Ribbon
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| “ | A fairy from Ripple Star, Ribbon escapes the planet with the fairies' Crystal, only to fall victim to a Dark Matter ambush. When she loses control of the Crystal, she turns to Kirby for help. | ” | — Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards instruction booklet (North America), page 22 |
Ribbon is a character who made her debut in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. She is a fairy from Ripple Star, serving under the planet's Queen, and watching over the Crystal - an object with the power to dispel Dark Matter. She forms one part of the Ribbon's Crystal ability, and is also paired up with Adeleine in Kirby Star Allies. The duo reappear in Super Kirby Clash, where the former watches as the latter paints as she usually does.
Personality
Ribbon is complex in terms of personality. She at first appears carefree, but is later seen to be easily depressed by Ripple Star's destruction. Ribbon also has a brave side to her, as seen when she goes to protect the Ripple Star Queen and then gets away with the crystal when the queen tells her to do so. Her wide range of emotions serve to convey her feelings and motives in absence of any proper dialogue, as the cut-scenes in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards do not feature any speech or text whatsoever.
Physical appearance
Ribbon is rather small, about Kirby's height but much thinner than him. She has messy pink hair with a red ribbon which gives her her name, a red dress, white pants, brown shoes, and rosy cheeks. Her eyes are blue, and she is almost always seen with her mouth open.
Game appearances
| Ribbon's video game appearances | ||
|---|---|---|
| Game | Role | Notes |
| Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards | Supporting protagonist | |
| Kirby: Planet Robobot | Reference | Appears as a sticker. |
| Kirby Star Allies | Supporting character | Paired with Adeleine as a Dream Friend. |
| Super Kirby Clash | Cameo | Appears as a background character in the Castle Village after clearing enough Ordeals. Also appears as a sticker with Adeleine. |
| Kirby's Dream Buffet | Cameo | Appears as part of a costume for Kirby, and also appears on a Character Treat. |
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
In the opening cut-scene, Ribbon is seen frolicking, but she is soon dismayed when Dark Matter invades the peaceful planet of Ripple Star. The Queen sends Ribbon off with the crystal, to avoid its capture by the invading force. A piece of Dark Matter pursues her well into space, where it succeeds in shattering the crystal into many pieces, the explosion sending an unconscious Ribbon tumbling down to Pop Star. There, she bumps into Kirby, who up until that point had been stargazing. After this fateful encounter, Kirby finds a piece of the crystal, and merges it with the small remnant that Ribbon still had left. From there, Kirby agrees to help Ribbon find the rest of them and save her home world.
Ribbon accompanies Kirby across the six worlds, combining all the shards of the crystal that they find in the process. Once they return to Ripple Star, the reassembled crystal banishes Dark Matter from the planet, causing it to coalesce in space into Dark Star. Ribbon then helps Kirby battle the core of Dark Matter - 0² by carrying him about inside the void where the battle takes place.
Once Dark Matter is finally destroyed, Kirby is awarded a crystal medal by Ribbon. She also gives him a kiss on the cheek, which causes Kirby to blush and stumble, which results in him falling down the ceremony stairs.
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Ribbon's likeness appears as a sticker, which Kirby can place on the arms of his Robobot Armor. Apart from that, she makes no appearance.
Kirby Star Allies
- Main article: Adeleine
Ribbon appears in two Celebration Pictures, namely 'A Delicious Picnic' and 'Chasing Our Dreams'. She's also present in one of Stone's gold transformations, along with Susie.
She appears in-person along with Adeleine as a Dream Friend, carrying Adeleine in the air so that she can hover and participating with Adeleine in some of her attacks.
Super Kirby Clash
In Super Kirby Clash, Ribbon can be seen watching over her partner Adeleine, who is painting a picture in the Castle Village. She also appears alongside Adeleine as a sticker.
Kirby's Dream Buffet
In Kirby's Dream Buffet, Ribbon appears as part of the "Adeleine & Ribbon" costume for Kirby. The fact that she flaps her wings and blinks suggests that it is really her holding onto Kirby's hat, rather than just a prop. Ribbon also appears on a Character Treat, depicting her artwork from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.
Trivia
- According to the Japanese book "20th Anniversary Kirby Pupupu Encyclopedia", Ribbon was originally named Kawashima, a Japanese name meaning "river island". She was conceived as a means of switching between the game's multiple playable characters. As this aspect was removed during development, her gameplay role became less prominent.
Gallery
Artwork
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards artwork
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards artwork
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards artwork
Sketch of Ribbon from the end credits of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Illustration of Ribbon from the end credits of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Ribbon appears alongside the other Kirby Star Allies Dream Friends in Wave 2
Promotional hand-drawn artwork for the Wave 2 Dream Friends from Kirby Star Allies
Ribbon appears alongside Adeleine, Dark Meta Knight and Daroach in this ending illustration from Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!
Illustration from the Kirby JP Twitter featuring Ribbon
Hand-drawn artwork to celebrate the 27th anniversary of Kirby series from Nintendo Co., Ltd.'s Instagram account
Artwork celebrating the 40th anniversary of HAL Laboratory, Inc.
Screenshots
Ribbon escaping with the Crystal from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Ribbon meeting Kirby from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Ribbon next to the Queen from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Ribbon along with the rest of the hero party in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Ribbon assisting Kirby in the battle against 0² in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Adeleine and Ribbon's introduction screen from Kirby Star Allies
Stone transformation of Ribbon holding a Crystal Shard next to Susie in Kirby Star Allies
Stone transformation of Ribbon holding a heart next to Adeleine in Kirby Star Allies
Other
Ribbon's model from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Dedede Directory about Ribbon
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | リボン Ribon |
Ribbon |
| Traditional Chinese | 莉寶 lì bǎo |
Ribbon |
| Simplified Chinese | 莉宝 lì bǎo | |
| Dutch | Ribbon | - |
| French | Ribbon | - |
| German | Ribbon | - |
| Italian | Ribbon | - |
| Korean | 리본 Ribon |
Ribbon |
| Portuguese | Ribbon | - |
| Russian | Риббон Ribbon |
Ribbon |
| Spanish | Ribbon | - |
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