DreamBound is an series of short fan animations created by Oniri Boy
, based on the Kirby video game franchise . The videos act as "demos" to a hypothetical Prequel to Kirby's Dream Land, following a young Dedede, his big sister Lilili, and brave Star Warrior Meta Knight and their quest to stop Dark Nebula with the Dream power of the Star Rod!
The "gameplay", artstyle, and story take inspiration from Eastern RPGs such as the Mother series (with the battle mechanic specifically inspired by Mother 3) and the Paper Mario series.
Despite how the videos look, DreamBound is not an actual game, and there currently no plans to make it into one; there are currently 4 "demos" available for viewing on Oniri Boy's YouTube channel. The "game" also has a wiki in the form of a PDF, found here.
This fan series contains examples of:
- Adaptational Deviation: Dedede's authority is not as "in name only" as in canon, as his family are guardians of the Star Rod.
- Adaptational Explanation:
- This "game" explains how Meta Knight knew the chest the Squeak Squad stole from Dedede contained Dark Nebula; after all, he and Dedede were the ones who sealed Nebula in the chest.
- This game also explains Dedede's bond with Meta Knight and his motive in Kirby's Adventure.
- Taranza's reasoning for kidnapping Dedede in Kirby: Triple Deluxe is that Sectonia told him about Dedede's adventures as a kid. That would cause some Fridge Logic behind Sectonia attacking Taranza when Kirby defeats Masked Dedede, until you remember Sectonia was influenced by Dark Meta Knight, who was gunning for Kirby. As far as Taranza and Sectonia truly know, Dedede is the hero of the lower world.
- All There in the Manual: "The DreamBound Wiki" PDF greatly expands the story beyond what is shown in the short animations and reveals characters not yet seen in the videos, such as Sectonia.
- Big Bad: Dark Nebula.
- Big Sister Instinct: Lilili is very protective of her little brother, Dedede, to the point where she outright refuses to attack him during his boss fight.
- Cain and Abel: Respectively, General Dee and Great Dee.
- Canon Foreigner: A lot of characters, most notably: Lilili, Dedede's big sister; Great Dee, the father of Bandana Waddle Dee; and Sidero Knight, the one who creates Galaxia for Meta Knight.
- Darker and Edgier: Dark Matter (especially in the third demo) is shown in a much more horrifying light here than in the main franchise, and that's saying something! Justified, as it's being seen from the perspective by something other than a pink demon with the mind of a toddler.
- Doomed by Canon: Neither Lilili nor Great Dee appear in the games. Silver lining for the latter is that the forth demo reveals he's Bandana Waddle Dee's father.
- Fighting Your Friend: Defied:Lilili, if you choose "Bash" during the Dedede boss fight : "Nuh-uh, I'm not gonna hurt my little brother!"
- Knight Templar: Dedede attacks Meta Knight early in the game out of paranoia.
- Mythology Gag:
- During the Dedede boss fight, one of his attacks makes him trip, and the flavor text says "he's fallen and can't get up". Meta Knight says this about Kirby in the anime episode, "Fitness Fiend".
- In the third demo, Lilili mentions that the path they're taking leads them to Rainbow Resort, a level from Kirby's Adventure.
- Meta Knight's Star Move "En Garde" shroud the screen in darkness before he hits his opponent with a powerful slash, bringing to mind his Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
- According to Great Dee, Mt. Dee is inhabited by 300 Waddle Dees, including himself. In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby has to rescue 300 Waddle Dees.
- Shout-Out:
- This game takes place in Dedede's childhood, has Dark Matter as the Big Bad, and Meta Knight is pink in it; it screams "Cocoon Academy".
- The "sacred dance" that Great Dee does to open the Dee Door is a mix between Kirby's victory dance and Wess's dance from Mother 3, with the music taken from the latter.
