Yin-Yarn
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- This article is about the character. For the boss stage, see Yin-Yarn (boss stage).
| “ | Nyahahahahaaa! Soon, Dream Land will be wrapped around my knitting needles! | ” | — Yin-Yarn in Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn |
Yin-Yarn, also known as Yin-Yarn the Sorcerer, is the main antagonist of Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn, whose antics involving tearing the Magic Yarn away from Patch Land prompt Kirby and Prince Fluff to embark on their quest to defeat him and save Patch Land from being left in pieces. His English name is derived from yarn and Yin-Yang.
Yin-Yarn is a highly skilled weaver of living yarn creatures, and uses the power of the Magic Yarn to take over Dream Land and create powerful yarn guardians. He can also use the power of the Magic Sock to transform denizens of Dream Land into yarn and possess them using the Magic Yarn. His motives for doing all this are unclear (even to himself), but he is eventually defeated regardless by Kirby and Fluff in Dream Land and sent back to Patch Land.
In the original Japanese version, Yin-Yarn has a speech quirk in which he ends all his sentences with アミーボ or アモーレ, the two parts of his Japanese name, alternating between the two in that order as he talks.
Physical appearance[edit]
| “ | This sorcerer uses his knitting needles to weave his evil all across Dream Land! | ” | — Patch Plaza description |
Like all natives of Patch Land, Yin-Yarn appears to be made entirely of fabric and yarn. He wears a green sombrero, purple sunglasses and an orange poncho with intertwining green and red stripes. He has a black mustache and an orange button for a nose. His true bodies are the two large wooden knitting needles he carries at all times, who bear a passing resemblance to maracas. The two unnamed needles are visually distinct from one another: the left needle has two horns, purple eyes and a scowl, while the right one has one horn, yellow eyes, and a neutral expression.
Mega Yin-Yarn[edit]
| “ | Yin-Yarn used the power of the Metamato to transform into a mighty robot tank! | ” | — American English Patch Plaza description of Mega Yin-Yarn |
| “ | Yin-Yarn the Sorcerer magically transformed into a mighty robot tank! | ” | — British English Patch Plaza description of Mega Yin-Yarn |
Yin-Yarn's second battle form continues the tradition of circular Kirby bosses, transforming him into a giant robotic version of himself known as Mega Yin-Yarn, which is slightly larger than the Tankbot. He retains the green sombrero, but his body is now similar to Kirby's: a head attached to yarn-thin arms and spiked wheels for feet. His facial features are broadened, including his sunglasses, his nose, his mustache, and the near-present smile that could otherwise be mistaken for the top of his poncho. His knitting needles have also enlarged.
The American English description for Mega Yin-Yarn states that Yin-Yarn used the Metamato's power to transform into his final form. However, going from the cutscene itself, it would appear that Yin-Yarn actually used the Magic Yarn to do that. It is actually the result of a mistranslation, as the original Japanese texts say that Yin-Yarn attempted to use the Metamato to take over the world instead.
Game appearances[edit]
| Yin-Yarn's video game appearances | ||
|---|---|---|
| Game | Role | Notes |
| Kirby's Epic Yarn | Main antagonist and final boss | |
| Kirby: Triple Deluxe | Reference | Appears as a collectible keychain. |
| Kirby Star Allies | Reference | Appears in the "Bad Boss Brothers" Celebration Picture. |
| Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn | Main antagonist and final boss | As this is a port of Kirby's Epic Yarn, his role does not change. |
| Kirby's Dream Buffet | Reference | Appears as a Character Treat. |
Kirby's Epic Yarn / Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn[edit]
Yin-Yarn is the primary antagonist and final boss of Kirby's Epic Yarn and its port: Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn. He separates his home world of Patch Land into seven pieces by stealing the eight pieces of Magic Yarn and one of the Magic Socks. Using these artifacts, Yin-Yarn travels to Dream Land, where he slowly begins turning its citizens and landscape into yarn and fabric.
Seemingly unaware of the rumors concerning Yin-Yarn, Kirby spots an odd-looking Maxim Tomato on top of a bush and starts to inhale it. Yin-Yarn appears from behind the bush, making an unsuccessful attempt to stop Kirby from eating the tomato on his hat. Angered by the loss of his magic Metamato, Yin-Yarn banishes Kirby to Patch Land, where Kirby is left to help retrieve the Magic Yarn with Prince Fluff.
In Kirby's absence, Yin-Yarn continues to take control of Dream Land by sending a brainwashed King Dedede and Meta Knight to Patch Land in an attempt to stop Kirby. With Dedede and Meta Knight gone, there is no one to stand in the way of Yin-Yarn taking complete control over Dream Land–even if he doesn't have an idea what he'll do with it once he has total power.
After Kirby and Prince Fluff collect seven pieces of Magic Yarn and stitch Patch Land back together, they are informed by Meta Knight that Yin-Yarn has taken full control of Dream Land, turning it entirely into yarn. While Kirby is unsure what to do, Prince Fluff reveals the second Magic Sock, which is now active again thanks to Patch Land being repaired. The two of them venture to Dream Land to stop Yin-Yarn, take back the eighth piece of Magic Yarn, and return Dream Land back to normal.
- Main article: Yin-Yarn (boss stage)
During the final battle with him, it is revealed that "Yin-Yarn" is actually a pair of sentient knitting needle brothers, something that is explicitly mentioned in the Japanese version.[1]. The two of them are eventually defeated by Kirby and Prince Fluff. With the artifacts retrieved by their rightful owner, Dream Land reverts to its usual state. Prince Fluff returns to Patch Land, but entrusts Yin-Yarn's Magic Sock to Kirby, allowing the duo to visit each other whenever they like.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]
An original dot sprite of Yin-Yarn appears as a Keychain in Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
Kirby Star Allies[edit]
Yin-Yarn appears in the Celebration Picture: "Bad Boss Brothers" in Kirby Star Allies.
Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]
In Kirby's Dream Buffet, Yin-Yarn appears on a Character Treat, using his artwork from Kirby's Epic Yarn.
In the Kirby novel series[edit]
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| “ | He tore Patch Land apart, scheming to conquer it. | ” | — Unofficial translation of Yin-Yarn's description from Kirby: Big Trouble in Patch Land! |
In the Kirby novel series, Yin-Yarn appears as a guest character and the main antagonist of Kirby: Big Trouble in Patch Land!. As that volume is an adaptation of Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn, his role is largely the same to that of that game.
Yin-Yarn is at first hinted in the prologue, when Chef Kawasaki remembers when he was ambushed by someone who turned his body into yarn. He eventually shows up to Kirby, and after he eats his Metamato, Yin-Yarn becomes furious and sends him to Patch Land. After this, Yin-Yarn first attacks King Dedede in his castle and captures him, and eventually also captures Meta Knight. In the meantime, he also starts turning all of Dream Land into yarn, until he is eventually done.
After Kirby and Prince Fluff fix up Patch Land, they go to save Dream Land as well. There, they finally meet Yin-Yarn, and Kirby beats him easily. That is when it's finally revealed that Yin-Yarn's true identity is the needles, as they create Mega Yin-Yarn. Kirby and Fluff also manage to beat this form, and the needles finally admit defeat. Kirby grabs the two and throws them far away, telling them to never go back to Dream Land. With Yin-Yarn's defeat, Dream Land goes back to normal.
Throughout the volume, various enemies appear and are said to be Yin-Yarn's minions. As he was shown to be able to knit Yarn Waddle Dees and even Fangora, it's implied that these minions were also created by him.
Yin-Yarn has the same speech quirk in Japanese as he has in the games, of alternating ending sentences with the two parts of his Japanese name, アミーボ and アモーレ. In particular, this quirk continues even after the needles are shown to be sentient: the needles alternate talking, and each ends their sentences with one of the words, which seems to heavily imply that, in truth, each needle ends their sentences with one of the words.
Yin-Yarn first appears.
Yin-Yarn ambushing and capturing King Dedede.
Yin-Yarn ambushing Meta Knight.
Yin-Yarn's true identity is revealed.
Trivia[edit]
- Both versions of Yin-Yarn's battle background music are renditions of the regular boss theme from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. Unlike the other classic covers in this game, neither of these versions are acoustic; instead, they sound similar to how music is typically rendered in other Kirby games. This was done on purpose by composer Jun Ishikawa, as he wanted to surprise players in the final battle.[2]
- Yin-Yarn's plot is very similar to that of Drawcia from Kirby: Canvas Curse. Both invade Dream Land, changing its landscape so that it resembles the landscape of their home worlds, and place a curse on Kirby that deprives him of his conventional means of attack.
- The first part of Yin-Yarn's Japanese name (アミーボ・アモーレ) is the same as amiibo despite their different name origins.
Gallery[edit]
Model of Yin-Yarn's left Knitting Needle from Kirby's Epic Yarn
Model of Yin-Yarn's right Knitting Needle from Kirby's Epic Yarn
Keychain from Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Yin-Yarn cameos in the "Bad Boss Brothers" Celebration Picture in Kirby Star Allies
Character Treat from Kirby's Dream Buffet
Illustration from the Kirby JP Twitter commemorating the release of Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn, featuring Yin Yarn
Video Walkthrough[edit]
Flawless fight with Yin-Yarn.
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Quotes[edit]
| Quotes from Yin-Yarn in Kirby's Epic Yarn/Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn |
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Names in other languages[edit]
Yin-Yarn[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アミーボ・アモーレ Amībo Amōre |
From「編み棒」(Amibō, Knitting Needles) combined with "amore" ("love" in Italian) |
| Chinese | 棒针狂人 Bàngzhēn Kuángrén |
Knitting Needles Madman |
| Dutch | Yin-Yarn | - |
| French | Maillalenvers | Based on "maille à l'envers" (lit. "purl stitch") |
| German | Grimmgarn | Grim Yarn |
| Italian | Malandrana | A mixture between "malandrino" (crooked) and "palandrana" (overcoat) |
| Korean | 털실술사 Teolsilsulsa |
Portmanteau of "털실" (teolsil, yarn) and "마술사" (masulsa, magician) |
| Portuguese | Tricolã | Combination of "tricô" (knitting) and "lã" (wool) |
| Spanish | Zur-Zir | Corrupted form of "zurcir" (to sew up) |
Mega Yin-Yarn[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アミーボ・ロボ Amībo Robo |
Yin-Yarn Robot |
| French | Méga Maillalenvers | Mega Yin-Yarn |
| German | Megagrimmgarn | Mega Yin-Yarn |
| Italian | Malandrone | A pun mixing Yin-Yarn's Italian name "Malandrana" with the word "drone" (as in robot) |
| Korean | 메가 털실술사 Mega Teolsilsulsa |
Mega Yin-Yarn |
| Spanish | Mega Zur-Zir | Mega Yin-Yarn |
References
- ↑ "A pair of knitting needle brothers,
who love to sing and dance. They tried to
take over the world with the power of the Metamato." - translated quote from Yin-Yarn's Japanese Patch Plaza description
(original Japanese: "うたとおどりが だいすきな あみぼうの
きょうだい メタモルトマトのちからで
せかいを せいふくしようとしていた") - ↑ Iwata Asks: Kirby's Epic Yarn
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