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Cannon DAuJLJbVYAER17h This article contains information that does not coincide with the main series canon. (Similar)

Want me to check'em in for a two week stay in the dungeon, sweet kingey?
— Escargoon • Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

Escargoon is one of the main characters and the secondary antagonist in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!. He is the sidekick and right-hand man of King Dedede and one of the characters that was added to the series that had not previously been in any Kirby media. Escargoon is loyal to his boss but is not as menacing as King Dedede himself is. Several episodes are centered around him and he was given a good deal of character development.

Physical Appearance[]

Escargoon is an anthropomorphic snail who is Dedede's right hand man. His skin is lavender, and his shell is dark green. His eyes are green as well, and rise over the rest of his head on a stalk. He has short, light green hair and a goatee of the same color, and only four teeth. When he moves, he often makes a whirling noise.

Background[]

Escargoon grew up in a small house on a farm with his mother somewhere on Planet Popstar. When he grew up, he left home, promising his mother that he'd make her proud. Unfortunately, the real world was harsh, and he ended up working for King Dedede in Dream Land. Like Mother, Like Snail

In the original Japanese version, Escargoon is given the title Dr. Escargon, but only for the first few episodes. He ends most of his sentences with でげす (degesu). It is an archaic auxiliary verb with the same meaning as です (desu), which is Japanese for “is”, “am”, or "to be".

Personality[]

Doctorescargoon

Escargoon's appearance in the opening of Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

Escargoon has two distinct sides to his personality. There's the part of him that helps Dedede with his schemes and tricks, but he seems to have a genuinely nice side to him that only appears in extreme situations. Unlike most of the other residents of Cappy Town he does not dislike King Dedede, though the latter often whacks him with a mallet.

Escargoon's mannerism gives the impression of someone past his youth, and tends to get grumpy with the children of the village. He can be mean and naughty towards people in general, using his status as the King's assistant to lend him the right to boss people around or threaten them with the death penalty (in the Japanese version only). It is not clear whether he really is mean and only acts nice when he needs something, or if he has a good side of him that does not show because he is perpetually helping Dedede with his schemes in order to gain his approval. Since his mother says Escargoon is cowardly and would never hurt anyone, it would seem that the latter situation is more likely.

Escargoon can be cheerful and animated at times, and often does effeminate things such as wearing frilly aprons with hearts. (Other than that he rarely wears any articles of clothing, except an occasional bow tie, sun hat, or scarf in cold weather.) He is the usual host of Channel DDD for newscasts and special programs.

Escargoon is intelligent with a wide range of knowledge in botany (he wrote an encyclopedia on the subject called The Encyclopedia of Botanica), chemistry and electronics/robotics and even tried to decode an ancient scroll. When Dedede doesn't order something from Nightmare Enterprises, he tends to use one of Escargoon's inventions instead, such as a formula that turns things into monsters. The Empty Nest Mess He builds various machines such as a robotic grasshopper The Flower Plot, submarine A Fish Called Kine, missiles Cappy New Year, and even a robotic version of himself Right Hand Robot. However in Fossil Fools - Part I when he and King Dedede were asked questions from Doctor Moro, they both were unable to give concise answers. Unlike King Dedede, he does not trust N.M.E. Sales Guy, and rarely orders things from him.

He has a tendency to make comparisons and similes, as well as using higher vocabulary words and alliteration in his dialogue--for example, in Pink-Collar Blues, he compares asking the Waddle Dees a question to "interrogating a mime troupe." and in Waddle While You Work, he calls Dedede a "big blubbering blob of blubber".

Hence being a snail himself, he despises snail-consisted food. He also happens to be allergic to barbecued snails.Shell-Shocked

Relationships[]

King Dedede[]

Escargoon is most often in the company of King Dedede as his assistant and he tries to ensure the King's well-being and happiness in any way he can, sometimes to the detriment of his own. His duties are numerous, from cooking to cleaning to giving back rubs to being Dedede's personal punching bag when the King is angry. Sometimes Dedede pulls pranks on him and scare him just because he can.

He does care about Dedede but understandably hates his treatment of him, and tries to get even when he can, throwing subtle insults right in Dedede's face which the King isn't nearly bright enough to catch on to - though on the rare occasion he still gets hit anyway just for talking when Dedede is mad.

Escargoon's true feelings became clear in Sweet & Sour Puss, where he sings a song saying how Dedede is always mean to him. This song gives an interesting insight on Escargoon's feelings (as a joke, the creators put the song to the tune of the anime's theme song). The lyrics in the Japanese version are: "He's always a thorn in my side, that demon Dedede; but it's really hard for Escargon, laughing off failed schemes, and blaming it all on me; He's truly selfish, but I love His Majesty." However, in the English dub, the words Escargoon says are not only said in chant rather than in song, but the lyrics are also different: "Dedede's a rotten boss to work for. That I can't deny. He yells and screams and criticizes, no matter how I try. I deserve a raise, but the king refuses. All I ever get are bumps and bruises! He's a grouch. He's a grump. But I stay. Maybe I'll be king one day."

This perhaps explains why he is content to continue working for Dedede, when he could conceivably get a job elsewhere with his skills. (In the English dub, he doesn't actually care about him, but only sticks around for the pay or waiting for the chance to becoming King himself.) He's even shown sleeping with a plush toy of Dedede in a later episode, and puts up with some of his more bizarre plans - one of which involves him dressing in drag so Dedede could practice his marriage proposal techniques. A Princess in Dis-Dress

Since Dedede's always treating Escargoon like a punching bag, there are a few episodes in which Escargoon gets his revenge. He hires a ghost squad to scare Dedede in Escargoon Squad and cries near the ending as he explains, to show that he has a very soft side. In A Dental Dilemma, when Dedede got a toothache, Escargoon goes to great lengths such as dragging him along with the Waddle Dee army and using a metal claw to stuff him into the limousine. Later that night, Dedede hammers a taunting Escargoon on the head, causing him to retaliate by hitting the king on the foot and chasing him around. In Prediction Predicament - Part II, Escargoon sees Dedede hanging from his robe and burnt on top of the castle. He cries for a few seconds, but quickly laughs at him, giving a possibility that he likes it when Dedede is hurt. In Don't Bank On It, he punches Dedede's doll a few times, as well as throwing it and grabbing the neck, for those actions happening to Dedede. Finally, in Sweet & Sour Puss, he whacks Dedede a few times with the hammer, to which Dedede refused to get angry and wave it off. Escargoon soon learns of Dedede's new leaf and charges at him, giving him a giant whack to his head. He then gives him a few more whacks in revenge, but quickly reverts into his old self when Dedede realized the abuse and pursued him while trying to hit him.

Escargoon's Mother[]

Escargoon's mother is the most important person to him, possibly even more so than Dedede. He is very attached to her and will do anything to make her proud - even pretending to be the king of Dream Land. Like Mother, Like Snail His mother loves her only son dearly, but she can be rather harsh with him and will tease him - though affectionately. His father was never mentioned.

Kirby[]

Unlike Dedede, Escargoon does not harbor much spite towards Kirby himself. He helps Dedede just for the sake of helping him, but, on his own, he doesn't really have a problem with the pink puffball. One time, he secretly reveals his care for Kirby when King Dedede, who thinks he is Escar-droid, commands him to destroy Kirby.Right Hand Robot Once Escargoon even asks Kirby to forgive him and start a "new life." Escar-Gone Kirby likes Escargoon - but then again, Kirby likes just about everyone. In the episode Shell-Shocked, Escargoon regrets his previous acts of trying to kill Kirby when the latter gives him a real shell.

Etymology[]

Escargoon’s name is a portmanteau of the words "escargot," the French word for snail, and "goon," a bully or a thug, and a word that is commonly attributed to an underling or a minion.

Quotes[]

Pipe down, peasants, or I'll have your tax returns audited!
— Escargoon • Like Mother, Like Snail / Escargoon Rules
Well, it sure beats that tacky tank we used to drive.
— Escargoon, about King Dedede's Limousine
What are you laughing at? Knuckle Joe just made you look like a knucklehead.
— Escargoon • Monster Management
Dedede's a rotten boss to work for, that I can't deny. He yells and screams and criticizes, no matter how I try. I deserve a raise, but the King refuses. All I ever get are bumps and bruuuuiseeees! He's a grouch, he's a grump, but I stay... maybe I'll be king one day.
— Escargoon • Sweet & Sour Puss
You know, you're a real couch potato. You're as big as a couch and you're full of potatoes.
— Escargoon • Fitness Fiend
I think you oughtta brush up on your trivia.
— Escargoon, to King Dedede • The Kirby Quiz
This blue dude happens to be the King. At least pretend to respect him!
— Escargoon • The School Scam
How dare you question His Majesty's integrity? Why, he's as honest as the day is dark!
— Escargoon • Dedede's Raw Deal
Easy, Sire. This is a comedy show, not a reality series!
— Escargoon • Mumbies Madness
I haven't smelled anything this foul since I gave you a foot-rub.
— Escargoon • Waste Management
Forgive us, Kirby! That prank was His Majesty's idea, but I was the one who came up with the time bomb part! For once I wish I wasn't so brilliant!
— Escargoon • D'Preciation Day
I'd say that guy's a formula for disaster.
— Escargoon after the Formula Star Rider's defeat • Air-Ride-in-Style - Part II
Didn't I warn you about that meddling Meta Knight?
— Escargoon • Cappy Town Down
I wish we were arrested. We'd be entitled to a phone call and I could talk to my mommy.
— Escargoon • Combat Kirby
I guess Kirby's gonna beat us once and for all, sire.
— Escargoon • Fright to the Finish
I never want to leave this planet again!
— Escargoon after he, Dedede, and the Halberd crew escape Nightmare's Fortress and deliver themselves home • Fright to the Finish
Kirby's gone wild, and you're cacklin' like a gassed-up hyena!
— Escargoon • Kirby 3D

Related Quotes[]

King Dedede's slimy henchman tries to make his regent's plans work, but he rarely succeeds.
— Kirby: Right Back at Ya! character description • Nintendo Power magazines
This snarly snail is King Dedede's surly sidekick. He takes almost as much abuse as he dishes out. He's insulted and insulting, a rare combination of selfishness, pettiness and surliness that one rarely sees in henchmen any more.
— Character description • Kirby: Right Back at Ya! official English website and Nintendo Power magazines

Trivia[]

  • He makes a surprise appearance in the Kirby Quest sub-game of Kirby Mass Attack, alongside King Dedede in one of his attacks, where Dedede is carried by several Waddle Dees and tramples over Kirby. This is his only video game appearance to date.
  • His English voice has a strong resemblance to late comedian Paul Lynde's campy tone.
  • He and Dedede are the characters shown animated in CG the most, after Kirby.
  • Despite being a snail, he can run fast, even though he once said that he's "not built for speed."
  • At the start of Kirby 3D, the N.M.E. Sales Guy refers to Escargoon as "Lord Escargoon."
  • Technically, Escargoon is the first character to visit Nightmare Enterprises since the N.M.E. Sales Guy sent him there for a demonstration in Abusement Park.
  • In the Japanese version of Kirby: Right Back at Ya! Escargoon has a habit of referring to himself with watakushi (an overly formal pronoun) when flustered or embarrassed.
  • In Un-Reality TV, Escargoon mentions having a "long-lost brother"; this character is never seen, and is not mentioned again.
  • Much like King Dedede, Escargoon tends to incorporate many literary elements into his speech. Frequent alliteration and a larger vocabulary than what is usually heard in a children's show (such as referencing the philosophical theory of existentialism to Tiff from the episode Hatch Me if You Can) are noticeable within his diction, though his word choice is usually not noted by any of the other characters, besides Dedede.

Artwork[]

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