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{{Good}}{{Special icon|This was WiKirby's 3000th article.}}
{{Special icon|This was WiKirby's 3000th article.}}{{Infobox-Character
{{Infobox-Character
|image=[[File:KPR Restored to Life Butterfly.png|300px]]
|image=[[File:KPR Restored to Life Butterfly.png|300px]]
|caption=The red-and-orange '''butterfly''', as it appears on [[Kirby]]'s head in the final cutscene of ''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]''.
|caption=One red and orange '''butterfly''' standing on [[Kirby]]'s head in the final cutscene of ''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]''.
|game1=''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]'' (2011)
|game1=''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]'' (2011)
|lastgame=''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]'' (2022)
|lastgame=''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe]]'' (2023)
|game=<small>''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]''<br>''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]''<br>''[[Kirby Star Allies]]''<br>''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]''</small>
|game=<small>''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]''<br>''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]''<br>''[[Kirby Star Allies]]''<br>''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]''</small>
|similar=[[Papi]]
|related=[[Morpho Knight]]
|related=[[Morpho Knight]]
|theme music=N/A
}}
}}
{{distinguish|the recurring butterfly in various cut-scenes|[[Flutter]]}}
{{about|the recurring red and orange butterflies seen typically in cutscenes|the white butterfly seen in ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 3]]'' and ''[[Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards]]''|[[Flutter]]}}
Butterflies are a common sight in the [[Kirby (series)|''Kirby'' series]], but one particular red-and-orange '''butterfly''' is a recurring character through the series, which is typically seen in cutscenes. It was first seen in the opening cutscene for ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]'' and had its most recent appearance in ''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]''. It is unknown what the true nature of this butterfly is, other than it twice showing the ability to transform into [[Morpho Knight]]. While many theories abound, it is currently [[List of mysteries|an utter enigma]], though it was commonly seen as just an insignificant entity until its role in [[Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!]] of ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]''.
'''Butterflies''' are a common sight in the [[Kirby (series)|''Kirby'' series]], first seen in the intro of [[Green Greens]] in ''[[Kirby's Dream Land]]''. In particular, butterflies with a distinct red and orange coloration are recurring atmospheric background characters that are typically seen in cutscenes, especially those at the start and end of a game. These butterflies were first seen in the opening and ending cutscenes of ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]'' and have appeared in all mainline ''Kirby'' games since. In both of [[Morpho Knight]]'s appearances, it initially appears to be such a butterfly, but then takes the form of a knight after absorbing a powerful being.


==Description==
It is unclear if the butterflies that appear in cutscenes are the same entity as each other and/or Morpho Knight. In the ending of ''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]'', two red and orange butterflies appear on-screen at the same time, showing that there are multiple of them. Notably, the description of the Morpho Knight [[figure]] in the Japanese version of ''Kirby and the Forgotten Land'' uses the term "一頭の夢見鳥", which can be translated as "a butterfly" or "one of the butterflies", but it could also mean "the lone butterfly" or "the one butterfly". When asked if the butterflies were all the same, [[Shinya Kumazaki]] said he didn't want to confirm or deny it, and commented on how often certain aspects of the world of ''Kirby'' are left up to interpretation, so that each player can experience the games in their own ways.<ref>Nintendo DREAM June 2023 interview ([https://gigi9714.wordpress.com/2024/04/18/translation-of-the-kirbys-return-to-dream-land-deluxe-interview-from-the-june-2023-edition-of-nintendo-dream/ translation])</ref>
The butterfly is—as its name implies—a butterfly resembling those in the real world. It is rather small, with a total length comparable to one of [[Kirby]]'s eyes, though it has been shown to be much larger when it goes after [[Galacta Knight]] in [[Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!]]. Its wings are consistently depicted as yellow-orange on their insides and red on their edges, though whether the wings smoothly fade from red to orange or have a hard separation between them varies. The butterfly's body is mainly orange.


The butterfly is usually seen fluttering around [[Dream Land]], and often lands on Kirby when he is unconscious, which is typically enough to wake him up.
==Characteristics==
The butterflies are rather small, with a total length comparable to one of [[Kirby]]'s eyes, though specifically Morpho Knight has been shown to be much larger when it goes after [[Galacta Knight]] in [[Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!]]. Their wings are consistently depicted as yellow-orange on their insides and red on their edges, though whether the wings smoothly fade from red to orange or have a hard separation between them varies. The butterflies' body is mainly orange.
 
These butterflies are used as a symbol of peace in the series<ref>"''『カービィ』シリーズにおいて平和の象徴としてチョウチョを出しているのですが、ハッピーエンドのようにチョウチョが出てきたにも係わらず、危機が再来するイメージってハッとするなぁと思ったのです。''" –[https://www.ndw.jp/kirby_04/ July 2018 Issue] ('''Nintendo DREAM''')<br><br>([https://gigi9714.wordpress.com/2021/06/13/kirby-star-allies-vol-4-interview-the-ultimate-part-2-from-the-july-2018-issue/ Translation]: ''Butterflies are used as a symbol of peace in the Kirby series, and I thought it would be interesting to see the image of a crisis reappearing even though the butterflies appeared as if there was a happy ending.'')</ref> and are usually seen fluttering around [[Dream Land]], often landing on Kirby when he is unconscious, which is typically enough to wake him up.
 
[[wikipedia:Butterfly#In culture|In many cultures,]] butterflies are often associated with death, souls, and the afterlife. This extends as far back as ancient Egypt, where some species of butterflies were thought to be the reincarnated souls of dead warriors. [[wikipedia:Psyche (mythology)|Psyche]], the Greek goddess of the soul, was associated with butterflies and often appeared as a woman with butterfly wings. [[wikipedia:ja:チョウ#伝承|In ancient Japanese folklore,]] butterflies are thought to represent the souls of the living, the dying, and the dead. While they are treated with great reverence, a butterfly may signal an omen of death, or appear to guide a dying soul to [[Yomi]], the land of the dead.<ref>[https://ztevetevans.wordpress.com/2020/09/09/japanese-folktales-the-butterfly-soul/ Japanese Folktales: The Butterfly Soul], told by F. Hadland Davis, reproduced by zteve t evans</ref>
 
Thus, while butterflies are often used as symbols of peace in the ''Kirby'' series, this association with souls and death led to [[Morpho Knight]], an ominous character associated with Yomi who feasts upon souls, being represented as a butterfly.<ref>''チョウチョって、日本でも古くは黄泉の国を感じさせる不吉なイメージがありましたよね? なので、平和の象徴と思っていたチョウチョが介入して来たら、じつはものすごい敵だったと。''" –[https://www.ndw.jp/kirby_04/ July 2018 Issue] ('''Nintendo DREAM''')<br><br>([https://gigi9714.wordpress.com/2021/06/13/kirby-star-allies-vol-4-interview-the-ultimate-part-2-from-the-july-2018-issue/ Translation]: ''Butterflies used to have an ominous image in ancient times in Japan, reminding us of the land of Yomi, didn't they? So, the butterfly, which we thought was a symbol of peace, intervened, and turned out to be a tremendous opponent.'')</ref>


==Game appearances==
==Game appearances==
===''Kirby's Return to Dream Land''===
=== ''Kirby's Return to Dream Land'' / ''Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe'' ===
The red-and-orange butterfly first appears in this game's intro cut-scene, resting on a flower next to [[Meta Knight]] while he is reading near the knoll.
[[File:KRtDL Butterfly Intro.jpg|thumb|The first red and orange butterfly seen, standing on a flower as Meta Knight reads a book on a knoll in the opening cutscene for ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]''.]]
One red and orange butterfly first appears in this game's intro cutscene, "A Visitor from Afar", resting on a flower next to [[Meta Knight]] while he is reading near the knoll.


It later appears in the final cut-scene, once Kirby and his friends are returned home unconscious by [[Landia]]. It lands on Kirby's face and wakes him up.
A red and orange butterfly later appears in the final cutscene, "Each to His Own World", once Kirby and his friends are returned home unconscious by [[Landia]]. It initially lands on Kirby's face and wakes him up, which makes the butterfly fly away. Later, when [[King Dedede]] pulls his head out of the ground, the butterfly comes back and lands on a flower placed on King Dedede's head. The butterfly hops off his head after he looks up to see [[Landia]] and the [[Lor Starcutter]], and is then seen flying away as the cutscene ends.


===''Kirby: Triple Deluxe''===
===''Kirby: Triple Deluxe''===
The butterfly can be seen briefly at the very start of the opening cut-scene for this game. It lands on Kirby's head as he leaves his house in the morning to go frolicking.
One butterfly can be seen briefly at the very start of "Waking to a flowery coup!", the opening cutscene for this game. It lands on Kirby's head as he leaves [[Kirby's House|his house]] in the morning to go frolicking.


===''Kirby: Planet Robobot''===
===''Kirby: Planet Robobot''===
Much like in ''Kirby's Return to Dream Land'', the butterfly lands on Kirby's head in the final cutscene and wakes him up after Meta Knight deposits him unconscious near a tree.
Much like in ''Kirby's Return to Dream Land'', a butterfly lands on Kirby's head in the final cutscene of this game, "Restored to Life", waking him up after Meta Knight deposits him unconscious near a tree. The butterfly flies away, and presumably the same butterfly is then seen flying on top of the mains of [[Castle Dedede]]. While King Dedede and a [[Waddle Dee]] emerge from the castle's remains, two more butterflies appear and flutter around them for a bit before flying away.


===''Kirby Star Allies''===
===''Kirby Star Allies''===
[[File:KSA Guest Star gameplay 07.jpg|150px|thumb|right|The butterfly appears and approaches [[Galacta Knight]], intent on absorbing him.]]
[[File:KSA Guest Star gameplay 07.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Morpho Knight in its butterfly form appears and approaches [[Galacta Knight]], intent on absorbing him.]]
The butterfly appears in the Story Mode intro cut-scene, flying around [[Whispy Woods]] while the [[Jamba Heart]] pieces are raining down on Popstar. It may also appear over the bottom-right waters on the world map of [[Dream Land#Kirby_Star_Allies|Dream Land]] on occasion.
In this game, a butterfly appears in the [[Story Mode]] intro cutscene, "Starfall: A Rude Awakening", flying around [[Whispy Woods]] while the [[Jamba Heart]] pieces are raining down on Popstar. One may also appear over the bottom-right waters on the world map of [[World of Peace - Dream Land|Dream Land]] on occasion.


It later appears at the end of [[Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!]]. Here, after [[Hyness]] is defeated at [[The Divine Terminus]], [[Galacta Knight]] emerges from a portal and prepares to face down the allies. Just after his title card, the butterfly flutters down, now glowing ominously. It lands gently on Galacta Knight's lance and shortly after, causes this greatest warrior in the galaxy to be vaporized. It then absorbs this power and morphs into the knight of the underworld, [[Morpho Knight]], before attacking the allies.
A butterfly later appears at the end of [[Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!]]. Here, after [[Hyness]] is defeated at [[The Divine Terminus]], [[Galacta Knight]] emerges from a portal and prepares to face down the allies. Just after his title card is shown, the butterfly flutters down, glowing ominously. It lands gently on Galacta Knight's lance and proceeds to cause him to be vaporized. It then absorbs this power and morphs while revealing itself as the knight of the underworld, [[Morpho Knight]], before attacking the allies.


The Butterfly also makes a cameo in the [[Celebration Picture]] 'A Farewell to Kirby', depicted in monochrome.
A butterfly also appears in the [[Celebration Picture]] "A Farewell to Kirby", depicted in monochrome like the rest of the picture.


===''Kirby and the Forgotten Land''===
===''Kirby and the Forgotten Land''===
The butterfly makes a brief appearance in the opening cutscene. Here, it can be seen being sucked into the dimensional rift along with [[Kirby]] and the [[Waddle Dee]]s. The butterfly later appears in [[Forgo Land]] at the end of [[Isolated Isles: Forgo Dreams]], where it flies in and lands on [[Fecto Forgo|Soul Forgo]], transforming into Morpho Knight.
[[File:KatFL Butterfly in intro screenshot.png|thumb|left|250px|A butterfly in the opening scene for ''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]''.]]
A butterfly makes a brief appearance in the opening cutscene of this game, "Kirby and the Mysterious Vortex". Here, it can be seen being sucked into the dimensional rift along with [[Kirby]] and the [[Waddle Dee]]s.
 
Another butterfly, unknown if the same as the one in the opening cutscene, later appears in [[Forgo Land]] at the end of [[Isolated Isles: Forgo Dreams]], where it flies in and lands on [[Fecto Forgo|Soul Forgo]], transforming and revealing itself as Morpho Knight.
{{clear}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
KRtDL Butterfly Intro.jpg|The butterfly can be seen on a flower in this scene from the intro for ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]'' as Meta Knight reads his book.
KRtDL Butterfly Ending.jpg|A butterfly in the ending cutscene from ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]''
KRtDL Butterfly Ending.jpg|The butterfly in the ending cut-scene from ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]''.
KRtDLD Kirby and Butterfly cutscene screenshot.png|The same scene from ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe]]''
KTD Intro screenshot 01.png|The butterfly in the intro for ''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'', on Kirby's face.
KTD Intro screenshot 01.png|A butterfly in the intro for ''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'', on Kirby's face
KSA Intro Butterfly.jpg|The butterfly (on left) in the story mode opening of ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]''.
KSA Intro Butterfly.jpg|A butterfly (on left) in the story mode opening of ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]''
A Farewell to Kirby.png|The butterfly is depicted in the [[Celebration Picture]] 'A Farewell to Kirby'.
A Farewell to Kirby.png|A butterfly is depicted in the [[Celebration Picture]] "A Farewell to Kirby".
KatFL Butterfly in intro screenshot.png|The butterfly in the opening scene for ''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]''.
KSA Guest Star Credits21.png|[[Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!]] credits picture of Morpho Knight in its butterfly form fluttering to [[Galacta Knight]]
KatFL Butterfly Forgo Land screenshot.png|The butterfly fluttering into [[Forgo Land]] in ''Kirby and the Forgotten Land''.
Guest Star Wave 0 THE END.png|A butterfly appears alongside [[Bandana Waddle Dee]], [[King Dedede]] and [[Meta Knight]] in this ending illustration from Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!
KatFL Butterfly Forgo Land screenshot.png|Morpho Knight in its butterfly form fluttering into [[Forgo Land]] in ''Kirby and the Forgotten Land''
KatFL Extra Credits picture 17.png|Morpho Knight in its butterfly form lands on [[Fecto_Forgo#Psychic Beast: Soul Forgo|Soul Forgo]]
KRtDLD Opening scene Meta Knight with that book screenshot.png|A butterfly beside Meta Knight in the opening cutscene of ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe]]''
FK1 AF Butterfly.png|A butterfly in the book ''[[Find Kirby!!]]''
IKT5 Butterfly Illustration.png|A butterfly in the book ''[[It's Kirby Time: Thank You]]''
</gallery>
</gallery>


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*[[Morpho Knight]]
*[[Morpho Knight]]


{{ref}}
{{clear}}
{{clear}}


{{Navbox-Characters}}
{{Navbox-Characters}}
{{Navbox-KRtDL}}
{{Navbox-KRtDL/KRtDLD}}
{{Navbox-KTD}}
{{Navbox-KTD}}
{{Navbox-KPR}}
{{Navbox-KPR}}
{{Navbox-KSA}}
{{Navbox-KSA}}
{{Navbox-KatFL}}
{{Navbox-KatFL}}

Revision as of 01:35, 21 April 2024

Butterfly
KPR Restored to Life Butterfly.png
One red and orange butterfly standing on Kirby's head in the final cutscene of Kirby: Planet Robobot.
Details
First appearance Kirby's Return to Dream Land (2011)
Latest appearance Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (2023)
Other appearance(s) Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Kirby Star Allies
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Related Morpho Knight
Similar Papi
 This box: view  talk  edit 
This article is about the recurring red and orange butterflies seen typically in cutscenes. For the white butterfly seen in Kirby's Dream Land 3 and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, see Flutter.

Butterflies are a common sight in the Kirby series, first seen in the intro of Green Greens in Kirby's Dream Land. In particular, butterflies with a distinct red and orange coloration are recurring atmospheric background characters that are typically seen in cutscenes, especially those at the start and end of a game. These butterflies were first seen in the opening and ending cutscenes of Kirby's Return to Dream Land and have appeared in all mainline Kirby games since. In both of Morpho Knight's appearances, it initially appears to be such a butterfly, but then takes the form of a knight after absorbing a powerful being.

It is unclear if the butterflies that appear in cutscenes are the same entity as each other and/or Morpho Knight. In the ending of Kirby: Planet Robobot, two red and orange butterflies appear on-screen at the same time, showing that there are multiple of them. Notably, the description of the Morpho Knight figure in the Japanese version of Kirby and the Forgotten Land uses the term "一頭の夢見鳥", which can be translated as "a butterfly" or "one of the butterflies", but it could also mean "the lone butterfly" or "the one butterfly". When asked if the butterflies were all the same, Shinya Kumazaki said he didn't want to confirm or deny it, and commented on how often certain aspects of the world of Kirby are left up to interpretation, so that each player can experience the games in their own ways.[1]

Characteristics

The butterflies are rather small, with a total length comparable to one of Kirby's eyes, though specifically Morpho Knight has been shown to be much larger when it goes after Galacta Knight in Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!. Their wings are consistently depicted as yellow-orange on their insides and red on their edges, though whether the wings smoothly fade from red to orange or have a hard separation between them varies. The butterflies' body is mainly orange.

These butterflies are used as a symbol of peace in the series[2] and are usually seen fluttering around Dream Land, often landing on Kirby when he is unconscious, which is typically enough to wake him up.

In many cultures, butterflies are often associated with death, souls, and the afterlife. This extends as far back as ancient Egypt, where some species of butterflies were thought to be the reincarnated souls of dead warriors. Psyche, the Greek goddess of the soul, was associated with butterflies and often appeared as a woman with butterfly wings. In ancient Japanese folklore, butterflies are thought to represent the souls of the living, the dying, and the dead. While they are treated with great reverence, a butterfly may signal an omen of death, or appear to guide a dying soul to Yomi, the land of the dead.[3]

Thus, while butterflies are often used as symbols of peace in the Kirby series, this association with souls and death led to Morpho Knight, an ominous character associated with Yomi who feasts upon souls, being represented as a butterfly.[4]

Game appearances

Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

The first red and orange butterfly seen, standing on a flower as Meta Knight reads a book on a knoll in the opening cutscene for Kirby's Return to Dream Land.

One red and orange butterfly first appears in this game's intro cutscene, "A Visitor from Afar", resting on a flower next to Meta Knight while he is reading near the knoll.

A red and orange butterfly later appears in the final cutscene, "Each to His Own World", once Kirby and his friends are returned home unconscious by Landia. It initially lands on Kirby's face and wakes him up, which makes the butterfly fly away. Later, when King Dedede pulls his head out of the ground, the butterfly comes back and lands on a flower placed on King Dedede's head. The butterfly hops off his head after he looks up to see Landia and the Lor Starcutter, and is then seen flying away as the cutscene ends.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

One butterfly can be seen briefly at the very start of "Waking to a flowery coup!", the opening cutscene for this game. It lands on Kirby's head as he leaves his house in the morning to go frolicking.

Kirby: Planet Robobot

Much like in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, a butterfly lands on Kirby's head in the final cutscene of this game, "Restored to Life", waking him up after Meta Knight deposits him unconscious near a tree. The butterfly flies away, and presumably the same butterfly is then seen flying on top of the mains of Castle Dedede. While King Dedede and a Waddle Dee emerge from the castle's remains, two more butterflies appear and flutter around them for a bit before flying away.

Kirby Star Allies

Morpho Knight in its butterfly form appears and approaches Galacta Knight, intent on absorbing him.

In this game, a butterfly appears in the Story Mode intro cutscene, "Starfall: A Rude Awakening", flying around Whispy Woods while the Jamba Heart pieces are raining down on Popstar. One may also appear over the bottom-right waters on the world map of Dream Land on occasion.

A butterfly later appears at the end of Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!. Here, after Hyness is defeated at The Divine Terminus, Galacta Knight emerges from a portal and prepares to face down the allies. Just after his title card is shown, the butterfly flutters down, glowing ominously. It lands gently on Galacta Knight's lance and proceeds to cause him to be vaporized. It then absorbs this power and morphs while revealing itself as the knight of the underworld, Morpho Knight, before attacking the allies.

A butterfly also appears in the Celebration Picture "A Farewell to Kirby", depicted in monochrome like the rest of the picture.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

A butterfly in the opening scene for Kirby and the Forgotten Land.

A butterfly makes a brief appearance in the opening cutscene of this game, "Kirby and the Mysterious Vortex". Here, it can be seen being sucked into the dimensional rift along with Kirby and the Waddle Dees.

Another butterfly, unknown if the same as the one in the opening cutscene, later appears in Forgo Land at the end of Isolated Isles: Forgo Dreams, where it flies in and lands on Soul Forgo, transforming and revealing itself as Morpho Knight.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. Nintendo DREAM June 2023 interview (translation)
  2. "『カービィ』シリーズにおいて平和の象徴としてチョウチョを出しているのですが、ハッピーエンドのようにチョウチョが出てきたにも係わらず、危機が再来するイメージってハッとするなぁと思ったのです。" –July 2018 Issue (Nintendo DREAM)

    (Translation: Butterflies are used as a symbol of peace in the Kirby series, and I thought it would be interesting to see the image of a crisis reappearing even though the butterflies appeared as if there was a happy ending.)
  3. Japanese Folktales: The Butterfly Soul, told by F. Hadland Davis, reproduced by zteve t evans
  4. チョウチョって、日本でも古くは黄泉の国を感じさせる不吉なイメージがありましたよね? なので、平和の象徴と思っていたチョウチョが介入して来たら、じつはものすごい敵だったと。" –July 2018 Issue (Nintendo DREAM)

    (Translation: Butterflies used to have an ominous image in ancient times in Japan, reminding us of the land of Yomi, didn't they? So, the butterfly, which we thought was a symbol of peace, intervened, and turned out to be a tremendous opponent.)