Animal

“	Dig and burrow with sharp claws!”
	— Kirby Battle Royale - Kirby's 25th Anniversary Copy Ability Poll

Animal is a Copy Ability in the Kirby series, debuting in Kirby: Squeak Squad.

Games

Kirby: Squeak Squad

Animal focuses on using its claws to deal damage and dig through soft terrain, such as dirt, sand, clouds, and snow; it can also cut ropes, grass, and bushes. Due to its digging gimmick, Animal is usually found in places where digging is necessary to obtain a Treasure Chest. The only other ability that can replicate Animal's digging is Triple Star. Upon obtaining the Animal Ability Scroll, located in the first Treasure Chest in Stage 1 of Nature Notch, Animal can now perform a drilling attack; this move gives Animal invincibility and makes digging much faster. Animal can be obtained from the Gaw Gaw enemy, the Gao Gao mid-boss, or Spinni's claw.

Techniques

Move	Controls	Description
Claw Swipe	B	Kirby slashes forward with his claw.
Maul	→→ + B	Kirby jumps forward. If he collides with an enemy, he will grab the enemy, slash it three times, and jump off. As with all grab attacks, it is an instant KO, but it doesn't affect bosses and mid-bosses.
Dig	B in diggable spots	Kirby uses his claws to dig up nearby diggable material. By also pressing down, he can dig downward, and by also pressing up, he can dig upward, and will even cling to the diggable material if the player continues to hold up.
Drill	←/→/↓ + B in the air	Kirby spins like a drill and charges forward or downward, depending on the direction the player chose. Kirby is invincible while drilling, and can dig up and diggable material.

Flavor Texts

Game	Flavor text
	You love dirt! DIG! Sweet dirt! DIG! DIG! DIG! DIG!! Can't dig everywhere...

Related Quotes

“	Animal Kirby's got long, sharp claws, which are good for attacking or digging in soft ground.”
	— Some Copy Abilities • Kirby: Squeak Squad Instruction Booklet

In Other Languages

Names, etymology and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology and notes
Japanese	アニマル	Translates to Animal.
English	Animal
German	Tier	Translates to Animal.
French	Animal	Same as English.
Italian	Animale	Translates to Animal.
Spanish	Salvaje	Translates to Wild. Cognate of Savage.

Trivia

Animal has a unique idle animation where he'll scratch his "ear" with his foot.
This is one of the few abilities to change the appearance of Kirby's hands. Others include Ghost, where Kirby's hands become ghost-like, UFO, where his hands disappear entirely, Burning, where his hands catch flame, and ESP, where his hands hold psychic energy.
Animal, along with Cutter, Circus and Spider, are the only Copy Abilities to include eyes as part of their design.
In a 1993 interview, Satoru Iwata mentioned that the Animal ability was originally planned to appear in Kirby's Adventure.^[1]