Kazooie
Kazooie | |
---|---|
Species | Red-Crested Breegull |
First appearance | Banjo-Kazooie (1998, Banjo-Kazooie franchise) N-Gang ("Freeze Frame", cameo) (1999, Super Mario-related media) |
Latest appearance | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Challenger Pack 3) (2019) |
Portrayed by | Chris Sutherland (1998–present)[1] |
Kazooie is one of the main characters from the Banjo-Kazooie franchise, first appearing in Banjo-Kazooie for the Nintendo 64, where she serves as Banjo's partner. She is a red crested bird with a yellow bill and legs and green eyes, and is a member of a fictional species of birds called the Breegull. As a playable duo, Banjo and Kazooie appear together in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as the third Fighters Pass DLC character.
Kazooie is owned by Rare Ltd., a former second-party developer for Nintendo. In 2002, Rare was sold to Microsoft, and the rights of Kazooie, Banjo and Conker were transferred to the company.
History
Diddy Kong Racing
Although Kazooie is absent from Diddy Kong Racing, she is mentioned in the instruction manual and official Nintendo Player's Guide, prior to her debut in a video game. An additional nod to her is featured in the form of a kazoo being played during Banjo's segment of the opening title sequence, though it is absent from Banjo's theme on the character select screen. This segment is still included in the remake, Diddy Kong Racing DS, despite Banjo's absence.
N-Gang
"Freeze Frame"
Banjo and Kazooie make a brief cameo at the end of the N-Gang comic "Freeze Frame", where they are seen celebrating alongside other Nintendo characters.
"N-Gang vs. Nintendo"
Kazooie appears alongside Banjo in the 2000 N-Gang comic "N-Gang vs. Nintendo", where they play on the same soccer camp team with Wario, Yoshi, Princess Peach, Donkey Kong, and Lanky Kong.
"Die Hexe lacht um Mitternacht"
Kazooie makes a brief cameo at the end of the N-Gang comic "Die Hexe lacht um Mitternacht", where she is seen at a Christmas party with other Nintendo characters.
Mario Artist: Paint Studio
Artworks for Kazooie, along with Banjo and other Banjo-Kazooie characters, make an appearance in Mario Artist: Paint Studio.
Minecraft
On January 30, 2018, both the Wii U and Nintendo Switch versions of Minecraft received an update that included many Microsoft-related character skins, including Banjo-Kazooie characters like Banjo and Kazooie.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. fighter Banjo & Kazooie |
Game appearances |
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (downloadable) |
Special moves |
Neutral: Egg Firing / Breegull Blaster Side: Wonderwing Up: Shock Spring Jump Down: Rear Egg Final Smash: The Mighty Jinjonator |
Battle entrance |
Banjo appears from a Jiggy-shaped portal with Kazooie, bowing. |
Template:Main-external Kazooie, alongside Banjo, was announced as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate during the E3 2019 Nintendo Direct on June 11 (PST). Ultimate marks their first non-cameo appearance in a new game since Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing with Banjo-Kazooie, which was released for the Xbox 360 in 2010, as well as the duo's first appearance on a Nintendo console since Banjo-Pilot. Banjo & Kazooie were released on September 4, 2019 (PST) as part of Challenger Pack 3.
In the duo's reveal trailer, a Jiggy bounces across the floor as Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and King K. Rool are lounging in Donkey Kong's tree house, causing them to look outside the window and seeing a silhouette of Banjo & Kazooie. It is then revealed to be Duck Hunt playing a prank, in the same manner as King Dedede pretending to be K. Rool in the latter's reveal trailer. Banjo & Kazooie then appear from the sky, knocking Duck Hunt out of frame, with Kazooie holding her namesake instrument, the kazoo. Kazooie and Banjo appear in Sephiroth's reveal trailer, and are shocked to see him descend from the sky.
Banjo & Kazooie's moveset and appearances are directly pulled from their two Nintendo 64 titles, Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, though they also sport a few original attacks. Spiral Mountain, the location of their home, serves as the representation for their stage. Regarding weight, Banjo & Kazooie are a heavyweight fighter, being heavier than Link, Yoshi, Captain Falcon, and Mii Gunner, but lighter than Wario, Ike, Ridley, Simon, and Richter, while having the same weight as Snake and R.O.B.
When Kirby copies Banjo & Kazooie, his backpack has a plush toy version of Kazooie inside.
Unused appearances
Donkey Kong 64
Both Banjo and Kazooie made a cameo in early versions of Donkey Kong 64, but were ultimately cut from the final game. Their faces were going to appear on a shower stall in DK's Tree House.
Profiles and statistics
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Palutena's Guidance
Banjo & Kazooie share this stock conversation with all other Fighters Pass characters. It was originally used for Mewtwo, Lucas, Roy, Ryu, Cloud, Corrin, and Bayonetta in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, who are downloadable fighters in that game.
- Pit: Who is THAT?
- Palutena: I have no data on this fighter. I can't believe it!
- Viridi: It must be an intruder from another dimension!
- Pit: Whoever it is, the goal remains the same: to fight and win!
Spirit
Name | Image | Series / game | Type | Class | Strength / effect(s) | How to obtain | Spirit battle | |||
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Opponent(s) | Battle conditions | Stage | Song | |||||||
Banjo & Kazooie | Banjo-Kazooie Series | Fighter | N/A | N/A | Classic Mode as Banjo & Kazooie | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Official website
- The missing piece of the puzzle is found as Banjo & Kazooie join Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a playable fighter! With Banjo’s bare hands to bruise rivals up close and Kazooie’s egg-cellent shooting skills, your rivals will be singing the blues in no time. For their Final Smash, these perfect partners call upon a flock of Jinjos and the Mighty Jinjonator to deal the final blow to any “feeble jerk” that may stand in their way!
Title | Description | Release Date | System/Format |
---|---|---|---|
Mario Artist: Paint Studio | Cameo in artworks from Banjo-Kazooie | 1999 | Nintendo 64DD |
Minecraft: Wii U Edition | Playable skin via update | 2018 | Wii U |
Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition | Playable skin via update | 2018 | Nintendo Switch |
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Playable character via DLC | 2019 | Nintendo Switch |
Gallery
- BKMarioArtist.png
Banjo slamming down Kazooie to attack Falco in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
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Japanese | カズーイ[?] Kazūi |
Possibly derived from Katsuhito Yamauchi ( |
|
Chinese | 小笛 Xiǎodí 阿卡 (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate) Ākǎ[?] |
Literally "small flute" In Chinese, adding an 「阿」 in front of a given name makes it a diminutive form. |
|
French | Kazooie[?] | - | |
German | Kazooie[?] | - | |
Italian | Kazooie[?] | - | |
Korean | 카주이[?] Kajui |
Kazooie | |
Russian | Казуи[?] Kazui |
Kazooie | |
Spanish | Kazooie[?] | - |
Trivia
- Prior to Banjo and Kazooie's inclusions in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, they were among the most requested Super Smash Bros. characters of all time. A Rare employee wrote on their website in 2009, that although they had not been considered for Super Smash Bros., many Rare franchise trophies were originally in Super Smash Bros. Melee.[2] Vice President of Microsoft's gaming division, Phil Spencer, made a Tweet in 2015, stating "it would be cool" to see Banjo and Kazooie appear as DLC fighters in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.[3] He doubled down on the comments in 2018, a year before Banjo and Kazooie's reveal in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.[4]
References
- ^ Credited in the sound test menu in the Japanese version of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
- ^ Rare Scribes. Posted September 18th, 2009. Accessed October 30, 2020.
- ^ Xbox Head Phil Spencer Says 'It Would Be Cool' to See Banjo in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U IGN. Posted April 3, 2015. Accessed August 30, 2020.
- ^ Microsoft Is Willing To Put Banjo In Smash Bros. Posted March 21, 2018. Accessed August 30, 2020.
External links
- Kazooie on Jiggywikki