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Nintendo: Why Kirby is usually angry in the West

Serious Kirby is serious.

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(Not mine)
 
It's just smart marketing. Japan is a little too fixated on cuteness (which is part of moe), which doesn't appeal to western target demographics (boys/men). Trying to keep the same box covers would probably lead to weaker sales in one region or the other, depending on which one they use.
 
Am I the only person who would be more inclined to buy a Kirby game in the US if it didn't[/I have the angry face?

Just going off the cover, I mean. Assuming I knew nothing about Kirby.
 
you guys know there's an enemy in the games that shoots his blood at you right

and then explodes into a bloody eyeball

and then comes back as a bloody angel thing that cries blood

and lets not forget to mention the fact he starts killing souls

i don't see why kirby can't just be kinda angry sometimes

especially when they STEAL HIS CAKE
 
I'm actually kinda surprised by how they worded this; apparently Nintendo thinks they're making Kirby cuter in Japan instead of angrier in America.
 
they think if it doesn't look aggressive that Americans won't buy it.

My gut says they're not wrong. And it's not like this is limited to games. English writer Ben Aaronovitch's novel was renamed from Rivers of London in the UK to Midnight Riot in the US and went form this cover to this. Notably without his involvement in the decision to change it.
 
Maybe the Western boxes actually picture Kirby after he's swallowed some enemy anger-monster whereas the Japanese version is plain Kirby.
 
As dumb as it sounds I believe it I know a couple of people that like Kirby cuz he's a "Badass" in sure they wouldn't be so comfortable if Kirby was all cutesy in the cover and artwork
 
The angry look makes him less creepy.
Mass murder with a smile is not a good look.
 
I'm actually kinda surprised by how they worded this; apparently Nintendo thinks they're making Kirby cuter in Japan instead of angrier in America.

Well, isn't that kinda true? I mean sure his first game was about him fighting Dedede because he stole all of the food in Dreamland, but at least it wasn't just Kirby's food. Most of the time Kirby goes on big quests to save the world and he's aware of what he's doing. Games like Squeak Squad where Kirby is just a cute little idiot that stumbles into danger and coincidentally saves the world while looking for his lost strawberry shortcake and the anime toned down Kirby's serious side compared to the majority of the games to appeal to the Japanese market.
 
I don't have it but there was this hilarious drawing comparing boxarts for different regions. America, Germany, Australia, Japan. I usually like the American Kirby boxarts better than Japan's.
 
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