Kazooie

Kazooie is one of the eponymous starring characters in the Banjo-Kazooie series, the other being Banjo.

Kazooie
Artwork of Kazooie from Banjo-Tooie
First appearance	Banjo-Kazooie (1998)
Latest appearance	Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)
Latest portrayal	Chris Sutherland
Full name	Kazooie the Breegull
Species	Breegull
World	Spiral Mountain

“Great, I get to peck some more witch butt! Let's go, Banjo!”

– Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie

Name origin

Kazooie's name, like Banjo's, is based on a musical instrument: the kazoo. Incidentally, Kazooie herself is known to be an experienced kazoo player, although the only time Kazooie was ever seen playing her kazoo was during the introduction theme in Banjo-Kazooie. Oddly enough, Kazooie's kazoo barely resembles an actual kazoo and looks more like a bugle. Interestingly, whether coincidence or not, the term bugle is phonetically similar to breegull.

Appearance

Kazooie is a red-orange bird. She has yellow feathers, green eyes, brown and yellow feet, long chicken like yellow legs, white toe nails, and a sharp beak with an orange tip. There is a tuft of feathers that sticks up on its head.

Personality

In contrast to Banjo's personality, Kazooie is a wisecracking, obnoxious, sassy, cheeky, hot-tempered, slightly egotistic, tell-it-like-it-is loudmouth and "teen" bird, with Banjo sometimes having to scold her for being rude and tactless. This could be because almost everyone that she has met had insulted her in some way. Bottles, for example, called her a 'strange friend' and asked Banjo if she could talk and Mumbo Jumbo called her the 'filthy feathered one'. This could also be why Banjo and Kazooie are such great friends since Banjo hardly ever insults anyone (and if he does he usually apologizes). In some cases, she also can express sarcasm, such as her interactions with Salty Joe, where she claimed she and Banjo had to "fight their way" through a crowd of customers when there weren't any customers besides themselves present in response to his claim that he was a busy guy.

Kazooie likes adventuring (something which Banjo doesn’t normally do) and saving the world while she hates boredom, Banjo's lack of an attitude and facing backwards. During screensaver mode in Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, Kazooie will suddenly poke her head out the backpack and peck at Banjo's head for the fun of it. In both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo Tooie, half the time Banjo might get irritated by this and wring her by the neck, choking her momentarily without doing any damage. Obviously, this may resolve that Kazooie is a bit of a prankster.

Despite Kazooie's foulmouthed rudeness, she never insults Banjo at all. Being best friends and both with different personalities, it's obvious that she respects him greatly and will stop insulting upon Banjo's words, proving her loyalty to him, however she insults everyone and always make trouble. She also seems to have a soft spot for children, such as calling Terry heartless after he told her she can kill fourth terrydactyl baby after Kazooie hatched it, or when she says "Cool, a little alien baby" when she meets Gamette on icy side of Hailfire Peaks. Despite all her flaws, Kazooie still has a good heart, always willing to help those in need (Provided that it has something to do with the adventure) and she has a strong sense of justice. She hates evil, like Gruntilda, and takes pleasure in defeating enemies.

Abilities

As with Banjo, Kazooie learns most of her moves from either Bottles, Jamjars or Bozzeye, depending on the game. Kazooie has the ability to fly, run up steep slopes via Talon Trot, fire eggs from her beak and behind, peck at enemies and other targets, gain temporary invincibility via Wonderwing, and whack enemies with her wings via Wing Whack.

In Banjo-Tooie, Kazooie's standalone abilities are demonstrated while she and Banjo are apart, such as hatching an egg. If the duo bring a Mega Glowbo to Humba Wumba, Kazooie can transform into a dragon.

In Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Banjo and Kazooie's abilities were taken by L.O.G., who instead puts them on a journey of them constructing and driving vehicles. Kazooie stays in Banjo's backpack for the whole adventure. She carries a magical wrench, Mumbo's Wrench, which she can smack Gruntbots with, carry objects, and turn pipes. She also carries it in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing with Banjo-Kazooie.

Career

According to Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge, Kazooie was originally discovered by Banjo on Breegull Beach inside the blue backpack one day. For whatever reason, the two became friends at some point after that and Kazooie lived an annoyingly-quiet life with Banjo and his sister Tooty for an unknown period of time.

In 1998, Kazooie finally convinced Banjo to go out on an adventure somewhere, although Banjo insisted on taking Tooty along as well. Kazooie got her wish when Gruntilda captured Tooty, forcing a rescue operation. Kazooie thoroughly enjoyed learning cool moves and witch-bashing, although having to deal with Bottles, Mumbo Jumbo and Banjo's constant desire to help everyone was a constant pain in the butt to her. Eventually, Grunty was buried and Tooty saved.

A few months afterward, Klungo devised a plan for Grunty to escape her rock prison and go back in time, preventing Banjo and Kazooie from ever meeting. Kazooie was taken back in time by Mecha-Grunty in order to prevent her past self from meeting up with Banjo. Luckily, Banjo followed Grunty and, with help from Mumbo and Bottles' ancestor, rescued Kazooie. The two of them proceeded to beat Grunty and restore the timeline.

Convinced that they had not seen the last of Gruntilda, Kazooie insisted that she and Banjo continue practicing their moves and refining their abilities. In 2000, her instincts proved correct when Gruntilda's sisters Mingella and Blobbelda rescued her and destroyed Banjo's House in the process, killing Bottles. Kazooie was instantly pumped to get off on another adventure and, while Bottles' brother Jamjars was every bit as annoying to her as Bottles himself was, she learned to separate from Banjo and lay the hurt on the witch's minions herself. After defeating Grunty a second time and reviving everyone who died, the duo went into "rest mode" once more.

Kazooie became available in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on September 4th 2019 as the fourth DLC playable character (third in the Fighter Pass), alongside Banjo.

Biography

Kazooie is a red-crested breegull who lives in Banjo's backpack, and stays in it most of the time.

Banjo-Kazooie

Kazooie first appears in Banjo-Kazooie. In the prologue, Tooty wants to go on an adventure with Banjo, which Kazooie also wants to do. When Gruntilda kidnaps Tooty, Kazooie anxiously tries to wake up Banjo, and they start their adventure to rescue Tooty.

Bottles teaches moves to both Banjo and Kazooie along the way. Kazooie has an essential role during the adventure, as she learns to fire eggs, reach higher areas, and fly in the air. Kazooie is rude to most of the characters, especially Bottles, and calls them insulting nicknames.

Grunty's Revenge

Mecha-Grunty kidnapping Kazooie in the Grunty's Revenge intro.

In Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge, Mecha-Grunty kidnaps Kazooie and goes back in time, hoping to stop Banjo and Kazooie from ever meeting. During his adventure, Banjo finds Kazooie imprisoned behind bars in Breegull Beach. After battling Mecha-Grunty, Banjo frees Kazooie, and they reunite for the rest of their adventure. As a duo, Banjo and Kazooie managed to defeat Mecha-Grunty and restore the timeline.

At one point, it is revealed that Banjo and Kazooie met on Breegull Beach, where he found her inside a blue backpack.

Banjo-Tooie

Solo artwork from Banjo-Tooie

In the prologue for Banjo-Tooie, Kazooie is playing poker with Banjo, Bottles, and Mumbo Jumbo in Banjo's House. Kazooie is losing, so tricks Bottles by alerting him that she can see Gruntilda outside. While Bottles looks outside the window, Kazooie steals his poker chips. Later, when Gruntilda fired a magical spell at Banjo's House, everyone escaped except Bottles. Kazooie was inadvertently responsible for Bottles' death because when they alerted him about Gruntilda, he thought they were tricking him again.

During the adventure, Kazooie resumes her rivalry with Bottles via Jamjars. Kazooie often breaks the fourth wall with quotes such as, "We'll have this game finished in no time." Banjo and Kazooie gain the ability to separate once they learn the Split-Up technique. Kazooie has less health than Banjo when she is outside of his backpack. She can run faster, jump higher, and has the ability to hatch eggs. Kazooie's technique, the Wing Whack, allows her to hit foes with her wings. While Kazooie is moving or is in midair, she twirls with her wings spread out.

Banjo and Kazooie manage to defeat Gruntilda once more and spend the next eight years a lazy lifestyle.

Banjo-Pilot

In Banjo-Pilot, Kazooie is a playable character and is available from the start, having low top speed, average acceleration and high handling. Being a standalone racer, Kazooie is separate from Banjo for the whole game (the game's tagline even references Kazooie by saying, "Bear no longer needs a bird to fly!"). Kazooie is the boss of Honeycomb Cup, being fought at the end in the match "Kazooie Klash." During the battle, when Kazooie is flying in front, she drops behind Clockwork Kazooie Egg that act like Single Blue Ice Eggs.

Nuts & Bolts

Kazooie playing Hero Klungo Sssavesss Teh World on her Xbox 360 during the introduction sequence of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.

In Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Kazooie, like Banjo, has become lazy and fat from years of inactivity. In the game's introduction, Kazooie is shown playing Xbox 360 with Banjo. When Gruntilda's head shows up and challenges the duo again, Kazooie prepares to fight alongside Banjo. Just before they can fight, an omnipotent entity named L.O.G. intervenes by pausing the game. He creates a vehicle-based journey for Banjo and Kazooie against Gruntilda.

The duo is then given their first vehicle and sent to Showdown Town, after which Kazooie is made the official keeper of the magic wrench that L.O.G. awards them to assist them in their journey. Kazooie can use it at any time to pick up various items, or to magically summon their vehicle if it is out of reach. At the end of the game, she defeats Gruntilda once again with the help of Banjo, and is made the co-owner of Spiral Mountain as a result.

Other appearances

Kazooie is mentioned in the Diddy Kong Racing instruction booklet, before her first appearance in a video game. In Banjo's character description, the manual alludes to her future adventures in Banjo-Kazooie, suggesting that Diddy Kong Racing took place before the events of it.

Kazooie appeared in the N-Gang comic "N-Gang vs. Nintendo," where she played on the same soccer camp team with Banjo, Wario, Yoshi, Peach, Donkey Kong, and Lanky Kong. Mario refereed the match. Kazooie remained in Banjo's backpack for the entire match.

In Mario Artist: Paint Studio, two artworks of Banjo and Kazooie appear as premade images that can be generated and edited.

Kazooie, along with Banjo, make a cameo appearance in the selection menu for Conker's Bad Fur Day and Conker: Live & Reloaded. When selecting the chapters, Kazooie's head is used for an umbrella handle in the background.

In Grabbed by the Ghoulies, a monstrous version of Kazooie's head, labeled "Breegull," appears in the Trophy Room of Ghoulhaven Hall.

In Viva Piñata and Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise, there are several references to Kazooie. In the description of Bottles' Glasses, it is stated that Kazooie once sold it to Paper Pets, causing more to be made and the product to be highly sought after. Eventually, Bottles appeared and bought one himself. Piñatas can also wear "Kazooie Talons," and in both games plus Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise a statue of Banjo and Kazooie holding a Jiggy called "Bird and Bear Statue" can be placed on the garden. In Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise specifically, Kazooie's head appears in a mountain on the background alongside Banjo's

In #IDARB, Banjo and Kazooie appear as playable characters. They are available in the "Rare Ltd." pack.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing with Banjo-Kazooie

Banjo and Kazooie are playable characters in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing with Banjo-Kazooie for the Xbox 360. In it, Kazooie heard rumors of a racing tournament starring a blue hedgehog. Kazooie helped Banjo fix up the Bolt Bucket and join in the race against Sonic and friends.

When achieving All-Star-Move, Kazooie swings the Magic Wrench in the air to summon the Jiggy Rain.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Banjo and Kazooie were released as the third DLC character for Fighters Pass, and the fourth DLC character overall. This is the first game since Banjo-Pilot where Banjo and Kazooie appear on a Nintendo system.

Statistics and flavor text

Banjo-Kazooie

• Manual profile: "Unlikely as the partnership may seem, Banjo and Kazooie have been firmest friends since the day they met. Red Crested Breegulls are notorious loudmouths, but at least there's plenty truth behind Kazooie's boasts—she and Banjo together make an extraordinary team."

Banjo-Tooie

• Manual profile: "The Red Crested Breegull is the attacking force behind the formidable bear and bird partnership, but steady Banjo makes too many sensible decisions for her liking. Kazooie can't wait to see what trouble she can get into once free of his backpack!"

Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge

• Manual profile: "All Banjo's sharp-tongued pal wants to do is get back together with her partner — then our favorite Breegull would ensure that the mad hag didn't have the last laugh!"

Banjo-Pilot

• Top Speed: 2/5
• Acceleration: 3/5
• Handling: 4/5
• Manual profile: "Banjo's noisy Breegull partner, reluctantly accepting her flight limitations and hopping into a plane like everyone else."

Viva Piñata

• Bird and Bear Statue description: "This statue comes with a warranty - 'Guaranteed to keep witches at bay'. That isn't much of a promise, when was the last time you saw a witch? Oh, I see, that means it's already working."

Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise

• Kazooie Talons description: "This is one bird whose claws should always be welcome!"
• Bird and Bear Statue description: "This statue comes with a warranty - 'Guaranteed to keep witches at bay'. That isn't much of a promise, when was the last time you saw a witch? Oh, I see, that means it's already working."

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

• Manual profile: "The wisecracking breegull Kazooie is back, and while she's lost her gift of flight, she has gained the fabulously powerful wrench L.O.G. gave her. She also retains her feathers, beak, wings, and other general bird-like properties."

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing with Banjo-Kazooie

• • Manual profile (shared with Banjo): "Banjo, the heroic Honey Bear, and Kazooie, the wisecracking red Breegull will race on their weird and wonderful wheels. Can the duo outperform Sonic and friends for the checkered flag?"
• In-game profile (shared with Banjo):
  • Species: Honey Bear
  • 1st appearance: Diddy Kong Racing (1997)
  • Likes: Kazooie
  • Skills: Plays the banjo
  • Vehicle: Bolt Bucket
  • All-Star Move: Jiggy Rain
  • Description: "Banjo and Kazooie are an adventurous bear and bird duo, always on hand to thwart the schemes of their nemesis, the rhyming hag Gruntilda.

Banjo himself is a big, amiable Honey Bear, polite and well-mannered—in stark contrast to the Red-Crested Breegull Kazooie who lives in his backpack. Loud, sarcastic and rude, Kazooie's inability to keep her beak shut often lands the pair in trouble...

Together they race in the Bolt Bucket, a quirky vehicle custom-built by their longstanding ally (and a real wizard in the garage) Mumbo Jumbo."

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

• Spirit (shared with Banjo):

Name	Image	Series / game	Type	Class	Strength / effect(s)	How to obtain	Spirit battle
							Opponent(s)	Battle conditions	Stage	Song
Banjo & Kazooie		Banjo-Kazooie Series	Fighter	N/A	N/A	Classic Mode as Banjo & Kazooie	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

• Website profile (shared with Banjo): "The missing piece of the puzzle is found as Banjo & Kazooie join Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a playable fighter! With Banjo’s bare hands to bruise rivals up close and Kazooie’s egg-cellent shooting skills, your rivals will be singing the blues in no time. For their Final Smash, these perfect partners call upon a flock of Jinjos and the Mighty Jinjonator to deal the final blow to any “feeble jerk” that may stand in their way!"
• amiibo (shared with Banjo): "The stars of the classic Banjo-Kazooie series, this bear and bird duo enjoyed great critical acclaim on their quests to stop the evil witch Gruntilda, while earning the support of a generation of gamers."

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Kazooie.

• 

  Banjo-Kazooie

• 

  Banjo-Tooie

• 

  Banjo-Pilot

Icons

• BK Kazooie icon.png

  Nintendo 64 games

• 

  Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge

• 

  Xbox Live Arcade remakes

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Chinese	阿卡	A Ka
Dutch	Kazooie	-
French	Kazooie	-
German	Kazooie	-
Italian	Kazooie	-
Japanese	カズーイ Kazui	Kazooie
Korean	카주이 Kajui	Kazooie
Russian	Казуи Kazui	Kazooie
Spanish	Kazooie	-

Trivia

• Kazooie was introduced to later Nintendo 64 builds of Dream: Land of Giants; her name was originally Kazoo during this development.
• In a pre-release screenshot of Donkey Kong 64, there is a shower stall in DK's Tree House depicting both Banjo and Kazooie's heads on the curtains. The shower stall and their cameo was removed in the final release.
• In the ending for Banjo-Kazooie, when Mumbo shows pictures of Stop 'n' Swop items to the duo, Kazooie remarks "Hey, why isn't it called 'Banjo-Kazooie-Tooie'? I'd better be in it too!."
• In Banjo-Kazooie, if the player holds while Kazooie is talking, she talks faster, making her voice considerably higher in pitch. If done enough times, Kazooie's voice stays high pitched regardless of whether the player is holding . In Banjo-Tooie, although it is possible to speed up Kazooie's voice, it does not remain high-pitched.
• During the "To Boldly Go... Anywhere" challenge of the Terrarium of Terror's fourth Act in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Banjo mentions that Kazooie's favorite film is titled "The Phantom Meanies," although she doesn't like telling others that fact.
• Kazooie once won the "Who'd Get You The Best Secret Santa Prezzie?" contest hosted by Rare Ltd.'s official Twitter account. Because of that, designer Gregg Mayles described her Secret Santa present by saying she "would wrap herself up, then burst from the paper, screeching and flapping her wings before giving the lucky recipient a playful peck or three. Then she’d laugh about it until her next chance to do something mischievous."