Editing Animal Friend

{{About|the animal companions in [[Kirby's Dream Land 2]] and [[Kirby's Dream Land 3]]|the ability in [[Kirby: Squeak Squad]]|[[Animal]]. For other helpful characters, see [[:Category:Allies]]}}
[[File:KDL3 Kirby and friends artwork.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Group art of [[Kirby]], [[Gooey]], and all six '''Animal Friends''']]

The '''Animal Friends''' are a group of animal-like creatures who serve as [[Kirby]]'s allies. They made their debut in ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 2]]''. More specifically, the term refers to the rideable animal companions which Kirby can mount and combine his [[Copy Ability|Copy Abilities]] with, and is considered a type of [[Copy Ability#Special Abilities|Special Ability]].

There are six Animal Friends in total. The first three, which debuted in ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'', are '''[[Rick]]''', who resembles a hamster, '''[[Kine]]''', who resembles a sunfish, and '''[[Coo]]''', who resembles an owl. The other three, which joined the originals in ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 3]]'', are '''[[Nago]]''', who resembles a cat, '''[[ChuChu]]''', who resembles an octopus, and '''[[Pitch]]''', who resembles a bird.

Most of the animal friends are somewhat larger than Kirby, and all of them provide their own unique way of moving once they are paired up with him. Kirby can only travel with one Animal Friend at a time and will have to switch out between them based on what task needs solving.

==Game appearances==
===''Kirby's Dream Land 2''===
[[File:KDL2 Animal Friends intro.png|thumb|Close-up cutaways of Rick, Kine, & Coo, as seen in the opening [[cutscene]] for ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'']]
Rick, Kine, and Coo first appear in this title. They each have their distinct advantages and disadvantages when paired up with, and will use their own special version of whichever Copy Ability Kirby has equipped. Using their power is necessary to collect some of the [[Rainbow Drop]]s. To find them, Kirby will have to free them from a bag by defeating the [[Mid-Boss]] on guard. If that animal friend is already freed, [[Gooey]] or [[Girl blob]] will appear instead.

===''Kirby's Star Stacker''===
In ''[[Kirby's Star Stacker (Game Boy)|Kirby's Star Stacker]]'' [[Kirby's Star Stacker (Super Famicom)|(both versions)]], Rick, Kine, and Coo feature prominently, both on the puzzle board as blocks that need to be moved around and in cutscenes and illustrations. Unlike in the main series titles, there is no functional difference between the animal friends in gameplay.

===''Kirby's Dream Land 3''===
In addition to the previous three, Nago, ChuChu, and Pitch appear in this title. Unlike the previous, they can be found in the open in various rooms, and Kirby will have to pick between them. Using each one in specific situations is necessary to get all of the [[Heart Star]]s.

===''Kirby Star Allies''===
====Rick & Kine & Coo====
[[File:KSA Rick & Kine & Coo Artwork.png|thumb|right|200px|Artwork of '''Rick & Kine & Coo''' the [[Dream Friend]] from ''Kirby Star Allies'', the original three Animal Friends introduced in ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 2]]''.]]
{{quote|Three pals from Kirby's Dream Land 2 join the fray! They've formed a dream-team trio, so they can help each other out. Rick rules the land. Kine swims the seas. Coo soars through skies. Animal friends forever!|Flavor text of '''Rick & Kine & Coo''' in [[Story Mode]] and [[The Ultimate Choice]]}}
{{quote|<big>"Friends by air, sea, and land!"</big><br>This triple-deluxe pack of pals from Kirby's Dream Land 2 is here to help! You'll hear 'em coming: pitter-patter, splish-splash, and flutter-flap!|[[Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!|Guest Star Rick & Kine & Coo Animal Trio]] Pause Screen description in ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]''}}
In ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]'', Rick, Kine, and Coo appear as [[Dream Friend]]s, albeit rolled into a single character. They switch out based on which attacks are being used, playing in a tag-team style. When not attacking, Rick is used by default; Kine is used while swimming; and Coo is used when in the air, after using Flutter or Parasol Coo. Their abilities are based on their special Copy Abilities from ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 2]]'' and ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 3]]'', and are capable of providing the Bluster, Sizzle, Splash, and (under rare circumstances) Blizzard [[Power Effect|power effect]]s to other abilities. In addition, while using Stone Rick, Rick can participate in the [[Curling]], [[Geokinesis]], and [[Rock Painter]] [[Friend Ability|Friend Abilities]].

Rick retains his special properties from ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' and ''3''; he doesn't slip on ice, and he can damage certain enemies by stomping on them, which also allows him to harmlessly bounce off of certain obstacles. Kine has the distinction of being the fastest swimmer of all the available characters, while Coo controls much like the [[Wing]] ability and thus has improved aerial mobility. While [[guard]]ing, the trio hides in a [[Protective Bag]] similar to the ones they were held in from ''Dream Land 2''. Their unique rooms in [[Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!]] recreate stages from ''Dream Land 2'' and/or utilize their unique abilities. The trio's [[Friend Star]] bullets are Sizzle-based.

{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellpadding="2"
!colspan=4| Rick & Kine & Coo moveset in ''Kirby Star Allies'' &nbsp;
|-
! Skill
! Button Execution
! Description
! Damage
|-
|'''Fire Rick'''
|{{center|B}}
|Rick breathes fireballs in a close range like he does in ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 2]]'' and ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 3|3]]''.
*This can grant the Sizzle power effect.
|8→4 (2nd hit onward)
|-
|'''Stone Rick'''
|{{center|Dash + B}}
|Rick transforms into a rolling stone like he does in ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' and ''3''.<br>Like the [[Stone]] ability, this can pound [[Post|stakes]] and be used in Stone-based [[Friend Ability|Friend Abilities]].<br>Rick is invincible during both the transformation process and the stone form.
*If anyone is riding [[piggyback]] on Rick, they will walk on the rolling stone like Kirby does in ''Dream Land 2'' and ''3''.
*The [[curling]] stone has Rick's face on it.
*If [[Geokinesis]] or [[Rock Painter]] are used, the statue will always be the one depicting Rick, Kine, and Coo.
|Stone: 46→5→2<br>Release: 20
|-
|'''Parasol Coo'''
|{{center|Dash + B in midair}}
|Coo spins himself like a tornado with a [[parasol]] on his head like he does in ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' and ''3''.
*This can grant the Bluster power effect. Coo is invincible during this attack, similar to the [[Tornado]] ability.
|10×12 hits<br>(10→9→9→8→8→7→7→7→6→10→9→9)
*Actual damage is 102 when all hits connect.
|-
|'''Cutter Coo'''
|{{center|B in midair during Flutter}}
|Coo tosses 3-way feather [[cutter]]s like he does in ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 2]]''.
*This can cut [[String Platform|ropes]] and grass, and can also grant the Bluster power effect.
|12×3 hits<br>(12+10+9 when all hits connect)
|-
|'''Flutter'''
|{{center|A in midair}}
|Coo flutters his wings to fly in the air.
*This can cut ropes and grass, and can also grant the Bluster power effect. Rather than using the controls from ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' and ''3'' (flying with the + Control Pad and dashing with the jump button), Coo's flying controls like the [[Wing]] ability's Hover Flap.
|4
|-
|'''Fish Flop'''
|{{center|↓ + B}}
|Kine flops and splashes on the ground.
*This can grant the Splash power effect.
|16→12→10→8→8 (5th hit onward)
|-
|'''Ice Kine'''
|{{center|B underwater}}
|Kine surrounds himself with cold waves underwater like he does in ''Kirby's Dream Land 2''. Enemies that approach him will be frozen.
*This can grant the Blizzard power effect, but because it can only be used while swimming, this is only possible if it is used on the surface of the water.
|N/A
|-
|'''Kine Freeze'''
|{{center|Hold B underwater}}
|When Kine uses Ice Kine for about 3 seconds, he will freeze himself and become unable to move until releasing B, like he does in ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' and ''3''. Enemies that touch him will be frozen.
*This can grant the Blizzard power effect, but because it can only be used while swimming, this is only possible if it is used on the surface of the water.
|N/A
|-
|'''Protective Bag'''
|{{center|L/R}}
|Rick & Kine & Coo hide in a bag that resembles the one they are trapped in from ''Kirby's Dream Land 2''.
*As a special [[guard]], Rick & Kine & Coo take no chip damage from stronger attacks while in the bag, but are still vulnerable to unguardable attacks and can't [[dodge]] while inside.
|N/A
|-
|'''Stomp'''
|{{center|Stomp on enemies as Rick}}
|Rick damages enemies (including bosses) by stomping on them and bounces off. Rick can also safely bounce off of certain obstacles, such as [[spike]]s and [[Gordo]]s.
|16→8→4 (3rd hit onward)
|-
!colspan=4|Reference: A [[Star Bullet]] deals 52 damage.
|}

====ChuChu / Nago / Pitch====
The other three animal friends from ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 3]]'' also appear, but only briefly as part of the [[Cleaning]] ability moveset. These animal friends reprise their combination moves that are performed if Kirby has the Cleaning ability in the original game.
*Clean ChuChu (Dash + B in midair) reprises her flying broom.
*Clean Pitch (Up + press & release B) reprises his bucket transformation move. This move can also be charged.
*Clean Nago (Dash + B) reprises his floor polishing technique.

ChuChu and Pitch are also depicted in the [[Celebration Picture]] "A Dream Above the Clouds". For some reason, Nago is not depicted with them.

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===Other titles===
The animal friends often make cameos in other titles in the series. Most of the time, this entails appearing in [[Sub-Game]]s or having their likenesses made into collectible items. The most prominent cameo comes from ''[[Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards]]'' when Kirby uses the [[Stone-Cutter]] [[Power Combo]]. Doing so transforms Kirby into a stone replica of one of his animal friends, giving him a different movement option (potentially none at all) with each one.

==In ''Kirby: Right Back at Ya!''==
Rick, Kine, and Coo appear as distinct characters in ''[[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]]'', with some episodes featuring them prominently. They appear to have no direct connection to Kirby in the show, and are merely intelligent creatures living in [[Dream Land (anime)|Dream Land]].

==Trivia==
*According to the Kirby 20th Anniversary Celebration Book included with ''[[Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition]]'', it was originally planned to refer to Kirby's Animal Friends as "minions", but this was changed to better fit with Kirby's personality.<ref>''"At the start of their development, we called these characters "minions", but we changed them to "friends" because that felt more fitting given Kirby's personality."'' <small>--Kirby's 20th Anniversary Celebration Book (English print), page 10</small></ref> Some internal materials related to the Animal Friends (such as the theme for [[Coo's Forest]], <code>BGM_LP_SIMOBE1</code>) use the word しもべ ("minion" in Japanese), relating back to this original plan.
*English marketing material for ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' refers to the Animal Friends in that game as "Rick the hamster", "Kine the fish", and "Coo the owl". However, Japanese material has suggested from the beginning that they are not actual animals, and only resemble them in likeness. Later English material would also adopt this stance, which notably resulted in the Nintendo Switch Online description for ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' being altered to refer to them as "Rick, Kine, and Coo, who look like a hamster, a fish, and an owl, respectively."

==Gallery==
===Images===
<gallery>
Crazy Mischief in the Stars.png|"Crazy Mischief in the Stars" [[Celebration Picture]] from ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]'' featuring Rick, Kine, and Coo
KSA Tip Image DLC1 Dream Friends.png|[[List of Kirby Star Allies loading screen tips|Tip image]] of Kirby adventuring with the Wave 1 [[Dream Friend]]s, featuring Rick in ''Kirby Star Allies''
KSA Guest Star Rick Kine Coo title screen.png|Title screen for [[Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!|Guest Star Rick & Kine & Coo: Animal Trio]] in ''Kirby Star Allies''
KRtDLD Merry Magoland Animal Friends statue unlock.jpg|The Rick, Kine & Coo statue at [[Merry Magoland]] in ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe]]''
Twitter commemorative - Sweet Potatoes eating.jpg|Illustration from the [[Kirby JP Twitter]] featuring all the Animal Friends
</gallery>

===Videos===
{{Youtube|2dKCWn4HHmM|300|[[Dream Friend]] trailer for ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]'':<br>Rick & Kine & Coo}}
{{Youtube|1Mu3yoccAHU|300|Official [[Kirby Portal]] video showcasing Animal Friends}}
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== Names in other languages ==
{{Names
|ja=なかま<br>''nakama''<br>なかま能力
|jaR=nakama nōryoku
|jaM=Companion (or "Friend", "Buddy", etc.)<br>Companion Ability
|pt=Amigo animal
|ptM=Animal friend
|de=Tierfreund
|deM=Animal friend
}}

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[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Allies]]
[[Category:Special Abilities]]
[[Category:Animal Friends|*]]