The Kirby TV Channel was an online service for the Wii released only in PAL regions on the Nintendo Wii Shop.[1] This service allowed users to watch episodes of Kirby: Right Back at Ya! that followed a bi-weekly schedule until its closure after December 1, 2011. The service was revived on April 5, 2012 and ended for the final time on September 13, 2012. Save data for the first run is erased when the channel was downloaded again for its second run.[2]
General Information[]
At the beginning of the service, four episodes of the anime was made available being the first four episodes from the Japanese episode order; every Monday and Thursday, these episodes are replaced with one episode with the exception of episode 1, Kirby Comes to Cappy Town. Episodes had two weeks to be watched before it is archived in the Episode Timetable for newer episodes (besides episodes 2 and 3, A Blockbuster Battle and Kirby's Duel Role respectively). For some unknown reason, episode 38, A Novel Approach, was unavailable; it is unknown how this affected the episode schedule.[3] During the channel's first run, it aired episodes all the way up to episode 51, Kirby Takes the Cake, however during its second run, it only aired episodes all the way up to episode 48, Tourist Trap. Each episode thumbnail can be hovered over to see the date it would be replaced on, and can be tapped on to view episode synopsis and watch the episode.
A Key
When the user has finished watching an episode, the episode is unlocked in the Episode Timetable where they can rewatch the episode even after it is removed from the current queue of episodes, and a Key is also given which can be used to unlock episodes the user may have missed that were archived in the Episode Timetable.
Other Features[]
Besides watching episodes, users can also view the Promos option to view trailers for Kirby games on the Wii and DS systems. This feature only appeared in the channel's second run.
When the user first starts the channel, they are given the option to receive messages on the Wii Message Board about new episodes that were available on the queue. This option was toggled in the Settings, the wrench icon. The blue light from inside the disc slot will blink for a few seconds whenever a new message for new episodes were received, as with other messages received in the Wii Message Board over the internet.
Episode Listing[]
In the UK version, episodes went up to episode 51 on its first run, however in other regions, this episode listing was changed with some episodes being unavailable. Interestingly, some regions replace the unavailable episodes with more episodes such as the German version,[4] expanding the overall total to episode 55 of the Japanese listing order, Sweet & Sour Puss.
Videos[]
Related Quotes[]
| “ | Introducing the Kirby™ TV Channel
The Kirby TV Channel presents episodes of the Kirby animation series for free on your Wii™ console. The Kirby TV channel service begins on 23rd June 2011, and two new episodes become available each week on Monday and Thursday until 1st December 2011. Each episode is available for a limited time, so make sure you catch them while you can! The Kirby TV channel is available until December 2011; keep watching and you'll find some surprises to help you keep up with Kirby's adventures. You can download the Kirby TV channel for free via the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo” |
| — Wii Message Board message |
Trivia[]
- The startup jingle for this channel is the same one used in the title cards of each episode in the original Japanese version of the anime.
- Two unused Save Data banners for the channel for North America were found in the Wii's system files.
- Many sound effects used in the channel are ripped from Kirby's Epic Yarn.
- Each upcoming episode thumbnail in the Timetable has a picture of Kirby with various Copy Abilities or in different poses, however these pictures appear to be randomly selected as they do not correlate with the Copy Ability used in the respective episode if any.
- The channel has two unique remixes:
- A remix of Orange Ocean when viewing the Now Showing screen.
- A remix of tutorial theme from Kirby Super Star.
- The title screen also reuses the instrumental of the anime's theme song.
Artwork[]
Sprites[]
