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The Fofa Factor
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The Fofa Factor is the ninth episode of theKirby: Right Back at Ya! series. In this episode, Fololo & Falala ponder where they came from after King Dedede tries to get them to split up. Frustrated over an ill fortune, King Dedede then orders amonster calledSlice n' Splice to cause havoc inDream Land by cutting its residents up and splicing them together in mismatched fashion. They then manage to slice Kirby into two smaller versions of himself and intend to keep slicing him to pieces, but Fololo & Falala step in to save Kirby. Fololo & Falala later learn from Slice n' Splice that they were born under similar circumstances from a monster named Fofa, before they manage to defeat Slice n' Splice by using its tools to put Kirby back together, then having Kirby slice the monster in half using theCutter ability.
This episode marks the first timeFololo & Falala have been central to the plot of an episode. It also features the first speaking role ofeNeMeE and the first time a monster has spoken in full sentences.
Characters[edit]
The following characters appear in this episode:
| Cast of "The Fofa Factor" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Character | Selected quote | Notes |
| Primary characters | ||
| "Fofa!" | ||
| (Falala)"Fololo and I never split up!" (Fololo)"Yeah, we're a team, like peanut butter and jelly!" | ||
| (reading King Dedede's fortune)"It says "If you look for trouble, your trouble will double!"" | ||
| "You're a real cut-up, Slice n' Splice!" | ||
| "You look familiar! Yes, I remember! You're Fofa!" | ||
| Secondary characters | ||
| (unintelligible, mixed with other members of crowd) | ||
| "This is annoying!" | ||
| "King Dedede! Body snatching's illegal!" | ||
| "Sell him Fofa! Better yet, chop it and charge him double!" *laughs* | Appears in a flashback. This is eNeMeE's first proper line of dialogue in the series. | |
| "No! Let me go, creep! I don't want to be sent to hurt anybody!" | Appears in a flashback. | |
| (unintelligible, mixed with other members of crowd) | ||
| (no dialogue) | ||
| (unintelligible, mixed with other members of crowd) | ||
| (unintelligible, mixed with other members of crowd) | ||
| "You do, when I subtract your allowance!" | ||
| "We demand you return us to normal, your Highness! We're one furious flock!" | ||
| "Kirby has transformed! He is now Cutter Kirby! Cutter Kirby can battle his opponents with the cutter on his cap!" | ||
| "Today we're offering preferred customers like you a free how-to video!" | ||
| (unintelligible, mixed with other members of crowd) | ||
| "Have a gander at me, mate! A mammal's gotta be bats to want wings!" | ||
| (unintelligible, mixed with other members of crowd) | This marks Samo's first speaking role in the English dub, though what he says cannot be clearly made out. | |
| "Stiff upper lip, son! Your mother's only joshing!" | ||
| (unintelligible, mixed with other members of crowd) | ||
| "King Dedede sticks his beak into everybody's business, doesn't he?" | ||
| "Just look at me! I used to be fine and feathery, now I'm fat and furry!" | ||
| "But mom, who needs to know subtractions?" | ||
| (no dialogue) | ||
Locations[edit]
Plot synopsis[edit]
The episode begins at Castle Dedede, as Fololo & Falala rush into the throne room in behalf of King Dedede and Escargoon. They instruct Fololo & Falala to go to town to getMabel's fortune, but insist that only Fololo go while Falala stays behind. The two refuse, prompting the King to threaten to toss them out if they don't obey. Later, Tiff consoles Fololo & Falala, and they decide to ask Sir Ebrum and Lady Like where the twins came from, only to be given excuses and hushed away. With the kids gone, the two parents reminisce on the night when Fololo & Falala showed up on their doorstep. They resolve not to tell the twins their origin, but Kirby overhears them and repeats the name Fofa to himself.
Later on, a Waddle Dee delivers King Dedede's fortune to him. Escargoon reads it to him, but gets clobbered for the bad news the fortune brings. King Dedede decides from there to order a new monster fromNight Mare Enterprises. The Sales Guy offers Dedede a "deal" on a new monster, while Escargoon tries to warn Dedede about the fortune again, but Dedede ignores him and initiates the download. Once Slice n' Splice appears from theMonster Delivery System, Dedede decides to test the monster out on Escargoon, but gets mixed up with him while he was trying to get away. The two end up getting "spliced" together, switching heads with each-others' bodies. Meanwhile, Sir Ebrum and Lady Like have taped Kirby's mouth shut to try and prevent him from saying the name Fofa.
After getting their proper bodies back, King Dedede and Escargoon send Slice n' Splice off to cause havoc in Cappy Town by splicing the residents together in various ways. After they've had their fun, the King decides to return everyone to normal and then he heads after Kirby. Meanwhile, Tokkori and Rick - who have also been spliced with each-other - find Tiff, Tuff, and Fololo & Falala at the castle to show them what happened. As they mention the monster, Kirby runs out of the castle - his mouth still taped up - as King Dedede and Escargoon return with Slice n' Splice in theirArmored Vehicle. Kirby attempts to dodge, but is cleaved clean in half by the monster, splitting into two smaller Kirbys who somewhat resemble Fololo & Falala.
Upon seeing this result, King Dedede and Escargoon briefly imagine each-other split up in a similar manner and shudder out of it. King Dedede then orders Slice n' Splice to keep cutting the Kirbys down until there's nothing left of him. Before the monster can proceed, Fololo & Falala grab the Kirbys and get them away. While hiding with the Kirbys, Fololo & Falala realize how much the Kirbys resemble them, which gets them wondering about their own origin again. As Slice n' Splice approaches, the two agree to split up for the first time in order to safeguard Kirby. Using this strategy, they manage to keep ahead of their chasers for a time, also briefly causing King Dedede to get split up as well. Eventually they are caught by Splice n' Splice, but as the monster is about to strike, it recognizes Fololo & Falala, and stops to give them their origin story. Slice n' Splice explains that Fofa was split in two in order to offload a useless monster to King Dedede for double price, who then dumped them into Sir Ebrum and Lady Like's hands as they were no use to him.
From here, Fololo & Falala resolve to defeat Slice n' Splice so they can reunite into Fofa. Meanwhile, Tiff and Tuff jump in to rescue the Kirbys. Fololo & Falala succeed in grabbing Slice n' Splice's Sun staff and the group gets away. Once they get to the outer walls, they use the Sun staff to restore Kirby to normal. Slice n' Splice catches up to them, but Kirby uses hisinhale to eat the monster's Moon staff (which he gives to Kirby in desperation) and gain theCutter ability. Using this new ability, Kirby quickly dispatches the now unarmed Slice n' Splice withFinal Cutter, and then uses his blade along with the Sun staff to return Tokkori and Rick to normal. Just as the group prepares to use the Sun staff to return Fololo & Falala into Fofa, Slice n' Splice's body explodes, shattering the staff's head. Despite this setback, Fololo & Falala are still happy to have found out where they came from, and the episode ends as they pose with Kirby.
Dialogue differences between versions[edit]
- In the Japanese version, Lady Like and Sir Ebrum refer to two different Japanese folktales,The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter andMomotaro when making up origin stories for Fololo & Falala.
- In the Japanese version, the fortune King Dedede receives is different. It reads "You must show restraint, and not let yourself be swayed by sweet talk."
- When King Dedede gives Fololo and Falala to Sir Ebrum and Lady Like, he offers the duo as servants in the Japanese version.
Trivia[edit]
- This episode marks the first time that amonster has had proper dialogue in the series.
- This is also the first episode to feature two monsters, and a monster that is not hostile.
- This episode marks the first time Tiff has not been a primary character in the plot.
- The how-to video which was included with Slice n' Splice was never mentioned again after Escargoon dropped it.
- This is the first episode where the English dub by 4Kids does not cut any significant content from the Japanese original.
- Instead of being spliced with a sheep,Professor Curio was spliced with the large ammonite fossil that hangs from the entrance to his collection.
Gallery[edit]
Fololo & Falala are summoned by King Dedede
Tiff consoles Fololo & Falala
Fololo & Falala are dumped by King Dedede in a flashback
Escargoon reads King Dedede his fortune
Slice n' Splice greets King Dedede
Slice n' Splice shows off its skill to its purchasers
King Dedede takes Slice n' Splice into town
Dedede has a little too much fun mixing heads and bodies
Rick and Tokkori show their sorry state to the kids
King Dedede imagines Escargoon split in two
Fololo & Falala hide with the Kirbys
Slice n' Splice spots Fololo
King Dedede is split into two
Fololo & Falala are chased around the castle
Slice n' Splice recognizes the former Fofa
Slice n' Splice prepares to split Fofa in half in a flashback
Fololo & Falala battle Slice n' Splice
The kids escape up the stairwell with the Sun staff
The Kirbys are merged back together
The Sun staff is destroyed
The final scene of the episode
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ロロロとラララ愛のメロディ Rororo to Rarara Ai no Merodi | Lololo & Lalala - Melody of Love |
| English | The Fofa Factor | A pun on the phrase "X factor" (a variable in a situation that could very significantly impact its outcome) with "Fofa", the episode's focus; may also invoke the 2001 stunt game showFear Factor |
| Chinese | 羅羅與拉拉。愛的旋律 Luóluó yǔ Lālā. Ài de Xuánlǜ | Lolo and Lala. Melody of love |
| French | Les origines de Fololo et Falala | The origins of Fololo and Falala |
| German | Der FoFa-Faktor | The FoFa-Factor |
| Italian | Il mostro separatore | The separating monster |
| Brazilian Portuguese | O Fator Fofa | The Fofa Factor |
