Popstar

Popstar
Kirby's home world, Popstar, as seen in Kirby Star Allies.
Details
Game(s)	Kirby Super Star Kirby's Dream Land 3 Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Kirby: Squeak Squad Kirby Super Star Ultra Kirby Mass Attack Kirby's Return to Dream Land Kirby: Triple Deluxe Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Kirby: Planet Robobot Kirby Star Allies Kirby and the Forgotten Land Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World Kirby Air Riders
Inhabitant(s)	Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, the Waddle Dees, many other creatures
Boss(es)	Whispy Woods (Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards) Meta Knight (Kirby Star Allies)
Related	Dream Land

Notice: It has been suggested that this article be renamed to Planet Popstar. Please discuss this proposal on the talk page, or rename the article if appropriate.

Reason: See Talk:Popstar#Move to Planet Popstar

This article is about the home planet of Kirby in a general context. For the first level of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, see Pop Star (Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards). For the second level of Kirby Star Allies, see World of Miracles: Planet Popstar.

Popstar (formally called Planet Popstar since Kirby's Return to Dream Land; referred to as Pop Star or PopStar in prior games) is the yellow, star-shaped home planet of Kirby and his closest friends in the Kirby series. It is an iconic locale housing a variety of surreal landscapes, which can vary wildly in environment and climate. Though not always explicitly mentioned, nearly every Kirby game takes place on Planet Popstar's surface, whether that be in the oft-seen kingdom of Dream Land or somewhere else in the surrounding countryside, seas, or skies.

When viewed from outer space, Popstar does not appear to have any landmarks (with an often rough and cratered yellow surface), but when looking closer toward the ground, it takes on Earth-like continents, islands, and oceans, though the landmasses are often star-shaped. Popstar is frequently the target of villainous factions from across the universe, whom Kirby and his friends must fight off time and again.

Overview

“Your home, Popstar, is the brightest star in space. It was only a matter of time before Necrodeus decided to smother its light.”

— Daroach in Kirby Mass Attack

Popstar is a somewhat flat yellow star-shaped planet with two rings orbiting it (though it has three in the credits of Kirby's Dream Land 3). It gives off a very strong light from outer space (and is stated to be the brightest star in the universe in Kirby Mass Attack), though on the surface, it looks much more Earth-like and typically features a regular day-night cycle. While not usually visible in outer space, Popstar has at least one Sun and Moon in its orbit, the latter of which can be visited with relative ease.

Characteristic to Popstar is its relatively untamed natural environment, brimming with life of all sorts. Landscapes include lush green meadows and forests, deserts with towering dunes, extensive tropical coastlines and deep oceans, icy mountain chains, volcanic regions, and - most strikingly - extensive cloudscapes which can be walked upon, dotted by floating landmasses. Though most of Popstar is undeveloped, there are numerous ruins which dot the planet's surface, which can be found in every biome (including the cloudscapes). The builders of these ruins are unknown, but there are hints that they were created by ancient civilizations that once inhabited Popstar.

While most of Popstar's sentient inhabitants live free on the planet's surface, there are at least three established groups on Popstar. These groups are the kingdoms of Dream Land (which King Dedede claims to rule) and Floralia (where the People of the Sky, who were previously ruled by Queen Sectonia, live), and the Meta-Knights (which Meta Knight leads).

Popstar occasionally sees changes to its topology over the course of the series. The most notable of these changes is the permanent addition of the Dreamstalk connecting Dream Land to Floralia after the events of Kirby: Triple Deluxe, though this is not visible from space. Smaller changes include the planet's temporary clay-like appearance in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, its rings changing from solid rays to twinkling particles in Kirby: Planet Robobot, and its surface gaining a rocky, moon-like texture in Kirby Star Allies.

World maps

This image of the World Map from Kirby's Dream Land 3 shows five areas on each end of Popstar that are typical environments for the planet. The sixth in the middle is very atypical.

So far in the Kirby series, there have been seven games that explicitly show world maps that stretch across the surface of Popstar: those being Kirby's Dream Land 3, Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, Kirby: Squeak Squad, Kirby Mass Attack, Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Kirby: Planet Robobot, and Kirby Star Allies (though that last example is merely a level hub). Generally, each area on these maps, whether they be levels or stages, will feature the following distinct environments:

• A grassland and/or forest
• A tropical beach and deep sea area
• A desert region
• An icy/snowy region
• An active volcanic region
• A cloudy region (usually with tall towers inset)

In particular, the world maps for Kirby's Dream Land 3 and Kirby's Return to Dream Land have their first five levels on Popstar matching each-other almost exactly in environmental theme, though the order in which they are played differs.

Game appearances

Though most of Kirby's adventures take place in and around Dream Land, which is de-facto part of Popstar, the following will only discuss titles where the planet itself is a destination or plot point:

Kirby Super Star / Kirby Super Star Ultra

Planet Popstar was first named in-game (in all capitals as "POPSTAR" in the SNES version, and "Pop Star" in the DS version) in Kirby Super Star. Most of Kirby's adventures take place on it, except for Milky Way Wishes, where Kirby only visits it in the intro. Popstar is explicitly seen from space in the level hub for Milky Way Wishes, and is also seen in the sub-game Megaton Punch. In the latter case, when Kirby or his opponent punch the blocks with sufficient force, a crack runs through the planet to exaggerate the effect of the punch.

Kirby's Dream Land 3

Popstar (formatted "PopStar" in the English manual) is the main setting of the game Kirby's Dream Land 3. During the game, the peaceful planet is attacked by Zero and Dark Matter, which possesses some of the residents and spreads over the whole planet's surface in a black cloud. Kirby and his friends set out to stop Dark Matter by traveling through five regions of Popstar and destroying its influence in these lands. The five different areas of Popstar are called Grass Land, Ripple Field, Sand Canyon, Cloudy Park, and Iceberg in this game.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Main article: Pop Star (Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards)

Pop Star has four simple stages, as it is the first world in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.

Pop Star is the colorful first world encountered by Kirby and Ribbon during their mission to rescue their realm from Dark Matter in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.This region is known for its seasonal variety and its beautiful landscape, boasting a vivid autumn-like stage, and a grand castle belonging to King Dedede that Kirby must infiltrate in his search for Crystal Shards. The level ends with a fight against Whispy Woods.

Like in all levels of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, the first three stages within Pop Star hide three Crystal Shards, while the final stage rewards only one after the defeat of the boss. Nevertheless, all shards within one level need not to be collected before Kirby is granted access to the next; Kirby must simply complete the level.

Kirby: Squeak Squad

In Kirby: Squeak Squad, Popstar can be seen in the background of Gamble Galaxy's world map, as well in the backgrounds of stages 2 and 3 in Gamble Galaxy.

Kirby Mass Attack

Popstar is shown in the closing cutscene of Kirby Mass Attack as Kirby returns home from his arduous battle with Necrodeus. The star is said to "[shine] like a brilliant beacon of hope."

Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

Planet Popstar in the opening cinematic for Kirby's Return to Dream Land.

Planet Popstar reappears in Kirby's Return to Dream Land and its remake Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, as the site where the Lor Starcutter (under Magolor's possession) crashes in the opening cutscenes of the game. Popstar constitutes the majority of the early and middle stages of game play, and is the planet where Kirby, along with Bandana Waddle Dee, King Dedede, and Meta Knight must find the missing parts to the Lor Starcutter. Popstar in this game consists of the first five levels of the game: Cookie Country, Raisin Ruins, Onion Ocean, White Wafers, and Nutty Noon. The remaining two main levels are located in Halcandra, what Magolor claims is his homeworld.

Near the end of the game, Popstar also appears in the background of the boss battle with Magolor and his second form. This time, the planet is shown through a dimensional rift, which draws closer near the end of the battle.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Just after Kirby defeats Queen Sectonia in their initial battle in this game, she merges with the Dreamstalk. As she does, the planet can be seen briefly, as the Queen's roots begin to strangle the life out of it. Kirby has to defeat her again to save the planet.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

In Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, Claycia steals the colors of Planet Popstar to create the seven worlds of Seventopia. It is seen in its monochromatic, lifeless flair on the world map, in one of the pages of Elline's Secret Diary, and once again near the end of the credits screen.

Kirby: Planet Robobot

Planet Popstar is approached by a planet-sized spaceship.

In this installment, Popstar is invaded by a spaceship (the Access Ark) roughly the same size as the planet itself, and mechanized by its robots under the command of the Haltmann Works Company. Kirby is tasked with stopping this invasion by smashing each of the legs of the ship, then boarding it to deal with its president. In the process, the ancient computer aboard the ship - Star Dream - goes berserk and takes control, forcing Kirby to battle it and the entire spaceship with the help of Meta Knight and the Halberd. Once Star Dream is defeated, all the mechanization the planet underwent is undone.

Kirby Star Allies

Main article: World of Miracles: Planet Popstar

Planet Popstar is the second level of Kirby Star Allies. This level consists of five regular stages along with two unlockable extra ones. As might be expected, each stage takes place in a vastly different ecological zone, ranging from tropical beach-sides and frozen tundras to volcanic regions and ancient ruins. At the end of this level, Kirby and his star allies run into Meta Knight, who has been influenced by the pieces of the Jamba Heart scattered across the planet. Despite still retaining some of his decorum, he battles Kirby and his team, splitting into multiple copies of himself during the fight.

Shortly after Meta Knight is subdued, a massive flying fortress crashes into Popstar from space, which serves as the next level.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land / Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

Fecto Elfilis opens a portal to Planet Popstar, intending to crash it into the new world.

Though the planet is largely absent from Kirby and the Forgotten Land and its Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (aside from the opening cutscene taking place within Dream Land), Popstar makes a surprise appearance at the end of the final boss battle with Fecto Elfilis, where it tears open a portal from the new world to Popstar in order to cause the two planets to collide. After Kirby defeats Fecto Elfilis using Big-Rig Mouth, he and Elfilin wind up back in Dream Land, and Elfilin manages to close the portal that Elfilis opened. After this, it is revealed that Elfilin can open up a safe portal between the two planets at any time.

Kirby Air Riders

In Kirby Air Riders, Popstar appears in multiple cutscenes in Road Trip, showing Zorah landing onto Popstar after falling from space and the Air Ride Machines being sent to Popstar by Galactic Nova. The true ending cutscene, "Grand Finale", shows the rider using Leo to return to Popstar from outer space, mimicking the ending of Milky Way Wishes.

Places found on Popstar

The following continents, lands and landmarks can be found on Popstar, though it is not always clear where all these places are relative to each-other, or if all these names refer to distinct locations. Some of these places also existed at one point, but no longer do:

Places on Planet Popstar

• Butter Building
• Candy Mountain
• Cocoa Cave
• Cookie Country
• Cushy Cloud
• Dream Land
  • Kirby's House
  • Green Greens
    • Purple Plants
  • Castle Lololo
  • Float Islands
    • Illusion Islands
  • Bubbly Clouds
    • Crash Clouds
  • Mt. Dedede
    • Castle Dedede
  • Prism Plains
  • Green Gardens
  • Donut Dome
  • Honey Hill
  • Fruity Forest
  • Extra Eclair

• Duplex Dream
• Echo's Edge
• Floralia
  • The Dreamstalk
  • Fine Fields
  • Lollipop Land
  • Old Odyssey
  • Wild World
  • Endless Explosions
  • Royal Road
• The Fountain of Dreams
• Friendly Field
• Gigabyte Grounds
• Grape Garden
• Great Cave
  • Sub-Tree
  • Crystal
  • Old Tower
  • Garden

• The Halberd
• Ice Cream Island
• Ice Island
• Inside Islands
• Jam Jungle
• Mallow Castle
• Nature's Navel
• Nature Notch
• Nutty Noon
• Onion Ocean
• Orange Ocean
• Overload Ocean
• Patched Plains
• Peanut Plains
• Popopo Islands
  • Green Grounds
  • Sandy Canyon
  • Dedede Resort
  • Volcano Valley

• Rainbow Islands
  • Grass Land
  • Big Forest
  • Ripple Field
  • Iceberg
  • Red Canyon
  • Cloudy Park
  • Dark Castle
• Rainbow Resort
• Raisin Ruins
• Reef Resort
• Resolution Road
• Rhythm Route
• Sacred Square
• Sand Canyon
• Secret Sea
• Vegetable Valley
• Vocal Volcano
• White Wafers
• Yogurt Yard

Music

Planet Popstar has had multiple themes associated with it throughout the Kirby series, which includes the following:

• "Planet Popstar" and "Planet Popstar: Stage Select" from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.
• "Planet Popstar" from Kirby’s Return to Dream Land.
• "Magical Planet Popstar" from Kirby: Planet Robobot.
• "World of Miracles: Planet Popstar" from Kirby Star Allies.

Trivia

• Popstar's name is a pun on the term "pop star", someone who becomes famous for performing pop music. A similar pun is used for Rock Star.
• Popstar looks to be relatively flat, yellow and star-shaped from outer space, but when near the planet's surface, it looks more curved and Earth-like. This dichotomy in shape is still unexplained, but it has persisted even to the modern games in the series.
• While Popstar is not explicitly named in Kirby's Dream Land and Kirby's Adventure, the instruction manuals of these games state that their stories take place on a small star. The English manuals also state that this distant star is not visible from Earth.

Gallery

Artwork

• 
  Ado's illustration of Popstar from the true end credits of Kirby's Dream Land 3
• 
  Illustration of Pop Star from the true end credits of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
• 
  Key artwork for Kirby: Planet Robobot, featuring the mechanized Planet Popstar
• 
  The "Bad Boss Brothers" Celebration Picture from Kirby Star Allies, featuring every final boss surrounding Planet Popstar
• 
  Original sketch of the "Bad Boss Brothers" Celebration Picture
• 
  Conceptual diagram showing how Another Dimension connects Popstar to Halcandra
• 
  Miiverse illustration commemorating Kirby's 23rd birthday
• 
  Artwork used for KIRBY Horoscope Collection merchandise series

Sprites

• 
  Popstar from the world map in Milky Way Wishes from Kirby Super Star
• 
  Popstar as it appears in the intro to Kirby's Dream Land 3
• 
  Popstar gets attacked by Dark Matter (Kirby's Dream Land 3)
• 
  Dark Matter breaks Popstar's rings (Kirby's Dream Land 3)
• 
  Popstar and its rings in the true end credits (Kirby's Dream Land 3)
• 
  Popstar from the Main Mode icon in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

Screenshots

• 
  Popstar as it appears during Megaton Punch in Kirby Super Star
• 
  Planet Popstar as it appears in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
• 
  Kirby explores the World of Miracles: Planet Popstar in Kirby Star Allies
• 
  Popstar as it appears during the true ending of Road Trip in Kirby Air Riders

Merchandise

• 
  "Pop Star" figure from the "Kirby's Starrium Collection" merchandise line
• 
  "Warp Star" figure from the "A New Wind for Tomorrow Terrarium Collection" merchandise line
• 
  "Warp Star & Kirby" figure from the "Swing Kirby" merchandise line
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  King Dedede miniature set from the "Kirby's Dreamy Gear" merchandise line, featuring a Popstar globe
• 
  A set of "Twinkle Star" jewerly by U-TREASURE
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  A set of Milky Way Wishes-themed watches by U-TREASURE
• 
  Star projector based on Kirby's House, featuring many character cameos as constellations.
• 
  Set 8 of the Kirby hanafuda cards, featuring Popstar.
• 
  Pop Star depicted on the Scorpio rubber keychain from the "KIRBY Horoscope Collection" merchandise line
• 
  Pop Star Travel Sticker from the "Kirby Pupupu Train" 2016 events
• 
  A Kirby-themed pocket watch with Nova engraved on the front cover, featuring two different designs for the dial
• 
  The ポップスターカレー 海の幸ごろごろ仕立て (Popstar Curry Tailored with Plenty of Seafood) Kirby Café dish (Osaka picture)
• 
  The ポップスターカレー 海の幸ごろごろ仕立て (Popstar Curry Tailored with Plenty of Seafood) Kirby Café dish (Tokyo picture)

Other

• 
  Map of Popstar in Kirby's Return to Dream Land
• 
  Credits picture from Kirby Star Allies, featuring Kirby and co. waving goodbye with Popstar in the background
• 
  Kirby: Planet Robobot: A Day with Kirby and Susie Nintendo 3DS theme
• 
  The Planet Popstar biscuits in Kirby: The Strange Sweets Island

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ポップスター Poppu Sutā	Pop Star
Chinese	波普之星 bō pǔ zhī xīng	Pop Star
Dutch	Planeet Popstar	Planet Popstar
Canadian French	Planète Popstar Planète Pop	Planet Popstar Planet Pop
European French	Planète Pop	Planet Pop
German	Planet Pop	-
Italian	Pianeta Pop	Planet Pop
Korean	팝스타 Papseuta	Pop Star
Polish	Planeta Popstar	Planet Popstar
Portuguese	Planeta Pop	Planet Pop
Russian	Планета Попстар Planeta Popstar	Planet Popstar
Latin American Spanish	Popstar Planeta Pop	- Planet Pop
European Spanish	Planeta Pop	Planet Pop
Thai	Planet Popstar	-

References

Pop Star in Kirby's Dream Land 3
Click on an area to proceed

The starry path in Kirby Super Star (Ultra)
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