Planet Popstar

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

KSqSq Secret Area — Popstar's sun - *Kirby: Squeak Squad*

Planet Popstar^[1] (also Pop Star^[2] or PopStar^[3]) is the home planet of Kirby and friends. It is the main setting of most of the games and the anime Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

The geography and surrounding solar system of Popstar are never clearly shown or explained, but there are features that remain fairly consistent. Popstar is always depicted as a yellow five-pointed star, usually with two white rings (but sometimes three rings that are red, green, and blue each) encircling it; these move independently of the planet they encircle. According to the Kirby's Adventure instruction manual, Dream Land (and thus, Popstar) is light years away from Earth; so far away, in fact, that it is invisible to the Earth's population.^[4]

Despite its shape and appearance when seen from space, Popstar has blue oceans and land masses similar to Earth's once one is down in its atmosphere. It's possible that something in the atmosphere reflects - or gives off - a yellow light to make it appear the way it does from space.

Popstar has its own sun and moon which orbit around Popstar instead of the other way around. The plot of the Kirby Super Star sub-game Milky Way Wishes begins with the problem of the sun and the moon actually fighting.

In the Kirby Games

Popstar's areas seem to be divided up into a series of small, star-shaped islands, though this varies from game to game. It is shown most clearly in a story picture in Kirby no Kirakira Kizzu.

Dream Land is a kingdom ruled by King Dedede, and it is where Kirby lives. Many of the smaller levels in the series are within Dream Land. It is unclear how much of Popstar is considered Dream Land, and it seems the size of the territory changes with the game. The Mirror World entrance floats somewhere in the skies above it.

Other than that, the layout of Popstar is confusing and has never been mapped out. Some areas are re-used from game to game, but their locations in relation to each other aren't clear. The same goes for other nearby planets.

In Kirby's Dream Land

Dream Land on Popstar is thrown into chaos when the greedy King Dedede steals all the food from its inhabitants. Kirby eventually confronts him in his castle and defeats him, returning all the stolen food as well. Areas of Popstar featured in the game include:

In Kirby's Adventure and Nightmare in Dream Land

The inhabitants of Popstar awake from restless sleep to discover that they cannot dream. Kirby goes to the Fountain of Dreams, the source of all of Popstar's dreams, to investigate. Upoun arriving Kirby is shocked to find the Star Rod, the source of power for the fountain, shattered by King Dedede! Kirby sets off on yet another quest to save Dream Land and retrieve the broken pieces of the Star Rod, which Dedede has scattered across the planet. Finally, after defeating all of his trusted friends for the rod pieces, Kirby defeated the king himself and returned the Star Rod to its rightful place. However in a surprising turn of events it is revealed that King Dedede was actually protecting Popstar from a fiend called Nightmare, who was infesting the fountain in hopes of spreading malice and dread throughout everyone's dreams. With quick thinking and action King Dedede gave Kirby the Star Rod and spat him out at the fleeing Nightmare, who Kirby engaged and fought upon the moon, ultimately destroying the evil dream demon and ending his plans for Popstar. Thus the planet regained its dreams and a peaceful well earned slumber for all.

Areas of Popstar featured in game include:

In Kirby's Dream Land 2

Popstar gained the unfortunate attention of a malevolent entity known as Dark Matter, that possessed King Dedede and took control of the kingdom of Dream Land as well as possessing many of its inhabitants with the eventual intent of conquering the entire planet. However Kirby took matters into his own hands and collected the Rainbow Islands' fabled Rainbow Drops, to create a mighty sword to combat the evil monster. Eventually the two meet in battle and Dark Matter is defeated despite its best efforts, returning peace to Planet Popstar once again.

Areas of Popstar featured in game include:

Rainbow Islands

In Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra

PopStar KSS — Popstar in Kirby Super Star.

Every game except for Milky Way Wishes and some portions of Revenge of Meta Knight and Meta Knightmare Ultra take place in Popstar. In Milky Way Wishes, the map of planets include Popstar, at the leftmost corner. Also, in Megaton Punch, if Kirby does a powerful punch that goes up to 201 mt., there will be a small animation which shows a fissure cracking Popstar in half.

Areas of Popstar featured in game include:

Grape Gardens is mentioned, but not a playable area in this game.

In Kirby's Dream Land 3

180px-DarkmatterKDL3cap1 — Dark Matter infests the entire planet in their second invasion.

In Kirby's Dream Land 3, Popstar once again came under attack by Dark Matter, however the invasion would be much more fierce with an entire planet sized mass of Dark Matter colliding and spreading across the surface of the entire planet. Seemingly the entire race of Dark Matter took part on the assault of the once happy natives of the planet, many also being possessed by Dark Matters en masse. With the safety of Popstar once again threatened, Kirby and his friends set out on a world spanning quest to save it. After collecting the happiness of the many allies along the way, Kirby once again battled and defeated a Dark Matter controlled Dedede and destroyed the evil being itself as well. However Kirby was then confronted by the ruler of the entire Dark Matter race, Zero. Kirby, using a magical rod formed from the collected happiness, challenged him to a final climatic battle and managed to destroy him and the remaining Dark Matters, dispelling their threat yet again and returning Popstar to happiness.

Areas of Popstar featured in game include:

Grass Land
Ripple Field
Sand Canyon
Cloudy Park
Iceberg
Hyper Zone (briefly inhabited the planet)

In Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

K64 Pop Star — in *Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards*

Popstar is the first planet of this game, being where Kirby meets Ribbon, and where the rest of his friends join him in the adventure. It is mostly grassy and filled with sunshine. It has 3 levels and a boss.

Level 1

This area is the very first level of the game and has a resemblance to Green Greens. It is sunny and has a cheerful vibe to it. It has 2 areas and two mid-boss rooms.

Crystal Shards

Between two Sir Kibbles. It is in the air in plain sight.
In the pond, there is a black block that can be destroyed with the Bomb ability. Break it to get the shard.
It appears after defeating the 2nd mid-boss, Waddle Dee while under Dark Matter's control, in which he becomes Waddle Doo.

Regular Enemies

Mid-bosses

Big N-Z
Waddle Doo (first time only)

Level 2

This area is in the middle of a peaceful forest that appears to be in the middle of Autumn. The area is apparently near an abyss that has a mountainous landform on the other side. There are 4 areas and 2 mid-boss rooms (of which are right next to each other).

Crystal Shards

In the area with the abyss, Waddle Dee helps Kirby get to the other side with a lift. There is a vertical line of stars near the end. The shard is located below them.
It appears after defeating the 1st mid-boss, a giant Bouncy.
It appears after defeating the 2nd mid-boss, Adeleine while under Dark Matter's control.

Regular Enemies

Mid-bosses

Big Bouncy
Adeleine (first time only)

Level 3

Kirby starts off in front of Dedede's castle. Most of the level is inside Dedede's castle, but in some parts Kirby explores the exterior of it. There are 8 areas and 1 mid-boss.

Crystal Shards

In a small room entered after leaving the top of the bridge section. Kirby will need the Super Boomerang ability to break it.
In the big room with a water fountain and a spiral staircase, it is right above the entrance.
It is obtained after defeating King Dedede while he is under Dark Matter's control.

Regular Enemies

Mid-boss

King Dedede (first time only)

Level 4 -- Boss -- Whispy Woods

Main article: Whispy Woods

In this level, Kirby fights Whispy Woods in the center of the arena and his 3 Whispy Woods Jr.s. The arena goes in a 360 and the fight features two phases: One where the Jr.s fight, the other where Whispy Woods fights.

Crystal Shards

Obtained by defeating Whispy.

Enemies

Whispy Woods Jr.

In Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble

KTnT Pop Star — Popstar in *Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble*.

King Dedede steals the stars from the sky and sets up bumpers and obstacles all across Popstar. Kirby traverses seven levels across Popstar. The eighth is technically off of the planet's surface, taking place on another nearby star.

KTnT Pop Star Extra Mode — Popstar in Extra Mode.

In Kirby: Canvas Curse

Popstar comes under the attack of a mysterious art sorceress named Drawcia, who begins changing all of Popstar into her own personal paintings. Even Kirby is struck by her magic and is turned into a ball. However, using the magic he gained from her paintbrush, Kirby fights his way through the transformed landscapes of Dream Land and confronts Drawcia in her own world. Despite her best efforts to protect her "perfect world", Kirby ultimately defeats her and Popstar returns to normal.

Areas of Popstar featured in game include:

In Kirby: Squeak Squad

KSqSq Pop Star — in *Kirby: Squeak Squad*

Kirby is about to enjoy his cake when it is stolen! Kirby gives chase to the culprits, a band of thieves known as The Squeaks, all across the landscapes of Dream Land to get it back. When he finally manages to corner their leader Daroach with what he thinks is a treasure chest containing his cake, Daroach opens it only to be possessed by the creature trapped inside; a demon named Dark Nebula. Kirby pursues the possessed Daroach into space where the shadow monster schemes dark days for Popstar. Before he can do anything, however, he is confronted and beaten by Kirby in a duel, saving the day yet again.

Areas of Popstar featured in game include:

KSqSq Gamble Galaxy — view from Gamble Galaxy, in *Kirby: Squeak Squad*

In Kirby Mass Attack

KMA Pop Star — Popstar in a cutscene -- *Kirby Mass Attack*.

Kirby is exploring the Popopo Islands on Popstar when Necrodeus and his Skull Gang come. They have the intention of drowning Popstar's light in darkness. After Necrodeus splits the hero into ten, all the Kirbys must travel around the four Popopo Islands. Once they beat the four bosses of those islands, a fifth island by the name of Necro Nebula emerges from space. Once Kirby goes there and defeats Necrodeus, the threat to the planet is eliminated. Kirby travels back home shortly afterward.

The sub-game Strato Patrol EOS features the Kirbys flying across Popstar and then into space, defeating enemies and bosses all the while.

Popstar's Popopo Islands include:

In Kirby: Triple Deluxe

In this game, a kingdom known as Floralia exists above Popstar. A beanstalk called the Dreamstalk lifts Kirby's home and King Dedede's castle off of Popstar's surface, and soon after, the Dreamstalk's vines threaten to completely cover Popstar. Luckily, Kirby prevents this by defeating Queen Sectonia, who caused the Dreamstalk to grow out of control.

In Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

Popstargalaxy — Popstar and its surrounding system in the anime series.

In the anime, the characters specifically call Popstar a star, and it is shown to have what looks like other planets orbiting it - or multiple moons, or possibly its own sun and more than one moon.

Dream Land is also the main location of the series, and still ruled by King Dedede. However, it's on a peninsula and seems to be much smaller.

Surrounding areas

Popstar's Solar System is complex and has had its surrounding planets mapped out, but not any of the surrounding galaxies. These areas could be the same galaxy Popstar is in or separate galaxy altogether.

Nearby galaxies

Related Quotes

“	The first of the worlds you visit, Popstar is home to Kirby and all of his friends.”
	— Description • Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Official Strategy Guide (Prima)

Trivia

Oddly, Popstar's ring change after Kirby's Dream Land 3. At the starting "intro" to the game, the rings were colored blue, and there were only two. However, at the "Good Ending" of the game, the rings are shown to be colored red, blue, and green, and there were three rings. The rings stayed like this for some time, but have since reverted to their original color and ring amount.
- More recently, however, the rings have been colored white with teal pulses going through them periodically.
In the instruction manual for Kirby's Dream Land 3, Pop Star is said to be located at the "edge" of a vast universe.