is a
fictional character and the protagonist of the
Kirby series of video games owned by
Nintendo and
HAL Laboratory. As one of Nintendo's most famous and familiar icons, Kirby's round appearance and ability to copy his foes' powers has made him a well known figure in video games, consistently ranked as one of the most iconic video game characters. He first appeared in 1992 in
Kirby's Dream Land for the
Game Boy. Originally a placeholder, created by
Masahiro Sakurai, at the age of 19, for the game's early development, he has since then starred in over 20 games, ranging from
action platformers to
puzzle,
racing, and even
pinball, and has been featured as a playable fighter in all
Super Smash Bros. games. He has also starred in his own and manga series. His most recent appearance is in
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, for the
Wii U. Since 1999, he has been voiced by
Makiko Ohmoto.