April 27th, 1992 marks a special day for gamers: the Japanese release of Kirby’s Dream Land on the Game Boy and the first appearance of that squishy pink character fans all over the world have come to know and love! As of today, Kirby is 24 years old, and with more than 20 games in the main Kirby series (let alone appearances in other games like the Super Smash Bros. series), it’s been an incredible 24 years!
That cutie was created by Masahiro Sakurai for HAL Laboratory and was famously intended to only be a placeholder, but come on! Just look at that face! How could you set aside such an adorable character design? Sakurai decided that squishy, round appearance best-suited the character, and just like that, we got one of the sweetest characters in gaming history!
Kirby is well-known for being able to suck up objects and creatures and get matching appearances and abilities, and can also puff up his cheeks and fly. These fun abilities allow for unique twists across all genre and platforms, so it comes as no surprise that Kirby games include everything from action platformers and puzzle games to racing and pinball. Other twists have included the addition of interactive yarn in Kirby’s Epic Yarn!
We're glad to have spent many joyful years with Kirby and Japanese Twitter fans agree - check out their tribute!
From illustrations...
https://twitter.com/hashtag/2016%E5%B9%B4%E6%98%9F%E3%81%AE%E3%82%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%A324%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#2016年星のカービィ24周年生誕祭
— ぽつこ (@miyariiiiiii) https://twitter.com/miyariiiiiii/status/725319775631478784">April 27, 2016
カービィちゃんお誕生日おめでとうございます!大好き!!! https://t.co/ILUwJ03cHi">pic.twitter.com/ILUwJ03cHi
遅れてごめんね……
— おかき (@Okaki_OvO) https://twitter.com/Okaki_OvO/status/725346042758078466">April 27, 2016
カービィちゃん大好きだよ!!https://twitter.com/hashtag/2016%E5%B9%B4%E6%98%9F%E3%81%AE%E3%82%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%A324%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#2016年星のカービィ24周年生誕祭 https://t.co/ejka2hhF53">pic.twitter.com/ejka2hhF53
カービィちゃんのお誕生日会楽しかったです(*^^*)カービィちゃんおめでとう!!https://twitter.com/hashtag/2016%E5%B9%B4%E6%98%9F%E3%81%AE%E3%82%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%A324%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#2016年星のカービィ24周年生誕祭 https://t.co/7yDtuUyWZq">pic.twitter.com/7yDtuUyWZq
— まぐまぐ4/28カービィ新作発売 (@atyui) https://twitter.com/atyui/status/725263685120225280">April 27, 2016
たいせつな たからもの https://twitter.com/hashtag/2016%E5%B9%B4%E6%98%9F%E3%81%AE%E3%82%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%A324%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#2016年星のカービィ24周年生誕祭 https://t.co/vRuqOHTets">pic.twitter.com/vRuqOHTets
— ✄ 糸奇 はな ✄Itoki Hana✄ (@1t0lc1) https://twitter.com/1t0lc1/status/725135444669808640">April 27, 2016
元の色味はこんなんでした
— 隠れみの (@Hk_mino) https://twitter.com/Hk_mino/status/725097465792225280">April 26, 2016
なんとなく毎年同じ加工とモチーフで揃えてみてます https://t.co/bG0xu8MsNX">pic.twitter.com/bG0xu8MsNX
To desserts...
カービィちゃん24周年おめでとうございます!今年もカービィマカロンとケーキでお祝い(´v`)ずっとずっと大好きな作品です🌸 https://twitter.com/hashtag/2016%E5%B9%B4%E6%98%9F%E3%81%AE%E3%82%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%A324%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#2016年星のカービィ24周年生誕祭 https://t.co/i5WCdi46hl">pic.twitter.com/i5WCdi46hl
— 塩米@低浮上 (@sokms2) https://twitter.com/sokms2/status/724984283337617408">April 26, 2016
カービィちゃんお誕生日おめでとう!毎年この日を祝えるのが幸せです、カービィちゃん宇宙で一番好きだよ!!!!!!!!!! https://twitter.com/hashtag/2016%E5%B9%B4%E6%98%9F%E3%81%AE%E3%82%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%A324%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#2016年星のカービィ24周年生誕祭 https://t.co/HHxKfGu5xV">pic.twitter.com/HHxKfGu5xV
— 【祝】マリカ【カービィ24周年】 (@nobyou) https://twitter.com/nobyou/status/724979072762146816">April 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/hashtag/2016%E5%B9%B4%E6%98%9F%E3%81%AE%E3%82%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%A324%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#2016年星のカービィ24周年生誕祭
— ryoka (@ryoka7124) https://twitter.com/ryoka7124/status/724976548248350725">April 26, 2016
24周年おめでとうございます!カービィちゃん宇宙一愛してるよーーー!!!!これからも宜しくね https://t.co/BUDASHIWw1">pic.twitter.com/BUDASHIWw1
Whether it’s because of the warm, pink design and happy face or because of Kirby’s constant bravery in the face of danger, it’s easy to see why this character is so loved among gamers new and old.
Happy birthday, Kirby, and here’s to many more in the future! ⊂((・▽・))⊃
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article by Jen Smith