Recently, a fan of Nintendo commissioned a Redditor to create a felt version of Kirby with the sword and hat of Link from the Legend of Zelda series. This mashup was first imagined thanks to the Super Smash Bros. franchise, and the success of the series has encouraged other companies to make their own mashup fighting games.
Kirby has remained one of Nintendo's most popular original characters ever since his first appearance on the original Game Boy. Aside from his regular appearances in Super Smash Bros. games, his most recent solo outing, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, was released for the Switch in March 2022. And while Link and the Zelda franchise have been just as constant, plenty of Nintendo fans would argue that Kirby has Link beat when it comes to cuteness.
That's why it's no surprise that Redditor neilchacho got a commission to create a Link-powered Kirby in felt. Not only is felt a popular material for home crafts, but it has the advantage of being soft and squishy. Both adjectives perfectly describe Kirby, making it a wonderful choice for depicting the famous pink blob. In fact, Kirby looks good in many craft materials, which is why official Kirby games sometimes depict him in visual styles like clay and yarn. As for this artist, the doll manages to capture fine details like Kirby's wry smile, his rosy cheeks, and the gem in Link's sword.
Kirby is hardly the only Nintendo character to get a felt makeover, either. Felt is easy to get in a variety of colors, easy to work with, and easy to paint, and so it's a popular choice for parents looking for kid-friendly activities and home crafters who want to share their skill and artistry with the world. Most felt creations are two-dimensional, but a few like neilchacho are able to use felt for 3D creations.
Of course, one thing that makes Kirby especially popular in fan art and fan crafts circles is his customizability. The character starts out as nothing more than a pink ball with big eyes and round feet, but in all his games he can add different hats and items based on who he sucks up. Because of this, a Kirby commission has dozens of options when it comes to accessories.
The Super Smash Bros. franchise has only increased the number of options that Kirby fans can ask for, both directly and by expanding the number of franchises Kirby could interact with. As the character roster grows with each new game, Kirby gets that many more dress-up options. Whether it be Link's floppy hat and sword, Mario's iconic cap, or even Solid Snake's grizzled beard and bandana, Kirby can take on any sort of appearance fans can imagine (and always look cute in the process).
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now on the Nintendo Switch.
