A Fish Called Kine

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A Fish Called Kine
E16 Scene 5.png
King Dedede brings Kine in a mobile fish tank to Tiff and sets them off on a date.
First aired Japan January 19, 2002
NA November 2, 2002
Episode # 16
Episode # (4Kids) 15
Copy Ability(Abilities) featured Tornado
Monster(s) featured Xmark.png
Character(s) featured Kirby, Kine, Tiff, Tuff, King Dedede
Episode Order
Kirby's Pet Peeve The Thing About the Ring
Episode Order (4Kids)
The Pillow Case Flower Power
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A Fish Called Kine is the 16th (15th in the 4Kids broadcast) episode of the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! series. In this episode, Tiff gains an admirer from the sea in Kine who wants to go on a date with her, but can't due to being unable to live on the land. Seeing this, King Dedede cuts a deal with Kine to supply a mobile fish tank for him in exchange for the secret location of the rainbow coral reef, which the King plans to bulldoze to make way for a new castle. After Kine's date with Tiff turns sour due to many an unfortunate event, the group learns what Dedede was seeking and travels to the reef to stop him. With Kine's help, Kirby gains the Tornado ability and uses it to destroy King Dedede's submarine and wreck his plans, saving the reef in the process.

This episode marks the first time that Kine has been in a starring role, and marks the debut of the Tornado Copy Ability in the show. It also marks the first appearance of Doctor Yabui.


The following characters appear in this episode:

Cast of "A Fish Called Kine"  
Character Selected quote Notes
Primary characters
E16 Kirby.png
E16 Kine.png
"I never thought the land could be as amazing as the sea, but it is!"
E16 King Dedede.png
King Dedede
"I know folks say that opposites attract, but I never saw a couple that was this opposite!"
E16 Tiff.png
"Well that's true, but we have a lot of biological similarities, and a talking fish is quite unusual."
E16 Tuff.png
"Whoa, Kine's acting like an aqua-marine!"
Secondary characters
E16 Cappies.png
Cappy villagers
"This one of them science fair projects, Tiff?"
E16 Chef Kawasaki.png
Chef Kawasaki
"Sorry, Doc, but I'm fresh out of fresh fish!" (as Kine comes crashing onto the table)
E16 Doctor Yabui.png
Doctor Yabui
"I'd like something healthy, like a nice piece of fresh fish!"
E16 Dyna Blade.png
Dyna Blade
(no dialogue)
E16 Escargoon.png
"It's the world's first surf and turf relationship!"
E16 Flotzo.png
(no dialogue)
E16 Fololo & Falala.png
Fololo & Falala
(Fololo) "Guys! He's gonna crash!"
E16 Joe.png
(no dialogue)
E16 Lady Like.png
Lady Like
"The thing I don't understand is how the King found out where the reef is."
E16 Mayor Len.png
Mayor Len Blustergas
"I was just getting in, when I heard a crash and a splash! If we don't get your friend out fast, that bath will turn into a broth!"
E16 Meta Knight.png
Meta Knight
"The King is going to destroy the rainbow coral reef!"
E16 Curio.png
Professor Curio
"I think these two make a charming couple!"
E16 Sir Ebrum.png
Sir Ebrum
"Yes, apparently his Majesty has decided to build himself a deep-sea palace on the rainbow coral reef!"
E16 Waddle Dees.png
Waddle Dees
(no dialogue)


Plot synopsis[edit]

Kine formally asks Tiff out on a date.

The episode begins on Dream Land's shoreline, as the scene is framed from a fish's point of view, jumping in and out of the water, then spotting Tiff on the coast. She is collecting sea shells on the beach and manages to find a sparkling gold clam shell in a shallow pool. She opens it to find an engraving on the inside which she describes as "ancient Cappy-glyphics". Back home at the castle, she uses her books to decipher the text and realizes that it's a love letter addressed to her, requesting she meet up with the sender at the beach the upcoming evening. As she heads out, she is stopped briefly by Tuff and Kirby, who ask where she's going, but she brushes them off. Tuff and Kirby decide to covertly follow her to see what's up. Meanwhile, King Dedede and Escargoon are out surveying the sea making plans for an "underwater castle" near a reef, when they spot Tiff out on the shore.

As the interlopers watch, Tiff is greeted by her secret admirer, who turns out to be Kine the sunfish. After realizing the situation she's in, Tiff reacts in shock and Tuff blows his cover by laughing at the idea. Tiff explains to Kine that they can't have a relationship because she can't breathe underwater and leaves it at that, as Tuff and Kirby follow. From there, King Dedede and Escargoon step in and make a deal with Kine to find him a way of getting on land in exchange for directions to the rainbow coral reef. Kine hesitates at first, explaining that the reef's location is a secret, but his desire to be with Tiff overcomes this hurdle and he spills the beans. Back at the castle, Tiff reconsiders Kine's offer as Tuff gawks at her. King Dedede then strolls in bringing Kine to her in a fish tank pulled by the Waddle Dees, and then walks off after a few comments.

Kine runs into trouble on his date.

Kine's sudden appearance gives Tiff apprehension, but Tuff encourages the two to actually give it a shot, since Kine went to all the trouble. Tuff and Kirby agree to wheel Kine around as the date commences. Out on the road to town, a crowd of Cappies gathers around Kine in his tank, as Tuff has to explain what precisely Tiff is doing. As Kine gets a good look around, he is fascinated by what he sees out of the water. Tiff grows increasingly embarrassed at the situation, but Tuff makes her eat her own words again. Meanwhile, King Dedede and Escargoon are in a submarine plotting their way to the rainbow coral reef. Once they arrive, they set up signs claiming the site and begin construction of their new castle.

Tornado Kirby wrecks King Dedede's submarine.

Back in Cappy Town, Kine soon realizes that without the ability to physically embrace Tiff, he might have trouble making this relationship work. He tries to get Tiff to "hold hands", but accidentally causes his tank to roll down the hillside. He rolls through Cappy Town, then gets flung out of his tank and sent flying into Chef Kawasaki's restaurant, where the chef tries to make him into a meal, but the kids stop him from doing this. Just as they secure Kine, however, Dyna Blade swoops in and grabs him. Kine jumps out of his bucket and lands in Mayor Len's bathtub, where the kids collect him again. After recounting his experience, Kine reveals to the kids that King Dedede asked him for directions to the coral reef, causing them to immediately suspect foul play. As King Dedede commences his bulldozing of the reef, the kids learn from Sir Ebrum of Dedede's plans, and make haste to the reef.

Kine rushes in to stop King Dedede from destroying the reef, but is knocked away by the submarine's robotic arms. Tiff, Tuff, and Meta Knight close in using a makeshift wooden submarine and release Kirby from a hatch to engage King Dedede. After knocking Kirby away, King Dedede fires a torpedo which destroys the wooden submarine, prompting Kine to blow an air bubble for Tiff and Tuff to breathe in as Meta Knight gets away. Kirby then gets captured by the submarine's arms and is pummeled repeatedly. After being freed by Kine, Kirby uses his inhale and swallows the submarine's rotor, transforming into Tornado Kirby. As the others watch from the shore, Tornado Kirby creates a massive vortex in the sea which draws the submarine in and wrecks it. Helpless in the water, King Dedede and Escargoon are then set upon by Joe, who wants vengeance for the damage done to the reef. As Tiff and Kine give their farewells, Kirby pops out of the water with King Dedede's lost snorkel, giving Kine the idea that Tiff could use it to live underwater with him. Tiff yells at Kirby for giving him this idea as the episode ends.

Dialogue differences between versions[edit]

  • In the Japanese version, Bun does not sniff perfume on Fumu, but instead notices that she is not carrying any tools to collect shells.
  • In the 4Kids dub, Professor Curio identifies Kine as a member of the species Acanthurus gorallus, which is not a real species name, but may be a butchered pronunciation of an actual species Acanthurus coeruleus, a type of surgeonfish. This is incorrect on the part of the dub, as in the Japanese version, Curio correctly identifies Kine as an ocean sunfish, which has the species name of Mola mola.


  • In this episode, as in most of the video games, Kirby is able to breathe underwater without issue. This contradicts the earlier episode Kirby's Egg-Cellent Adventure, where he was not able to breathe underwater.
    • Kirby is also shown to be able to inhale underwater. In the video games, this is only possible in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards or with the help of Kine.
  • Two aquatic enemies from the video games cameo in this episode. They are Flotzo and Joe.
  • This episode marks the first time Kirby uses a Copy Ability to directly battle King Dedede, rather than a monster sent by him.


Removed scenes[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese 私を愛したサカナ
The Fish Who Loved Me