes and be used in Stone-based Friend Abilities. Rick is invincible during both the (de)transformation process and the stone form. |
Stone: 46→5→2 Release: 20 |
| Parasol Coo | Dash + B in midair
|
Coo spins himself like a tornado with a parasol on his head like he does in Kirby's Dream Land 2 and 3. | 10×12 hits (10→9→9→8→8→7→7→7→6→10→9→9)
|
| Cutter Coo | B in midair during Flutter
|
Coo tosses 3-way feather cutters like he does in Kirby's Dream Land 2.
|
12×3 hits (12+10+9 when full hits landed) |
| Flutter | A in midair
|
Coo flutters his wings to fly in the air.
|
4 |
| Fish Flop | ↓ + B
|
Kine flops and splashes on the ground.
|
16→12→10→8→8 (5th hit onward) |
| Ice Kine | B underwater
|
Kine surrounds himself with cold waves underwater like he does in Kirby's Dream Land 2 and 3.
|
N/A |
| Kine Freeze | Hold B underwater
|
When Kine uses 'Ice Kine' for about 3 seconds, he will freeze himself and become unable to move until releasing B like he does in Kirby's Dream Land 2 and 3.
|
N/A |
| Protective Bag | L/R
|
Rick & Kine & Coo hide in a bag that resembles the one they are trapped in from Kirby's Dream Land 2. | N/A |
| Stomp | Stomp on enemies as Rick
|
Rick damages enemies (including bosses) by stomping on them and bounces off. Also works on certain other obstacles, such as spikes and Gordos. | 16→8→4 (3rd hit onward) |
| Reference: A Star Bullet deals 52 damage. | |||
ChuChu / Nago / Pitch
The other three animal friends from Kirby's Dream Land 3 also appear, but only briefly as part of the Cleaning ability moveset. These animal friends reprise their combination moves that are performed if Kirby has the Cleaning ability in the original game.
- Clean ChuChu (Dash + B in midair) reprises her flying broom.
- Clean Pitch (Up + press & release B) reprises his bucket transformation move. This move can also be charged.
- Clean Nago (Dash + B) reprises his floor polishing technique.
ChuChu and Pitch are also depicted in the Celebration Picture "A Dream Above the Clouds". For some reason, Nago is not depicted with them.
Other titles
The animal friends often make cameos in other titles in the series. Most of the time, this entails appearing in Sub-Games or having their likenesses made into collectible items. The most prominent cameo comes from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards when Kirby uses the Stone-Cutter Power Combo. Doing so transforms Kirby into a stone replica of one of his animal friends, giving him a different movement option (or none at all) with each one.
In Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Rick, Kine, and Coo appear as distinct characters in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, with some episodes featuring them prominently. They appear to have no direct connection to Kirby in the show, and are merely intelligent creatures living in Dream Land.
Trivia
- According to the Kirby 20th Anniversary Celebration Book included with Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition, it was originally planned to refer to Kirby's Animal Friends as "minions", but this was changed to better fit with Kirby's personality.[1]
- English marketing material for Kirby's Dream Land 2 refers to the Animal Friends in that game as "Rick the hamster", "Kine the fish", and "Coo the owl". However, Japanese material has suggested from the beginning that they are not actual animals, and only resemble them in likeness. Later English material would also adopt this stance, which notably resulted in the Nintendo Switch Online description for Kirby's Dream Land 2 being altered to refer to them as "Rick, Kine, and Coo, who look like a hamster, a fish, and an owl, respectively."
Gallery
Images
"Crazy Mischief in the Stars" Celebration Picture from Kirby Star Allies featuring Rick, Kine, and Coo
Tip image of Kirby adventuring with the Wave 1 Dream Friends, featuring Rick in Kirby Star Allies
The Rick, Kine & Coo statue at Merry Magoland in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
Illustration from the Kirby JP Twitter featuring all the Animal Friends
Videos
Official Kirby Portal video showcasing Animal Friends
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Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | なかま能力 Naka ma nōryoku |
Companion Ability |
| German | Tierfreund | Animal friend |
| Portuguese | Amigo animal | Animal friend |
References
- ↑ "At the start of their development, we called these characters "minions", but we changed them to "friends" because that felt more fitting given Kirby's personality." --Kirby's 20th Anniversary Celebration Book (English print), page 10
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