The Regal Heart of King Dedede - Designing For Kindness

I live in constant fear that someone someday will be making a Kirby game and un-do all of Dedede's development from over the years. I really hope wherever they store the Kirby series bible they've got Dedede down as the stubborn yet caring King of Dreamland we all love so there's no question about it.

One of my favorite details of Dedede's development is that throughout almost every game, Dedede is described as the self-proclaimed King of Dreamland. However, when Star Allies rolls around, the description changes. He's now a self-made king.

King Dedede sacrificing himself to save ONE Waddle Dee completely broke me.

I absolutely adore how gentle Dedede is while saving the Waddle Dee in Forgotten Land. He doesn't pick them up (until after they're okay at least) or yank them up. He puts his hands out and patiently waits while the Beast Pack approaches. He just patiently lets the Waddle Dee pull themselves up using him as a brace.

To me, I feel the Masked Dedede fight is very symbolic. Have you ever thought about why Dedede where's a mask in that fight. It doesn't make much sense, especially when fighting Kirby, who's seen his face on multiple occasions. I feel like even Dedede knows that he's not intimidating enough both in looks and how he conducts himself. Nobody takes him seriously. That's what the mask is for. To make clear to Kirby and himself, that he isn't screwing around anymore. The Dedede with the big goofy expressions and charming buffoonery and the Dedede in the electric cage with a jet hammer are 2 completely different people. This is a grudge match to finally put to bed this animosity the King has toward 'ol pinky and he's gonna make sure both sides don't hold back. Y'know, I'm almost ashamed at how much thought I put into a fat penguin putting on a mask to fight a piece of bubblegum. Almost.

If Meta Knight is Kirby's father figure as the fanbase likes to headcanon him as, then Dedede's Kirby's goofy uncle.

One of my favorite things about Dedede is how in every game before star allies it calls him the self proclaimed king "described as or proclaimed to be such by oneself, without endorsement by others." But star allies changes it to the self-made king "having become successful or rich by one's own efforts." Showing he's grown so much as a character that he's truly earned the title of King of Dream land.

"If saving the life of a loyal subject means my sacrifice, then I choose to die a king."

Dedede is probably one of the best exemple of character growth I can think off...And he's a wonder in Videogame's ground, don't y'all agree ?

I like how they keep forgetting how big he is so he keeps changing in size

"he's a funny penguin who tries very hard except when he doesn't" is a perfect surface level analysis, and I'm glad this video of the in-depth journey he's gone through Probably one of my favorite characters in videogame history

When I was younger I used to think the brooch Dedede had on during that subspace scene was always meant for Peach, but accidentally got on him since they seemed to be sticky, but seeing it from the perspective of the brooch being meant for himself and choosing to instead give someone else a chance makes me appreciate his character all the more.

This is perfect. It shows how King Dedede changes unlike other final bosses of games. After so many years Bowser still just kidnapps the princess for his evil deeds, while King Dedede goes from a Tyrant to a hero who would risk everything for any one of his subjects.

One think I'd like to add, is that Dedede joined the gang in 64 because he didnt want Kirby and the others to get hurt

My first Kirby game was 64. They didn’t name him in anything but the theater section of that game, so I always called him “my penguin pal.” I loved the sections of the game when he let you ride on his back. Then the anime comes out and blindsides me with their characterization of him. Even in the ONLY non-spinoff game where he was evil (the first one), it felt less like a greedy king letting his citizens starve and more like a bully in kindergarten taking everyone’s snacks because he’s bigger. Then he takes the little quiet kid’s snack cake and he goes postal.

My favorite descriptor for DeDeDe is the grumpy yet caring uncle of the main dreamland group (i.e. DeDeDe, Meta Knight, Kirby and Bandanna Dee)

“They fight with each other, and although not always conventionally, they are basically good friends.” - Shinya Kumazaki talking about Kirby and Dedede’s relationship in a RTDLDX interview

Finally someone highlights the true face of the king of dreamland

One bit of Dedede lore I would like to bring up that wasn't mentioned is that in the pause screen for the Masked Dedede's Revenge fight in Triple Deluxe, it mentions that "his limiter has been removed" meaning that Dedede post Triple Deluxe has the potential to be limitless in power much like Kirby.

STOP MAKING ME FEEL THINGS FOR CHARACTERS I NORMALLY DON'T FEEL THINGS FOR! (No please don't, keep going I love this).