The Kirby Gallery
A pink hero, drawn twice for two markets, on almost every box he ever shipped in.
Kirby is the rare Nintendo hero whose boxes argue with each other. His first American box shows him white, because the Game Boy could not show the pink his creator had drawn. His 1993 sequel put him in color at last, pale in America and fully pink in Japan. His biggest cartridge shipped in Japan inside a box made to look like a Paulownia wood gift box, while America got a black box that shouts its contents count on the front. And on the racing game, the same Warp Star composition carries a smiling Kirby in Japan and a determined one in America.
Every cover below is a door. Behind it sits the game's history, how HAL Laboratory made it and how its own era received it, and behind that, the questions its fans still ask. Start anywhere. The doors all open.
KIRBY'S DREAM LAND
HAL Laboratory · Game Boy · 1992
Japan · 1992
Hoshi no Kirby. Pink, as Sakurai drew him: the Japanese box is the only 1992 box that shows Kirby's actual color.
America · 1992
A ghost white Kirby over the same scene, because the machine he debuted on could not show color at all.
The History
How Kirby's Dream Land was made, and how it was received: the nineteen year old designer, the placeholder hero, and 5.13 million copies.
The White Box
Why is Kirby white on the first American box? The palette story, told apart from the angry years.
No Copy Ability
Why does Kirby's Dream Land have no copy ability? A beginner first design, on purpose.
The Design
What inspired Kirby's design? A placeholder sprite that refused to be replaced.
KIRBY'S ADVENTURE
HAL Laboratory · NES / Famicom · 1993
Japan · 1993
Yume no Izumi no Monogatari. One big pink Kirby in the middle, ringed by a border of small Kirbys showing off the new copy abilities. Shown from a photograph of the box.
America · 1993
Kirby in color at last, but pale: he pulls back a blue curtain while Nightmare's eyes watch from the dark corners. A completely different painting from Japan's.
The History
How Kirby's Adventure was made, and how it was received: the copy ability, Meta Knight's debut, and the NES pushed to its limit.
The Name
How did Kirby get his name? A list from Nintendo of America, and a lawyer who once saved Donkey Kong.
The Angry Years
Why is Kirby angry on American box art? The later face, answered on its own page in The Box Art shelf.
KIRBY'S DREAM LAND 2
HAL Laboratory · Game Boy · 1995
Japan · 1995
Hoshi no Kirby 2. Kirby rides Rick the hamster under the Japanese lettering, Coo the owl above and Kine the fish at the right, with the Super Game Boy banner at the corner.
America · 1995
The same ensemble painting in the silver Game Boy frame, with the K-A rating and the Super Game Boy badge. Shown as a 3D box view.
KIRBY SUPER STAR
HAL Laboratory · Super NES / Super Famicom · 1996
Japan · 1996
Super Deluxe, packaged like fine sake: a Paulownia wood box, the title burned into the grain, and a single outlined Kirby smiling out of the wood. Image from HAL Laboratory's own works page.
America · 1996
A black box and a promise printed on the front: 8 GAMES IN ONE! Kirby in a star spangled jester hat over a bursting gold star. Shown as a 3D box view.
KIRBY 64: THE CRYSTAL SHARDS
HAL Laboratory · Nintendo 64 · 2000
Japan · 2000
Hoshi no Kirby 64. The whole party around one gold star on pink plaid: Ribbon, Adeleine with her palette, King Dedede and Waddle Dee, drawn larger and looser.
America · 2000
The same cast and the same star, recomposed on blue plaid under the banner: DOZENS OF PUFFED-UP SPECIAL POWERS! One composition, two plaids.
KIRBY AIR RIDE
HAL Laboratory · GameCube · 2003
Japan · 2003
Kirby's Airride. A smiling Kirby riding the Warp Star straight at the buyer, katakana title over the English one. Shown from a photograph of the outer box.
America · 2003
The same Warp Star composition, the other expression: eyebrows down, mouth set, determination for the American shelf. Shown from a photograph of the case.