THE LOLOLALA MINISHRINE

Lololo and Lalala have been some of my favourite characters of the Kirby series since I was only young. My interest in them has waxed and waned with time, but after they were announced as playable characters for Kirby Air Riders, I've been completely and utterly obsessed with them. Listen. I know that they're, like, the most cishet thing ever (not to me, at least, since i see them both as transgender and bisexual) but I don't care. They're just so cute to me!



My favourite piece of Kirby trivia to share is that Lololo and Lalala weren't originally from the Kirby series, this ambiguously related duo originates from the Eggerland / Adventure Of Lolo puzzle game series on the NES. In that universe, they're lovers, but in the Kirby universe, they're very close, but we're unsure if their relationship is romantic or familial.

The anime (which takes place in an alternate universe) (and also has them named Fololo and Falala in the english version) depicts them as split halves of a whole creature (named Lola (Fofa in the english dub)). While the Japanese version (at least from what i remember) has them be a bit more lovey dovey (i mean hell their focus episode is called "lololo and lalala, melody of love"), the english version has them be a bit more sibling-y. I've personally always seen them as lovers, even when I was young.



Many Japanese sources have them in a more romantic light, whether it's subtle, like that one Pupupu Train artwork that looks like they're all fancied up for a date, or as explicit as an unused Twinkle Popo advertisment seen in the 20th Anniversary art book, which outright says they're married. Similarly to what I mentioned before regarding the Anime, LoloLala have been more sibling-y in english Kirby adaptations, with one Nintendo Power Magazine from the 90's (which everyone and their dog uses as a gotcha to lololala shippers like myself) stating that they're twins. Since that source is like, ages old and hasn't been brought up since, I dismiss it, considering it could may as well be made up. Recently, the Kirby Air Riders official English twitter page has said that they're... friends. just friends! two good old friends holding hands and cuddling eachother. yeah! I haven't checked the Japanese post, though, so maybe they've turned them into Very Close Besties as well... Eek!



Oh, I should probably disclose now that if they're ever 100% set in stone as siblings, I'll stop shipping them. This is because I like to go outside and enjoy the sunlight on my skin, despite being a vampire.

Let's get to why I love them so much, shall we? I was really insane over these two as a kid. I'd draw them constantly, rewatching episode 9 of the anime constantly, all while rereading their WiKirby page a gazillion times a week. I'd also listen to Castle Lololo a lot, particularly the rendition in Canvas Curse used in Mag Mount. Nowadays, I found that rendition of the song a bit grating, much preferring the arrangement from Blowout Blast. I also find their designs overwhelmingly cute, despite being so simple and a little bland. I adore their little tails, they give them a unique shape, despite being very round overall. I think their designs in Air Riders are their best by far. The ones in the anime are fine and so are their sprites. Their early 3d models, however, while still cute, aren't the best. Lalala's TDX / FDX model is missing her eyeliner and she looks really weird... bald... Their blowout blast models are kind of an improvement, Lalala got some new liquid liner and some very interesting contacts which she ditched in Air Riders. Thank god.

Here's some pictures of them that I really like. Some of them are from WiKirby, but a majority of them are my pictures from Air Riders.

THE BIG MAN MINISHRINE

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