| Ninetales | |
|---|---|
| Pokémon character | |
 | |
| First game | Pokémon Red and Blue (1996) |
| Created by | Atsuko Nishida[1] |
| Designed by | Atsuko Nishida (original)[2] Ken Sugimori (finalized)[3] |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Pokémon |
| Type | Fire Ice/Fairy (Alolan) |
Ninetales (/ˈnaɪnteɪlz/), known in Japan as Kyukon (Japanese: キュウコン), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. First introduced in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue, it evolves from the Pokémon Vulpix, both having the Fire type and only being available in Blue without trading. Since Ninetales' debut, it has appeared in multiple games including Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, as well as media related to the franchise, including an episode of the TV series focusing on Ninetales. In Pokémon Sun and Moon, a new variant of Vulpix and Ninetales are introduced as part of a form called "Alolan," referring to the region Alola featured in the game. Both Pokémon change Fire for Ice type, and Ninetales also gains a Fairy type upon evolving from Vulpix.
Both forms of Ninetales have received generally positive reception, with commendation for its usability in gameplay and visual design being commonly cited. It has also been discussed in the context of mythology, particularly fox spirits, with multiple critics discussing the episode and how it relates to this mythology, as well as comparing it to the mythological story of Tamamo-no-Mae.
- ^ Kuroda, Takanori. グラフィックデザイナー・イラストレーター にしだあつこ対談 [A Conversation With Graphic Designer and Illustrator Atsuko Nishida]. Fun's Project (in Japanese). p. 2. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
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