Taranza

“	No doubt. A miracle will happen for sure!”
	— Taranza • Kirby Star Allies

Taranza is a character in the Kirby series, debuting as the secondary antagonist of Kirby: Triple Deluxe, but would later become an ally. He is a spider-like magician and a former servant of Queen Sectonia.

Physical Appearance

Taranza is an androgynous, young, spider-like creature. He has brown skin and two orange horns with brown rings and yellow tips, as well as shiny, silver, curvy hair; additionally, he has two orange fangs protruding from his upper lip, which is lined in white. On the front of his head, Taranza has two orange-yellow eyes in his hair and two white eyes with a slight purple glow on his face, along with four more orange-yellow eyes on the back of his head. He wears a crimson scarf and a jagged, dark green cape with orange lining in a spider-web pattern. The dark green clothing on his body has two silver buttons on its front and crimson circle designs on both sides. Taranza also has a crimson stinger-like appendage on his bottom and six disembodied hands with white and orange gloves.

In Team Kirby Clash Deluxe and Super Kirby Clash, Taranza now has a dark color scheme. This is due to being corrupted by the black mirror and possibly being brainwashed by Parallel Nightmare, respectively. His cape and clothing are now black. The spider-web pattern on his cape is now hot pink, and his horns are purple with hot pink tips. He now dons a purple scarf and white and hot pink gloves. The buttons on his clothing are now yellow, and the circle designs have changed to purple. Additionally, his fangs are now white, and the eyes in his hair and on the back of his head are now yellow. When the player has completed Team Kirby Clash Deluxe or defeated him in Super Kirby Clash, Taranza will revert back to his original design, though in the former, he retains the white fangs and yellow eyes.

Personality

Taranza is shown to be very resourceful and cunning, as he often uses his magic to turn objects into monsters, control other beings, or simply agitate them and pin the blame on Kirby to stop him from getting in his way. After Queen Sectonia’s demise, Taranza began to mourn her death and miss her, wanting her back, as shown in various Twitter art and games. However, he also happily reminisces of her, often seen holding a flower that resembles her final form and peacefully sniffing it and twirling its petals. His pause screen description in Kirby Star Allies states that he is clumsy, but that he is also a bit of a smarty-pants, to the point of being called a "bowl cut intellectual" by Zan Partizanne on the official Twitter.^[1] He is also slightly snobby and pretentious, calling the greeting of the Jambastion Religion "ridiculous" in a Twitter post.^[2]

History

Before the events of Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Taranza was the best friend and servant of Queen Sectonia, who was the ruler of a clan of insectoid beings that lived peacefully in Floralia along with the People of the Sky. Taranza and Sectonia were so close, that Taranza even grew feelings for her, but never admitted them to her. One day, Taranza somehow managed to encounter the Dimension Mirror, and stole it from the Mirror World in order to give it to Sectonia as a tribute. Sectonia loved the gift, and gazed into it day after day. However, unbeknownst to either of them, the Dimension Mirror's power was slowly twisting Sectonia's mind each time she looked into the mirror's surface. Her obsession with her own beauty was amplified to a dangerous degree, and she became a tyrannical and power-hungry queen. After using her magic to parasitize and possess many, alienating her servants, she eventually settled on her current bee-like form. She then took over all of Floralia, ruling over it with an iron fist, in which the People of the Sky suffered. Regardless, Taranza stuck with her through it all, leading to the events of Kirby: Triple Deluxe.

Games

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Story

Screenshot (79) — King Dedede's castle caught in the Dreamstalk.

The People of the Sky, having suffered long enough under Sectonia's rule, devise a seed composed of their hopes and dreams, and send it down to the land below in hopes that it would bring the hero of the lower world to their rescue. Seeing this, Sectonia orders Taranza to capture the hero so that he would not interfere with her plans. The morning after the Dreamstalk lifts Kirby's house and Castle Dedede up into the sky, Taranza arrives to enact his part. However, he mistakes King Dedede for the hero and captures him instead, fleeing back up to Royal Road while the true hero, Kirby, gives chase.

Throughout Kirby's journey through Floralia's six worlds, Taranza uses his spider web-like magic and other means to create bosses to impede Kirby. He turns a flower into Flowery Woods, disturbs Paintra's painting and brings her to life, empowers Kracko to attack, brings a snake statue to life as Coily Rattler, and aggravates a sleeping Pyribbit with a rock while pinning the blame on Kirby. Kirby continuously defeats the bosses and pursues Taranza, intent on saving King Dedede.

Unbeknownst to Taranza, Kirby manages to save the People of the Sky from their cages at Royal Road. With their help, he then follows Taranza and King Dedede into a castle. As Kirby enters, he at last catches up with Taranza, who notes his persistence. Taranza explains that he cannot allow Kirby to interfere with Queen Sectonia’s plans, and correctly guesses that Kirby followed him in order to rescue Dedede, who he still thinks is the hero. He then takes control of Dedede with his puppetry magic, turning him into Masked Dedede and forcing him to attack Kirby. Kirby defeats King Dedede, destroying his hammer and part of his mask in the process, but Taranza revitalizes him with a stronger dose of his magic, causing him to grab a halberd and go on a frenzy. However, Kirby prevails once more and destroys Dedede's mask, breaking Taranza's control.

Taranza approaches the unconscious Dedede, confused as to how he had lost, as he followed his queen’s orders. He then realizes his mistake, and that Kirby was the true hero of Dream Land. Then, out of desperation, he quickly summons Queen Sectonia, begging for her to save him. Displeased with his failure and deeming him useless, Sectonia immediately blasts Taranza with a laser, sending him flying out of the castle and into the distance. Presumably during Kirby's subsequent battles with her, Taranza finally realizes that she has become a danger to those around her and is no longer her original self, and switches to Kirby's side.

KTD Taranza — Taranza holding a miracle fruit

After Kirby defeats Sectonia, in her madness, she fuses with the Dreamstalk and ensnares the entirety of Planet Popstar and Floralia in her vines, seeking rulership of both. Kirby defeats her yet again, but he is caught off guard and ensnared by one of her vines. Before she can squeeze him to death, Taranza reappears to help. Carrying Dedede, he throws his former captive, who smacks Kirby free of the vine's grip. Telling Dedede to throw Kirby over to him, Taranza throws a Miracle Fruit, granting Kirby the Hypernova ability. Hypernova Kirby then takes on and defeats Sectonia for the final time by firing back her own laser and vaporizing her. Afterwards, the vines that had ensnared Planet Popstar and Floralia rapidly disintegrate, causing Kirby and Dedede to plummet from the sky. The People of the Sky catch Kirby and his house, while Taranza catches Dedede with minor struggle. Taranza, Kirby, Dedede, and the People of the Sky then admire the fully-bloomed Dreamstalk as they head down to Dream Land.

It is not known whether Taranza returned to Floralia or stayed in Dream Land with King Dedede and Kirby, but it can be assumed that he has the ability to travel between the two lands using the Dreamstalk.

In the non-canon True Arena, during the Soul of Sectonia fight, Taranza attempts to get her to regain her senses by calling out to help, pleading to her, and proffering offerings. However, due to being nothing but a husk of her former self in the throes of madness, she can no longer hear him, and his voice falls silent to her.

Team Kirby Clash Deluxe

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

Taranza appears in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe as the main antagonist. This game marks the first time he is fought directly, despite also having an antagonistic role in Kirby: Triple Deluxe. He is only ever fought as a Tough category Ordeal boss in the Empyrean.

Story

In the distant past, in a faraway place called the Dream Kingdom, Taranza somehow obtains the black mirror in an attempt to use it to resurrect Sectonia after her death. However, he was unable to successfully control its powers, and as a result, its dark magic corrupted him and made him lose his sanity.^[3] Thus, he began invigorating monsters to attack the Dream Kingdom, resulting in the events of the game.

After Kirby and his team defeat a countless number of beasts, they hear rumors of a mage whose spells cause enemies to attack, and that the said mage lurked in the Empyrean. Team Kirby heads there to investigate, while cleaning up more monsters along the way. Eventually, they encounter Taranza, who attacks them. They defeat him, but enemies continue to cause trouble, despite having seemingly dealt with the mastermind. Team Kirby sets out to defeat Landia EX, the latest threat, and peace is restored after their victory, but not for long.

A few days later, a dimensional rift opens unexpectedly, releasing Parallel Susie. Team Kirby conquers her and Parallel Landia, and learns that Taranza was the one who opened the rift. Hidden in apparent defeat, Taranza had continued pulling the strings and conjured a final plan. He summons the black mirror as his last weapon and gazes upon its surface, creating the embodiment of the darkness in Taranza's heart, Dark Taranza. Dark Taranza and Team Kirby do battle, but the mage fails to prevail. As a last-ditch effort, Dark Taranza summons the black mirror as well, and draws from it the King of Darkness, King D-Mind. However, instead of allying with Dark Taranza, King D-Mind bats him with his hammer, shattering him. The evil king and Team Kirby fight not once, but twice, yet Team Kirby comes out on top both times. After their last battle, using their magic, Team Kirby seals King D-Mind into the black mirror and shatters it, trapping him in a far-off dimension.

With the black mirror shattered, Taranza is finally free of its corruption. After he comes to his senses, he becomes a passive member of the village, holding a flower in seeming acceptance of Sectonia's death. Peace returns to the Dream Kingdom at last, and Team Kirby vows to suppress any threats that should emerge.

Battle

Taranza uses a variety of magical attacks, including firing energy orbs, throwing a giant bouncy orb, firing jewels from the background, dashing across the screen in an energy bubble, and creating a large explosion around himself. He teleports frequently to dodge attacks and assault Team Kirby from different angles. Finally, Taranza uses energy nets to trap the Kirbys. He flies into the background, throws the net, and any Kirbys hit by it will be immobilized. To free the trapped Kirby, the others must attack the net until it breaks (or if the player is trapped, mash the +Control Pad). If not done fast enough, the net will shrink around the trapped Kirby and then explode, dealing massive damage. If the net is broken, however, Taranza will be launched onto the ground, temporarily stunned.

Taranza is not fought again, but his black mirror counterpart, Dark Taranza, uses the same techniques. He is fought in the Decisive Battlefield.

Kirby Battle Royale

Taranza appears in the audience in the Coin Clash mode in the Party Room stage. He can be seen at the top right.

Kirby Star Allies

Taranza appears as a Dream Friend in Kirby Star Allies, looking to make a bid for the altar in The Divine Terminus in order to reach out to a "bright light" which is implied to be Sectonia. It is also stated that he is in search of ”a queen,” which could be Sectonia, even though she perished after being vaporized. This may imply that Taranza is unable to let go of Sectonia, and still believes that she is out there somewhere. However, it could also simply mean that he is searching for someone new to crown his “queen,” as evidenced by one of his character interactions on the title, file select, and menu screens. He uses abilities based on his Team Kirby Clash Deluxe boss fight, as well as new ones based on the Spider abilty.

Super Kirby Clash

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

Taranza returns in Super Kirby Clash as a boss. Unlike in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, he does not have as much of a major role in the story. He has the same moveset and palette as his boss fight in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe. Likewise, he is only ever fought in the Empyrean. In Story Quests, he is fought as a Tough category Ordeal boss. In Party Quests, he is fought as a Tougher category boss and a Super category boss.

Team Kirby had continuously chased Parallel Nightmare through rumors, which lead them to tracking him down in the Empyrean. There, they encounter a seemingly brainwashed Taranza and mistake him for Parallel Nightmare before doing battle with him. They defeat him, but soon discover that he's not the wizard they were hunting down. Taranza then regains his senses and becomes a resident of the Port Village. He can be seen sitting on top of the Shoppe, holding the same flower he had in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe. Taranza also appears as a sticker, which can be purchased from the Shoppe for 20 Gem Apples.

Moveset

Move	Controls	Description	Element	Damage ^[4]
Magic String Shot	Press and release B	Taranza shoots a web that encases enemies in pods.	None	16
Taranza Web Hold	Press and hold B, then move the joystick	Taranza creates a web net that can capture enemies and can be freely controlled like ESP's PK Shift.	None	32
Pop Off	Release B during Web Hold	Taranza dispels the net, scattering the held enemy/enemies.	None	24 (explosion)
Darling Dreamstalk	↑ + B	Taranza summons a miniature Dreamstalk.	None	32
Taranza Burst	↓ + B	Taranza channels energy into a burst around him.	None	32
Super Taranza Burst	Hold ↓ + B then release	Taranza channels energy into a bigger burst around him.	None	96
Taranza Ball	Press ↑ + B in air	Taranza channels energy into a ball that rebounds off walls.	None	16 (ball), 1 (charging)
Super Taranza Ball	Hold ↑ + B in air then release	Taranza channels energy into a bigger ball that rebounds off walls.	None	32
Web Sling	Dash + B	Taranza slings three webs forward that encase enemies in pods.	None	18
Web Scatter	Dash + B in midair	Taranza scatters three webs forward that encase enemies in pods	None	18
Queen's Phantom	↓ ↑ + B	Taranza summons a dark construct of Queen Sectonia that performs her Electric Shock attack.	Zap	16 per hit
Pod Kick	When touching pod	Kicks the pod away.	None	48
Pod Snatch	B when near a pod	Grabs the pod to perform moves.	None	16
Pod Slam	Pod Snatch + B / Pod Snatch + →	Slams the pod forward.	None	48
Pod Slamabam	Pod Snatch + ↑, ←, or ↓	Slams the pod forward and back before throwing it.	None	48
Magic Guard	L / R	Taranza shields himself with energy.	None	16

Friend Abilities

Friend Ability	Controls	Description	Damage
Bouncy Web	↑	Taranza creates a heart-shaped web.	32
Friend Bounce	Jump and touch Bouncy Web	Taranza or any other Friend bounces off the web, damaging opponents and gaining invincibility during the takeoff.	42

Abilities

Taranza is shown to be a skilled wielder of magic. He can fire purple balls of energy, possess and strengthen other beings, and use a web-like net of energy to capture and carry others. When possessing King Dedede in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Taranza uses magical strings attached to Dedede's limbs to control him like a puppet.

In Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, where he is fought directly, Taranza uses magic to fight, primarily in the form of energy orbs. Aside from those attacks, he can surround himself in a damaging barrier to ram into the Kirbys, trap them with an explosive energy net, or teleport rapidly around the screen.

Etymology

Taranza's name is derived from tarantula, the species of arachnid that he is based on.^[5]

Music

Name	Music Track
”Taranza, Master of Puppetry"

Quotes

“

To think that you've made it this far. Aren't you a persistent little thing? But even you will kneel before us. I, Taranza, cannot allow you to interfere with Queen Sectonia's plans. Let me guess: you're here to save the hero of the lower world. The people of this land thought they were clever. They thought they could use the Dreamstalk to save their world. But I saw right through their plan. Well, since you're already here... I'll give you your precious hero back. But he may be a little more...hostile than you remember him!”

— Taranza • Kirby: Triple Deluxe

“	Wh-what is the meaning of this?! I did just as Her Majesty commanded. The lower world should fall to its knees before me! Could...Could you be the true hero of the lower world? Curses! If that's true... Majesty! Your Majesty Sectonia! Oh, glorious Sectonia! Please come to my resc-- Glaaaugh! Wh-why...?”
	— Taranza • Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Related Quotes

“	This mysterious baddie kidnaps the king and takes him up the Dreamstalk and to the floating islands of Floralia. What is his evil plan?”
	— Official Kirby: Triple Deluxe website

“	As Team Kirby continues its treacherous climb, the puppeteer mage at last shows his face. With the creatures he controls, this powerful foe threatens the kingdom. You must defeat him! Go, Team Kirby!”
	— Quest Opening • Team Kirby Clash Deluxe

“	The magician reveals himself! Break his web of spells and restore peace!”
	— Quest Description • Team Kirby Clash Deluxe

“	A flask that resembles the puppeteer magician. It is said that his feelings never touched the queen he served.”
	— Weapon Description • Team Kirby Clash Deluxe

“	Its appearance echoes a notable silver-haired henchman. The glasses add a touch of intellectualism.”
	— Armor Description • Team Kirby Clash Deluxe

“	This clumsy smarty-pants stumbled his way here from Kirby: Triple Deluxe! He’s a lonely insect on a journey in search of a queen, and he’s one of your new Dream Friends!”
	— Flavor Text • Kirby Star Allies

“	Hoping for a true miracle, the boy with silver hair from Kirby: Triple Deluxe is making a bid for the altar. Deep in his heart, he already knows the outcome. But if he could just reach that bright light...”
	— Guest Star Description • Kirby Star Allies

“	This teleporting trickster will try to confuse Team Kirby with its magic, but stay focused and you'll beat him!”
	— Quest Description (Tougher) • Super Kirby Clash

“	The decisive battle between the final form of the puppetmaster magician and the heroes of Team Kirby!”
	— Quest Description (Super) • Super Kirby Clash

Trivia

Taranza, with his simple, floating body, dark brown skin, and limbless hands, somewhat resembles Magolor.
- A painting of Magolor appears in the background of Stage 3 of Wild World, hanging near a painting of Taranza, possibly referencing their similarities.
Despite having speaking lines in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Team Kirby Clash Deluxe is the first time Taranza has been shown to be able to open his mouth.
- Similarly, two pieces of artwork from the official Twitter are the first times Taranza has been seen to make other shapes with his mouth rather than just a smile. These aforementioned pieces of artwork feature Taranza with a frown.
Taranza's voice, provided by Hirokazu Ando, was first heard in the downloadable Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe sub-game. It can be heard when King Dedede hits a backbeat while wearing the Taranza mask. In a Miiverse post, director Shinya Kumazaki stated that the voice was "designed with the image of an androgynous young spider."^[6]
Taranza's keychain, like Magolor's, depicts his skin as black rather than brown.
When the Sectonia Clone in Kirby: Planet Robobot is defeated, the last entity which the shape-shifting liquid turns into before exploding is a being that resembles Taranza. The main differences between this entity and Taranza are that the entity has longer hair, different horn shapes, and pronounced eyelashes. This shows that Taranza and Sectonia were once members of the same species, as stated on Miiverse.
Before Taranza throws his energy net during his battles in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe and Super Kirby Clash, he will move one hand around in a fashion that suggests he is deciding who to throw the net at before launching it at the Kirby he ended up on.
Taranza's animation when he gets furious in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe and Super Kirby Clash is based on his animation after Masked Dedede's Revenge has been defeated in Kirby: Triple Deluxe.

KSA Taranza Stone — Taranza and Sectonia's Stone Transformation in *Kirby Star Allies.*

In Kirby Star Allies, Taranza is one of the transformations of the Stone Copy Ability, being part of a duo with Queen Sectonia's original form and holding the same flower he had in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe.
Taranza's intro menu in Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! is based on the box art of Kirby: Triple Deluxe, being identical apart from missing Kirby.
- Taranza's intro menu pose is based on the pose he makes in his intro for his battle in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe.
Taranza's quote on his Guest Star Pause Screen in Kirby Star Allies marks the first time he has spoken in the games since Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
In Kirby Star Allies on the title, file select, and menu screens, Taranza can sometimes be seen carrying King Dedede with Kirby chasing after him. This is a reference to the opening of Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
- Taranza can also sometimes be seen paired with Kirby and King Dedede as they strike a pose, which is another reference to Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
In Kirby Star Allies on the title, file select, and menu screens, Taranza can sometimes be seen readying himself to talk to Adeleine, Ribbon, and Susie while they are talking with each other. However, before he gets a chance, they run off in the opposite direction as Taranza then turns around and chases after them. This suggests that Taranza is trying to move on from Sectonia.
The battle theme that plays during the fight with Taranza in Super Kirby Clash is a remix of "Revenge of the Enemy" from Kirby: Triple Deluxe, and the battle theme that plays during his Super category fight is a remix of the theme that plays while fighting Morpho Knight as Taranza in Kirby Star Allies.
Taranza's theme "Taranza, Master of Puppetry" is a heavily remixed version of King Dedede's theme.