Taranza
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“ | To think that you've made it this far. Aren't you a persistent little thing? | ” | — Taranza in Kirby: Triple Deluxe |
Taranza is a young wizard with arachnid-like characteristics, who serves as a prominent character in many games in the Kirby series. He first appeared in Kirby: Triple Deluxe when, on orders from Queen Sectonia, he kidnapped King Dedede in order to prevent him from foiling their plans to conquer Floralia. In the end, however, he realized he had captured the wrong target, as Kirby would pursue him all the way to the queen's chambers and defeat them in combat. Taranza would later be betrayed by his queen, and eventually come to Kirby and King Dedede's aid in dispatching her after she had merged with the Dreamstalk. From then on, he would be an ally to Kirby and King Dedede.
Since Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Taranza has made various appearances in subsequent games. In Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, he serves as one of the principal villains, and is battled directly for the first time in the series (he also serves as a more minor plot element in Super Kirby Clash). This is where he gained the moniker of The Puppeteer Magician. Taranza would become playable for the first time as a Dream Friend in Kirby Star Allies, though he does not serve a specific role in the game's story. He has also made minor appearances in Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe, Kirby: Planet Robobot, and Kirby Battle Royale.
Physical appearance
In many ways, Taranza is similar in physique to Magolor from Kirby's Return to Dream Land, as both are floating creatures who wear scarfs, have a cape, possess disembodied hands and use magic. Taranza however is distinct in that he bears a red and green colTemplate:Our scheme, has three pairs of hands, a mouth with two visible fangs, multiple sets of eyes (one pair on his face, one on his forehead, and two on the back of his head), silver hair and orange horns that resemble pincers. In Team Kirby Clash Deluxe and Super Kirby Clash, Taranza dresses in a dark color scheme due to the Black Mirror, object that was corrupting him, and possibly Parallel Nightmare's brainwashing, respectively.
The name Taranza is partially based on the name of the large spider family known as the tarantula. This is a possible misnomer however, as tarantulas are generally more passive than other spiders, as well as much hairier.
Game appearances
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
In the opening scene of Kirby: Triple Deluxe's Story Mode, Taranza is seen kidnapping King Dedede, mistaking him for the "Hero of Dream Land". Then, Taranza is seen in the opening of every boss battle from Level 1 to 5, running from Kirby and making bosses fight against the pink hero. Taranza's acts include:
- Using magic to grow a flower into Flowery Woods at the end of Fine Fields;
- Using magic to make Paintra come to life out of her painting at the end of Lollipop Land;
- Using magic to bring Kracko from the clouds at the end of Old Odyssey;
- Using magic to awake Coily Rattler from its statue at the end of Wild World;
- Deceiving Pyribbit into believing Kirby has disturbed his rest at the end of Endless Explosions.
Although Taranza is responsible for waking all of those bosses up to the end of the game, he is never fought directly. However, Taranza, known as the "Master of Puppetry", attempts to attack Kirby by puppeteering King Dedede as Masked Dedede at the end of Royal Road. After Kirby bests Dedede, Taranza calls for help from Queen Sectonia, who swats him away for his failures. At this point, Taranza decides to aid Kirby and King Dedede, gaining redemption in the process by tossing Kirby a Miracle Fruit to activate his Hypernova ability at a crucial point during the final battle with the mutant Queen.
An original dot sprite of Taranza also appears as a Keychain.
Team Kirby Clash Deluxe
“ | The Magician reveals himself! Break his web of spells and restore peace! | ” | — Ordeal: Tough! Taranza flavor text from Team Kirby Clash Deluxe |
Main Story
Taranza returns in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe the spinoff title, here serving the role of main antagonist, driving the various monsters to attack the Dream Kingdom. His ultimate triumph is in subduing and bending Landia the Guardian Angel to his will, who continues to fight even after he is defeated. It is later revealed that Taranza was being influenced by a powerful evil object known as the Black Mirror, and to return Taranza to a friendly demeanor, Team Kirby must destroy this mirror, dealing with everything it summons in the process.
Unlike in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Taranza is fought directly as the fourth Ordeal boss in this title. He floats around the battlefield, tossing magic energy at Team Kirby from the foreground and background. He is also capable of ensnaring the Kirbys in a magic net, rendering them useless for a time. His ability to float about and teleport makes him a difficult target for Team Kirby, but like other floating enemies, he is vulnerable to the Beam Mage's Time Beam spell.
Defeating Taranza unlocks the last series of encounters in all of the lands unlocked up to that point, eventually leading to the fight with Landia EX.
In this game, Taranza's model was updated from Triple Deluxe. Most notably, his mouth is now part of his model rather than a texture, meaning he can freely open and close it. His hair is similarly fully-modeled, and his scarf is longer, details which carry over to his future appearances. His colTemplate:Our scheme is also altered to be primarily red and purple, though he returns to his original palette once he has been subdued.
Magolor's Shoppe also sells a Doctor Healmore hat modeled after Taranza.
Postgame Story
- Main article: Dark Taranza
The story is not over yet after Landia EX is defeated and the credits roll. Two invaders from Another Dimension strike the Dream Kingdom, namely Parallel Susie and Parallel Landia. After the two parallel invaders are defeated, the Black Mirror brings Taranza's evil counterpart, Dark Taranza. Team Kirby will fight Dark Taranza and his master in the true final battles.
As Team Kirby win the true final battles and eventually bring peace back to the Dream Kingdom, the friendly Taranza will stay in the town and sit on Magolor's Shoppe, looking at a flower in his hand in memory of his queen.
Attacks
The following are all of Taranza's attacks in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe. Note that attack names are conjectural:
Taranza's attacks in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe & Super Kirby Clash | ||||
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Attack | Description | Variants | Notes | |
Taranza Ball | Taranza charges and releases a series of dark energy orbs which spread out somewhat after firing. | |||
Taranza Web Hold | Taranza flies into the background, then readies his aim toward a random Kirby target. He then casts a large magic net at that Kirby. If caught, the Kirby will need to mash to escape. If successful, Taranza will fall to the ground and become dazed for a moment. | |||
Super Taranza Ball | Taranza flies into the background, then conjures and tosses a giant energy orb into the arena, which he does either to the left or right. The orb bounces across the stage for a while before dissipating. | |||
Crystal Volley | Taranza flies into the background, then conjures and tosses a series of large purple gems into the arena. | These gems resemble the crystal platforms found in Royal Road from Kirby: Triple Deluxe. | ||
Taranza Burst | Taranza charges energy, then releases a large burst around himself. | |||
Super Taranza Burst | Taranza flies into the middle of the stage and charges energy, then releases a very large burst around himself. | |||
Taranza Ball Ring | Taranza conjures eight orbs which surround him. He then sends them outward one-by-one. | |||
Magic Field | Taranza conjures an orb of energy around himself, then flies forward. |
- TKCD 25th Promo Art.jpg
Kirby JP Twitter promotional art for Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, featuring Team Kirby battling Taranza
- Taranza Battle.jpg
Team Kirby battling with Taranza in the game
- Kirby JP 20180402.png
April 2018 Japanese password for Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, featuring official Twitter promotional art of Taranza sadly looking at Queen Sectonia who is trapped in the Black Mirror. The password can be translated as "The Tragedy Caused by the Black Mirror".
Kirby Star Allies
“ | This clumsy smarty-pants stumbled his way here from the heights of Kirby: Triple Deluxe. He's a lonely insect on a journey in search of a queen, and he's one of your new Dream Friends! | ” | — Taranza Pause Screen description in the Story Mode and The Ultimate Choice of Kirby Star Allies |
“ | No doubt. A miracle will happen for sure! Hoping for a true miracle, the boy with silver hair from Kirby: Triple Deluxe is making a bid for the altar. Deep in his heart, he already knows the outcome. But if he could just reach that bright light… |
” | — Guest Star Taranza To Meet That Flower Pause Screen description in Kirby Star Allies |
In Kirby Star Allies, Taranza makes his playable debut as a Dream Friend in Version 4.0.0 of the game.
Taranza borrows much of his moveset from the Spider ability--including the Friend Bounce--but his webs are distinctly pink in colTemplate:Our. In addition, he has many unique magic moves: Some are taken from his attacks in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe (e.g. Taranza Web Hold, Taranza Burst, Taranza Ball), and he can summon the illusion of Queen Sectonia dropping lightning bolts which can imbue his allies with the Zap element. Despite being based on an arachnid, his description refers to him as an insect.
Taranza hovers via flying rather than Infinity Jump, similar to NESP, Vividria, Marx, Adeleine & Ribbon, Magolor, Francisca and Zan Partizanne.
Moveset
The following table lists all of Taranza's moves in Kirby Star Allies:
Taranza's Dream Friend Moveset in Kirby Star Allies when facing right | |||
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Skill | Button Execution | Description | Damage (Star Bullet=52) |
Magic String Shot | Taranza shoots a string that can turn common enemies into cocoon pods.
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16→4 (2nd hit onward) | |
Taranza Web Hold | Taranza creates a web ball that can capture common enemies. | 32 (hold) 24 (release) | |
Pop Off | Taranza pops off the enemies captured by Taranza Web Hold. | 60 (launched enemy) | |
Darling Dreamstalk | Taranza summons a replica of the Dreamstalk.
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32 | |
Taranza Burst | Taranza creates a magic burst around himself.
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32 | |
Super Taranza Burst | Taranza creates a bigger and stronger magic burst around himself.
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96 | |
Taranza Ball | Taranza tosses a magic ball than bounces off walls and platforms.
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1 (charging) 16 (ball) | |
Super Taranza Ball | Taranza tosses a bigger and stronger magic ball than bounces off walls and platforms.
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1 (charging) 32 (ball) | |
Web Sling | Taranza dashes and shoots a web that can turn common enemies into cocoon pods.
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8 (string) 18 (web)→9 (2nd hit onward) | |
Web Scatter | Taranza shoots three small webs that can turn common enemies into cocoon pods.
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8 (string) 18 (web)→9 (2nd hit onward) | |
Queen's Phantom | Taranza summons the illusion of Queen Sectonia dropping lightning bolts.
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16 | |
Pod Kick | Taranza kicks the cocoon pods made by his attacks.
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48 (kicked pod) 36 (idle pod) | |
Pod Snatch | Taranza snatches a cocoon pod to prepare for Pod Slam or Pod Slamabam.
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16 (if the pod is touched) | |
Pod Slam | Taranza slams the snatched pod once.
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48 | |
Pod Slamabam | Taranza slams the snatched pod repeatedly.
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48 | |
Magic Guard | Taranza guards with a magic shield, which releases spikes if touched by any enemy. | 16 (no damage to bosses or mid-bosses) |
Cameos
- One of the Stone ability transformations in the base game has the statue of Taranza and the presumably original form of Queen Sectonia.
- A Stone transformation of Taranza and the Dreamstalk was added in Version 4.0.0.
- A stone plate of Taranza and Queen Sectonia's official artwork from Kirby: Triple Deluxe was added in the Grott Moon stage in Version 4.0.0.
- Taranza appears in the Celebration Picture: "A Miracle Sent to the Skies".
Super Kirby Clash
“ | This teleporting trickster will try to confuse Team Kirby with its[sic] magic, but stay focused and you'll beat him! | ” | — flavTemplate:Or text from Super Kirby Clash |
Taranza returns in Super Kirby Clash, his attack style and appearance carried over from his fights in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe. He serves as the fifth Ordeal of the game, though this time, he does not have quite as large a role in the story. Team Kirby battles him in the Empyrean, confusing him for Parallel Nightmare at first. Once Taranza is beaten, he appears in the Port Village and sits atop Magolor's Shoppe. Taranza is fought two more times in Party Quest encounters.
This time, Dark Taranza does not appear alongside Taranza.
Cameo appearances
- The Taranza Mask is unlockable in Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe.
- A portrait and a doodle of Taranza appears as two stickers respectively in Kirby: Planet Robobot.
- A portrait of Taranza appears as a Camouflage of Archer Kirby in Kirby: Planet Robobot.
- Taranza appears as a spectator in the Coin Clash game of Kirby Battle Royale.
Trivia
- In an official Twitter post, Taranza is given the nickname インテリ坊ちゃん刈り ("Bowlcut Intellectual") by Zan Partizanne.
- Super Taranza Burst from Kirby Star Allies (96 damage) is one of the most powerful single attacks in the Kirby series, even stronger than Hammer Flip (80 in many cases).
- Super Taranza Burst's power is three times as much as Taranza Burst.
- Sometimes if the attack button is released too early but the charge complete sound effect still plays, Taranza Burst will be used instead of Super Taranza Burst.
- Unused data of the Net Work and Skyward Web attacks from the Spider ability can be found in Taranza's moveset files, possibly due to straight copying.
- Taranza's voice was first heard in Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe and was provided by the game's composer, Hirokazu Ando. According to Shinya Kumazaki on Miiverse, his voice was digitally altered and designed with "the image of an androgynous young spider".[1]
Gallery
- Taranza.png
Artwork of Taranza from Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Keychain of Taranza in Kirby: Triple Deluxe
- Taranza Portrait.png
sticker of Taranza in Kirby: Planet Robobot
- Taranza Doodle.png
sticker of Taranza Doodle in Kirby: Planet Robobot
- Stone STA taranza sectonia.jpg
Stone transformation of Taranza and Sectonia's original form in Kirby Star Allies
- Stone STA taranza dreamstalk.jpg
Stone transformation of Taranza and the Dreamstalk in Kirby Star Allies
In-game art of Taranza from Super Kirby Clash
Video gallery
Taranza's Dream Friend trailer
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Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning |
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Japanese | タランザ Taranza |
Derived from tarantula |
Chinese | 塔狼蛛 tǎ láng zhū |
塔 ("ta-") + 狼蛛 (tarantula) |
Dutch | Taranza | - |
French | Taranza | - |
German | Taranza | - |
Italian | Taranza | - |
Korean | 타란자 Taranja |
Taranza |
Spanish | Taraña | Tarantula and Araña (spider). |