User:Bearsona/Ninetales

Ninetales (キュウコン) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Ninetales first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise.

Known as the Fox Pokémon, Ninetales are very vengeful and have been known to curse those who mistreat them for 1000 years. This is central in the plot of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, and it's various spin-off manga series. Ninetales also appears in various roles in the anime and Pokémon Adventures manga. Ninetales has had generally positive reception, some saying it is "particularly powerful", while others say it just has visual appeal.

Design and characteristics
Ninetales was designed by series artist Ken Sugimori. The basic design for Ninetales originates from Japanese myth - that of the nine-tailed fox. The Kyūbi (九尾), which held similar powers such as shapeshifting, were the main inspiration for the Pokémon. Ninetale's name was derived from the number of its tails, nine, and the fact that the idea for it came primarily from ancient Japanese tales.

This fox-like Pokémon is covered with a thick, luxurious golden-white fur, with a fluffy crest atop their heads and a similar ruff around their necks. Ninetales have gleaming red eyes that are said to give them the power of mind control. Its nine different tails hold strange, cosmic powers, that let it live for 1,000 years, Ninetales are highly intelligent Pokémon that understand human speech. They are very vengeful and have been known to curse those who mistreat them for 1000 years. Many legends surround this Pokémon, one of which stating that Ninetales was born when 9 saints were united and reincarnated as this Pokémon.

In video games
Ninetales is one of the few Pokémon to appear in all the current generations of Pokémon games, by evolving from a Vulpix, which is available in every region.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Ninetales cast a curse on a human that would turn it into a Pokémon, bringing on many natural disasters. The player is blamed for this and travels to the home of Ninetales at the top of Mt. Freeze to learn the truth. Ninetales later appears when Gengar wishes to right what he did to Gardevoir.

In anime
Ninetails first appeared in the anime in Beauty and the Breeder. A friend of Suzy named Zane had a Ninetales and used it in a Pokémon breeding contest. In Just Waiting On A Friend, a very old Ninetales befriended Brock, who bore a resemblance to her long lost master. This Ninetales created all sorts of illusions, including one of a woman through which it spoke. Many other Ninetails have made minor appearances such as one being used by Blaine to battle Ash in their Gym battle.

In other media
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Red and Blue both tried catching the same Ninetales. In the scuffle for its Poké Ball, Blue managed to grab it first. Magma Admin Courtney uses a Ninetales as her main battler. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team, the curse that Ninetales can conjure is one of the main points of the plot.

Critical reception
IGN called Ninetales "one heck of a Pokemon that too many people tend to overlook" and a surprise "bombshell-dropper". The reviewer continued, exaggerating that Ninetales may be "considered the new god of all that is holy." The Capital Times concurred that Ninetales was "particularly powerful". However, IGN also noted that the character served little purpose until later games beyond looking attractive.

Many reviewers have commented on the perceived aesthetic beauty of Ninetales. IGN claimed that, while Ninetales may not be as cute as other Pokémon in the series, it makes up for this with sheer beauty. Another noted Ninetales primarily for its visual appeal.

Several sources have commented on Ninetale's name, with various reporters calling it "whimsical" and "fanciful". Another IGN reviewer expressed a particular fondness for Ninetales, calling it "elegant". IGN called it one of the most visually impressive Pokémon. IGN editor "Pokémon of the Day Chick" commented that where Ninetales loses Vulpix's cuteness, it has a "sheer beauty" to it.