Emote

“

Want to greet a friend or react to something surprising? Press + to use four different emotes!

”

— Tasty Tidbit from Kirby's Dream Buffet, describing emotes

Emote is an action that can be performed by Kirby in Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Kirby's Dream Buffet which allows him to display certain audio-visual expressions when a direction on the +Control Pad is pressed, similar to how taunting works in the Super Smash Bros. games. By default, Kirby has a different emote for each direction, though the specific emotes used vary depending on the game and/or circumstance. These actions are distinct from Idle animations, which happen automatically and have been in the Kirby series for much longer.

Game appearances

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Emotes made their first appearance in Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Here, Kirby has access to four when the +Control Pad is pressed in each direction, and Bandana Waddle Dee can make use of these as well. In addition, a number of Mouthful Modes have their own unique emotes. The following table lists every emote in the game, along with details on them:

Emotes in Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Emote	Direction	Description	Notes
Kirby and Bandana Waddle Dee
	↑	Kirby stands on the tips of his feet and waves enthusiastically while calling out "Hiii!".	The exact voice clip used for this emote varies. Bandana Waddle Dee does not have a vocalization. If Kirby uses this emote near Elfilin or most of the Waddle Dees in Waddle Dee Town, they will wave back at him.
	←	Kirby smiles, then gets up on one foot while raising his arm upward while shouting "Hi!" with his eyes tightly closed.	Bandana Waddle Dee does not have a vocalization. If Kirby uses this emote near Elfilin or most of the Waddle Dees in Waddle Dee Town, they will react excitedly.
	→	Kirby looks to his right and then his left with a curious expression.	This is also one of Kirby's idle animations in the game.
	↓	Kirby sits down and taps his feet gently with a smile on his face, than gets back up shortly afterward.	This was an idle animation in previous games.
Mouthful Modes
	↑ or ↓ (Car Mouth)	Elfilin pops out and rubs the top of Car-Mouth Kirby's hood, making him relaxed from the massage until seemingly asleep. Then he pops back to attention as Elfilin disappears again.	This emote can only be used when Elfilin is with Kirby. Otherwise, the other Car Mouth emote is used.
	← or → (Car Mouth)	Car-Mouth Kirby bobs back and forth on his wheels a couple times.
	Any direction (Cone Mouth)	Cone-Mouth Kirby does a headstand and spins for a while, then gets back upright.
	Any direction (Ring Mouth)	Ring-Mouth Kirby does a sitting spin, and then nearly loses his balance when getting back up from it.

Kirby's Dream Buffet

In Kirby's Dream Buffet, Kirby has access to four different emotes, which he can use any time during normal gameplay, as well as on the results screen. When on the Home Table or in Free Rolling mode, Kirby will orient himself toward the camera before using his emote. In online play, the emote comes with a caption that displays above the head of the Kirby that uses it. The following are all of the emotes in the game:

Emotes in Kirby's Dream Buffet
Emote	Direction	Description	Notes
Hey!	↑	Kirby waves with one hand while vocally greeting with his eyes closed tightly.	The exact voice clip used for these emotes varies.
Yay!	←	Kirby wiggles his limbs about while giving an ecstatic expression and a longer happy shout.
Huh?!	→	Kirby gives an exaggerated shocked expression and vocalization as his eyes enlarge in cartoonish fashion.
Hiii!	↓	Kirby waves both hands and feet while giving a greeting.