Castle Dedede
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
|
Castle Dedede is a famous structure in Dream Land, home to King Dedede, a retinue of Waddle Dee servants, and a number of other denizens depending on the game or setting it is featured in. Castle Dedede has taken on a number of different appearances throughout the series, but has centered around two essential designs. The first of these is the one that was established in Kirby's Dream Land - being a squared-off two-tiered castle with towers at each corner and a gate and windows which resemble a dour face. The second one is a more elaborate and large castle topped by a massive dome which is featured most prominently in Kirby: Right Back at Ya! and a number of games which released shortly after it. Starting with Kirby: Triple Deluxe, the classic look of the castle would return and continue to be used to the present day, last appearing in Kirby Star Allies.
In addition to inconsistencies regarding appearance, Castle Dedede is also often located in a number of different areas within Dream Land. It is most commonly found atop Mt. Dedede, but it can also be located in gentler grassier areas more akin to where Kirby's House is. Castle Dedede is often subject to partial or total destruction throughout the Kirby series, either at the hands of the eponymous pink puffball, or from other villains in the series.
Game Appearances
Castle Dedede appears in the following titles:
Kirby's Dream Land
- Main article: Mt. Dedede
The final level of the game takes place inside Castle Dedede. Here, Kirby has to go through a series of doors and re-fight the first four bosses before he may face down King Dedede in a wrestling ring. Once defeated, King Dedede is sent flying out the dome of his castle. From there, Kirby uses the power of the Sparkling Stars to grow into a massive balloon and carry the castle across the land, dropping all of the food that King Dedede had stolen out the bottom to rain down on the hungry inhabitants.
Kirby Super Star/Kirby Super Star Ultra
- Main article: The Revenge
As it is a truncated remake of Kirby's Dream Land, Spring Breeze also has its last stage set at Castle Dedede, with the scenario playing out much the same as before (but skipping straight to the fight with Dedede).
In Template:KSSU, the last stage of Revenge of the King takes place inside Castle Dedede. Here, Kirby travels through more of the castle, and fights off all of King Dedede's minions before facing the king again, now wearing a mask and wielding the powerful jet hammer. Despite this, King Dedede is sent packing once more.
Kirby: Squeak Squad
The later stages of Prism Plains take place within Castle Dedede. Here, the castle resembles its appearance in the anime.
Kirby's Epic Yarn/Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn
- Main article: Castle Dedede (Epic Yarn)
The last stage before facing Yin-Yarn takes place inside Castle Dedede. The innards of the castle here are portrayed as much more dull in character, with the exception of the throne room, which is guarded by a Big Waddle Dee under Yin-Yarn's control.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Castle Dedede appears in the intro cut-scene. Here, it has been lifted into the air by the Dreamstalk along with Kirby's house. Kirby goes to check in on Dedede when Taranza comes in to steal the king from his Spear Waddle Dees on guard. After making off with Dedede, the castle itself is not seen again until the end of the credits sequence for Dededetour!, where it is safely back on the ground.
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Castle Dedede appears briefly in the intro and ending cut-scenes for this game. King Dedede tries to fire cannons from his castle at the approach of the Access Ark, but a giant laser is fired at the castle which destroys it utterly. Later on, King Dedede and his Waddle Dees are found in the rubble, relatively unharmed.
Kirby Star Allies
- Main article: Clash at Castle Dedede
Castle Dedede appears in the intro cinematic. King Dedede is enjoying fair weather and refreshments when a Dark Heart lands on his balcony. King Dedede attempts to get a closer look, but is quickly enveloped in the heart's influence.
Kirby and his squad of star allies visit the castle in one of the stages, due to the king having stolen all of Dream Land's food yet again. Once they reach the throne room, they see the king gorging himself on a pile of rotting food, and a battle ensues. Here, King Dedede becomes much more muscular, and breaks many floors of his own castle during the fight.
In the anime
Castle Dedede is one of the major landmarks in Dream Land and the home of many of the show's characters. As such, it makes several appearances as a setting for the episodes. Castle Dedede is perched atop a perilously steep cliff face overlooking Cappy Town with a long winding road leading up to it. The castle itself is home to a very large number of Waddle Dees (so many in fact that not even their commander Waddle Doo knows how many there are) who act as servants in exchange for the living space. It is from within the castle that King Dedede and Escargoon call upon NightMare Enterprises to send them more monsters using a teleportation device. These monsters more often than not end up damaging or destroying the castle, though it is always rebuilt by the next episode.
In addition to those mentioned above, Castle Dedede is home to the following characters:
- Lololo & Lalala
- Sir Ebrum, Lady Like, and Tiff & Tuff
- Meta Knight and his trainees Sword Knight & Blade Knight
Notably, King Dedede himself inherited the castle from a line of unspecified ancestors. He tells Escargoon in one episode that the castle was built to look older than it really is, in order to enhance the family's perception as an ancient and noble dynasty.
Other castles
Castle Dedede is not the only castle which Dedede has resided in. Other castles he has lorded over include the following:
- Dark Castle - The final level of Kirby's Dream Land 2 is a large ominous castle which makes up one of the Rainbow Islands.
- Iceberg - This area bears a castle-like structure where King Dedede can be found in Kirby's Dream Land 3.
- Stage 3 of Pop Star in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards features a castle which is very different in design to Castle Dedede, but still houses the king. It is unclear if this castle and Castle Dedede are intended to be the same or not.
- Stage 10 of Dedede Resort in Kirby Mass Attack features a secondary castle which King Dedede resides in, located in the Popopo Islands.
- Dedede's Cake Royale in Kirby: Battle Royale features a new castle which King Dedede had built to host his big tournament.
Trivia
- Whenever the dome atop Castle Dedede is shattered, the 'dour' look on the castle's windows changes to a sadder expression.
- One notable aspect of the castle is that its interior varies wildly between each depiction, and is often much more extensive on the inside than would be suspected possible given the relatively compact nature of the castle as seen from the outside. Such spatial contortions are common in video games and other visual media (usually referred to with the saying 'bigger on the inside'), and allows for more complex stage design while still allowing for an easy-to-visualize landmark. The only real exception to this is the castle's portrayal in the opening cut-scene of Kirby: Triple Deluxe, where the inside and outside appear to be congruous.