Square Kirby
Square Kirby is Kirby but with a square body, which was introduced on April 1st 2019 as this year's official April Fool's prank, succeeding the Waddle Dee 25th Anniversary prank in 2018.
Description
The official website gives a description of Square Kirby in Japanese:
"1992年に誕生して以来、まんまるピンクの変わらぬスタイルで
世界中のみなさまにご愛顧いただいて参りましたが、
このたび、カービィのかたちが「まる」から「しかく」に変わります。
これから先も長く愛されるキャラクターを目指して、
より多面的な活躍、多角的な発展を遂げ、
よりエッジィな魅力を持った存在に成長すべく、
カービィとにスタッフ一同邁進して参ります。
四角くなって安定感をすこれからのカービィを、
今後ともよろしくお願いいたします。"
The following is the translation:
"Since his birth in 1992, Kirby has been loved by people all over the world for his unchangable round and pink style, but this time, Kirby's shape is changed from round to square now.
In the future ahead, in order to become a character loved for a long time, become more multifaceted in activity and more multiangle in development, and grow into a being with more edgy charm, Kirby and the staff will do their best together.
Best wishes to Kirby, now with more stability in the square shape."
Descriptions like 多面的 (multifaceted), 多角的 (multiangle), エッジィな魅力 (edgy charm) and 安定感 (stability) are all references to squares in addition to being interpreted as character traits.
Parody
The goods section of the Square Kirby website features square/rectangular official goods (not jokes this time), such as carrying bags for the Nintendo Switch console and the rectangular power bank. The "back to the top" button on the website also features Square Kirby with a square helmet in the cannon.
On the official websites of Kirby Star Allies and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn, the artworks of round Kirby were temporarily replaced by Square Kirby instead, and opening these websites would lead to pop-up illustrations of Marx, Hyness or King Dedede clarifying this as an April Fool's prank.
Trivia
- In collaboration, Qbby has turned round and become マルボーイ ("Round Boy") for the 2019 April Fool's prank as well.[1]
- Square Kirby (along with Square King Dedede, Meta Knight and Waddle Dee) has already appeared as an unlockable skin for Qbby in the game BYE-BYE BOXBOY!.
- Official plushes of Qbby and Square Kirby by Sanei Boeki were released along with BYE-BYE BOXBOY! in Japan, and they often appear together on BOXBOY's offcial Twitter.
- Before this April Fool's prank, Square Kirby has appeared as jokes in several official manga series.
- The Kirby series' Japanese name, 星のカービィ ("Kirby of the Stars"), is altered into 四角のカービィ ("Kirby of the Squares"), with 四角 stylized as a single kanji (四 at the top and 角 at the bottom) to resemble 星.
Gallery
- Square Kirby
Square Kirby waiting in the cannon
Square Kirby launched from the cannon
Square Kirby for Kirby Star Allies
Altered logo of Kirby Star Allies ("Kirby of the Squares: Star Allies")
Square Kirby for Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn
Altered logo of Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn ("Yarn Kirby Square Plus")
- Clarification
Caution icon featuring Square Kirby
Hyness clarifying the April Fool's Joke (if the Kirby Star Allies website is opened)
Marx clarifying the April Fool's Joke (if the Kirby Star Allies website is opened)
King Dedede clarifying the April Fool's Joke (if the Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn website is opened)
External Link
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 四角いカービィ[2] Shikakui Kābii |
Square/Rectangular Kirby
|
