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Pon & Con
| Pon & Con | |
|---|---|
 Artwork of Pon & Con from Kirby's Dream Land 3. | |
| Details | |
| First game | Kirby's Dream Land 3 (1997) |
| Latest game | Kirby's Dream Buffet (2022, reference) |
| Other game(s) | Kirby: Triple Deluxe (keychain) Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (reference) Kirby Star Allies |
| Copy Abilities | Fire and Ice (Bomb Drops in Kirby Star Allies) Beam (Waddle Doos in Kirby Star Allies) |
| Relative(s) | Goldon & Silvox |
| Similar to | Lololo & Lalala Nruff and Nelly |
Pon & Con are a dual boss consisting of a brown raccoon dog (Pon) and a yellow fox (Con). They are natives on Planet Popstar. While not normally hostile to Kirby, they have been possessed by more malevolent forces and made to fight him in the games in which they appear.
Raccoon dogs (tanuki) and foxes (kitsune) are a recurring duo in Japanese folklore, where they are said to hold supernatural powers. Pon & Con are a reference to this folkloric connection. They are also referred to as Raccoon & Fox on Page 34 of the English manual of Kirby's Dream Land 3. Tanuki is often translated as "raccoon", due to the two species' resemblance and the raccoon dog's obscurity outside of Asia, though raccoon dogs are really a different species more related to canines than raccoons.
Game appearances[edit]
Kirby's Dream Land 3[edit]
Pon & Con are fought at the end of Sand Canyon. Their fight is similar to the one with Nruff and Nelly from Kirby's Dream Land 2, as they run around on decked platforms in and out of the screen with their Juniors in tow. Kirby can attack them - if he has no ability - by inhaling these Juniors and spitting them back at their parents. An additional caveat exists though, in the form of a large Gordo with a skull insignia on it, that occasionally falls in various places and eventually explodes to block off a path to Kirby. It can also detonate earlier if it gets hit by one of Kirby's attacks.
Both Pon and Con have separate health from each other, though it is displayed as one life bar, each with 160 HP. Both of them need to be defeated separately in order to win the fight.
Notably, both the Star Bullet and the Blaster Bullet do 32 damage to Pon and Con, even though the Blaster Bullet normally does 64 damage.
If Kirby visits them after collecting all the Heart Stars in Sand Canyon, the duo and their Juniors can be seen wandering around the area without hurting Kirby. They can be fought again as the third opponent in Boss Butch.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]
In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Pon & Con both appear as a single keychain, using their sprites from Kirby's Dream Land 3.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse[edit]
In Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, Pon & Con appear in the page 19 of Elline's Secret Diary, "Junk TV", where they are seen as comedians in the "Comedy Special".
Kirby Star Allies[edit]
Pon & Con, titled the Dual Defenders, return in Kirby Star Allies after a long absence, now under the control of the Jambastion force, wearing armor bearing the Jambastion emblem. Their fight is largely the same as it was in Kirby's Dream Land 3, as their Juniors follow them in tow like before, though a Waddle Doo may appear with the Juniors. Unlike most enemies summoned by bosses, the Juniors and Waddle Doos have a chance to drop food when defeated during Story Mode. They are fought at Gatehouse Road in the Fortress of Shadows: Jambastion, as well as in Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! and The Ultimate Choice on the Mild Stroll, Zesty Expedition, Spicy Adventure and Sizzling Threat difficulties.
Pon & Con both have 245 HP in Story Mode and Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!, and 183 HP in The Ultimate Choice (for reference, a Star Bullet does 52 damage). They transition to the second phase when their total health is at 60% or their maximum health or lower, and take 0.2× damage during the transition. Just like in Kirby's Dream Land 3, the two of them have separate health despite the health bar saying otherwise, and both need to be defeated separately to win the battle. Both Pon and Con cannot be defeated as they transition phases, as both their HP gets locked to 1 each until they finish the transition. This also applies to Goldon & Silvox later in the game.
Once they are defeated in the Story Mode, Kirby must toss a Friend Heart at them to make them friendly to him. This done, they will then open the gatehouse for him, and participate in the Kirby Dance. In other modes, Friend Hearts have no effect on them and are not needed to make progress.
While the duo is not fought again after that point in Story Mode and in Guest Star ????, metal versions of them, Goldon & Silvox, appears on Mareen Moon. They are a harder version of Pon & Con and behave similarly, however, they are different characters.
The following table lists all of Pon & Con's attacks in Kirby Star Allies:
| Pon & Con's attacks in Kirby Star Allies | |
|---|---|
| Attack | Description |
| 単独移動 Solo Movement |
Pon and/or Con runs across a decked platform with no Junior. |
| Jr.を引き連れて移動 Movement with Juniors |
Pon and/or Con runs across a decked platform with a number of Juniors. |
| Jr.のみで移動 Junior-only Movement |
Only the Juniors run across a decked platform. On occasion, a Waddle Doo might run among the Juniors, who can be swallowed for the Beam ability. |
| 爆弾落とし Bomb Drop |
The Juniors on the ceiling drop a bomb that, if not inhaled or destroyed in time, will leave behind damaging after-effects for a short while that can also harm other Juniors that walk into its line of fire. A fire bomb that leaves behind damaging flame or an ice bomb that leaves behind damaging ice shards can be dropped from the ceiling; both of which have 80 HP each. Fire bombs can be swallowed for the Fire ability or destroyed in one hit with Blizzard, Bluster, Splash or Artist attacks. Ice bombs can be swallowed for the Ice ability or destroyed in one hit with Sizzle attacks. The ceiling Juniors can be inhaled and/or defeated in the brief window they appear to prevent the bomb from appearing. This attack starts being used after two sets of movement attacks. |
| Second phase only | |
| 突進移動 Rushing Movement |
Pon & Con, after a brief charge-up, quickly run across the stage from left-to-right or right-to-left. |
| Guarding does not fully prevent contact damage from Pon & Con. Attack names are taken from Kirby Star Allies: The Complete Support Guidebook. | |
Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]
In Kirby's Dream Buffet, Pon & Con appear together on a Character Treat, depicting their sprites from Kirby's Dream Land 3.
Adaptation appearances[edit]
Kirby: Right Back at Ya![edit]
| Pon & Con | |
|---|---|
  Pon & Con as they appear in Kirby: Right Back at Ya! | |
| Details | |
| First episode | Beware: Whispy Woods! |
| Main role | Minor characters |
| Similar characters | Nruff and Nelly, Rick |
Pon & Con make a few minor appearances in the anime series Kirby: Right Back at Ya!. Here, they are portrayed as intelligent animals capable of speech who live within the Eastern Forest, taking refuge in the ancient tree Acore who they help defend from intruders. Unlike Rick who also lives in Acore, Pon & Con are never seen outside of the forest.
Unlike in the video games, Pon & Con do not send their Juniors out to attack, and instead fight on their own. They attack mainly by mauling their foes or throwing objects at them.
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Pon & Con appearing menacing in War of the Woods.
Trivia[edit]
- When Pon & Con are defeated in Kirby Star Allies, their armor crashes into each other and makes a metal sound. In Goldon & Silvox's case, the same metal sound is made from their collided metal bodies instead.
- The bombs used by Pon & Con in Kirby Star Allies also have the Jambastion symbol on them, which is also found in The Three Mage Sisters. The bombs are later used by Goldon & Silvox, as well as Parallel Big Kracko (though the latter only uses the fire variant).
- Pon & Con's yelling sound effect in Kirby Star Allies is the same sound used by Pyribbit.
- The Pon & Con boss battles may reference Maru-chan Red Kitsune Udon and Green Tanuki Tempura Soba ramen noodles by Toyo Suisan.
- In Kirby's Dream Land 3, when Pon & Con are hit, Pon flashes in green while Con flashes in red.
- In Kirby Star Allies, when Pon & Con roar, Pon releases green effects while Con releases red effects; when they are defeated, Pon is knocked out with green smoke while Con is knocked out with red smoke.
Gallery[edit]
-
Sprite of Pon Jr. from Kirby's Dream Land 3 -
Sprite of Con Jr. from Kirby's Dream Land 3 -
A portion of the battle with Pon Con in Kirby's Dream Land 3 -
Doodle from Kirby's Dream Land 3 True Ending credits roll -
-
Page 19 of the Secret Diary in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, featuring Pon & Con -
The Ultimate Choice icon from Kirby Star Allies -
A portion of the fight with Pon & Con in Kirby Star Allies -
Kirby and his new friends dance -
Story Mode credits picture from Kirby Star Allies, featuring Pon & Con getting defeated -
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Con's cameo in Kirby of the Stars! Moretsu Pupupu Hour! Volume 1 -
Illustration from the Kirby JP Twitter featuring Pon & Con -
Dedede Directory about Pon & Con -
Pon in Find Kirby!! Full of Kirby -
Pon Jr. in Find Kirby!! Full of Kirby -
Another Pon Jr. in Find Kirby!! Full of Kirby -
Con in Find Kirby!! Full of Kirby -
Con Jr. in Find Kirby!! Full of Kirby -
Another Con Jr. in Find Kirby!! Full of Kirby -
Plushie of Pon from "Roly-Poly Friends" merchandise series, manufactured by San-ei -
Plushie of Con from "Roly-Poly Friends" merchandise series, manufactured by San-ei -
"Kyoto / Fushimi Inari" keychain from the "Kirby's Dream Land: Pukkuri Keychain" merchandise line -
"Shiga / Raccoon" keychain from the "Kirby's Dream Land: Pukkuri Keychain" merchandise line
Videos[edit]
Battle with Pon & Con in Kirby Star Allies (The Ultimate Choice).
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Names in other languages[edit]
Pon & Con[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ポン＆コン Pon ando Kon |
Pon & Con "Pon" is the sound of a tanuki's belly drum in Japanese folklore. "Con" is the sound of a fox cry in Japanese. |
| English | Pon & Con | - |
| Chinese | 阿狸&阿狐 ā lí & ā hú |
Tanuki & Fox |
| Dutch | Pon en Con | Pon and Con |
| French | Pon & Cot | Pon & Con "Cot" is used instead because "con" is a vulgar word in French. |
| German | Pon & Con | - |
| Italian | Pon & Con | - |
| Korean | 퐁&콩 Pong & Kong |
Pon & Con |
| Portuguese | Pon e Con | Pon and Con |
| Spanish | Pon y Con | Pon and Con |
Dual Defenders, Pon & Con[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 阿吽の護獣 ポン＆コン Aun no Gojū Pon ando Kon |
A-un Guardian Beasts, Pon & Con A-un, derived from Sanskrit, is often used in Shinto and Buddhist architecture to describe the paired statues common in Japanese religious settings. These statues are typically placed in front of temple gates as guardians to ward out evil spirits. |
| English | Dual Defenders, Pon & Con | - |
| Traditional Chinese | 守門獸 阿狸&阿狐 shǒu mén shòu ā lí & ā hú |
Gate Guardian Beasts, Tanuki & Fox |
| Simplified Chinese | 守门兽 阿狸&阿狐 shǒu mén shòu ā lí & ā hú | |
| Dutch | Defensief duo, Pon en Con | Defensive duo, Pon and Con |
| French | Duo de défenseurs, Pon & Cot | Duo of defenders, Pon & Con "Cot" is used instead because "con" is a vulgar word in French. |
| German | Verteidiger-Duo, Pon & Con | Defender-Duo, Pon & Con |
| Italian | Duo di guardiani, Pon & Con | Duo of guardians, Pon & Con |
| Korean | 수비 복식조 퐁&콩 Subi Boksikjo Pong & Kong |
Defensive Doubles, Pon & Con |
| Spanish | Dúo de defensores, Pon y Con | Duo of defenders, Pon and Con |
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