Vulpix

Vulpix
National Pokédex Clefable - Vulpix (#037) - Ninetales
Series	Pokémon series
First game	Pokémon Red and Blue
Designed by	Ken Sugimori

Vulpix, known in Japan as Rokon (ロコン^?) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Vulpix evolves into Ninetales when exposed to a special item. Created by Ken Sugimori, they first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and later appear in subsequent sequels, various merchandise, spinoff titles, and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. It is known as the Fox Pokémon.

Concept and characteristics

Nintendo decided to give the various Pokémon species "clever and descriptive names" related to their appearance or features when translating the game for western audiences as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children.^[1] It was originally going to be named Foxfire in the English versions until Nintendo of America settled with Vulpix, which is based on "vulpus", the Latin word for fox.^[2]

Vulpix, known as Fox Pokémon, is a fox-like creature with six curled tails, based on the Japanese fox spirit kitsune. From birth, Vulpox starts out with only one tail, which is white in color; this tail splits apart as it grows and turns red.^[3][4] Most commonly female, Vulpix are especially known for having beautiful fur and tails.^[5] Vulpix have a flame in their bodies, which when the temperature outside increases, they let out of their mouths to prevent their body temperature from getting too hot.^[6] They can control this fire, and make them fly like will-o-wisps.^[7] In the wild, Vulpix will feign injury to escape from more powerful predators.^[8]

Appearances

In the video games

Vulpix first appeared in Pokémon Red and Blue, though it was only obtainable in Blue without trading. It has since appeared in every main Pokémon title since, including remakes of the original games including Pokémon Yellow and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Outside of the main titles, it appears in the Pokémon Pinball titles, Pokémon Trozei!, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon titles, the Pokémon Ranger titles, Pokémon Rumble,PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, Pokémon Snap, and Pokémon Channel. Vulpix is a starter/partner in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.

In other media

During the first season of the Pokémon anime, Vulpix appears often as one of Brock's Pokémon. It is given to him by a girl named Suzy who feels she cannot take care of it as well as Brock could. Brock later meets up with Suzy in Johto and returns it to her. In Magical Pokémon Journey, Kiaraway, a Fire-type Pokémon Trainer, owns a female Vulpix. She is one of his most used Pokémon, first appearing with Cyndaquil. In Pokémon Adventures, Flannery owns a Vulpix that she used to battle Shelly's Ludicolo, but only succeeded in sealing its Nature Power attack before fainting. Years earlier, in the Yellow chapter, Bill also has a Vulpix, which is beaten easily by Green's Blastoise. In Pokémon Battle Frontier, the main character, Enta, has a powerful and loyal Vulpix.

Reception

IGN's Kristine, while playing Pokémon, was driven by her desire to own a Vulpix.^[9] IGN described Vulpix as "one of the most adorable things you've ever seen", arguing that they felt the character was cuter than series icon Pikachu.^[10] IGN wrote that it was deceptively "cute and harmless" but became more powerful when it evolved. They added however that it doesn't "show its worth" at lower levels.^[2] IGN's Pokémon Chick called Vulpix "second place" for her and cited examples such as being second to Rapidash as a Fire type Pokémon, second to Cubone as an unevolved Pokémon, and second to Onix in terms of Pokémon owned by Brock in the anime. However, she noted that this was not an insult and that she intended to raise it to level 100 because it is "too cute to pass up".^[11] Author Loredana Lipperini called it "totally kawaii", as well as "round and graceful".^[12] GamesRadar's Brett Elston called it "undeniably cute" but inferior to Growlithe in terms of Fire type moves; however, he noted that it had more variety in its moves.^[13] Authors Tracey West and Katherine Noll named Vulpix the fifth best Fire type Pokémon and wrote that Vulpix was "cute and cuddly" and "special".^[14] Author Maria S. Barbo wrote that Vulpix had a "cute exterior" which "hides inner strength".^[15]

References

1. ^ Chua-Euan, Howard (November 22, 1999). "PokéMania". TIME. http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/99/1122/cover2.html. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
2. ^ ^{a b} http://guides.ign.com/guides/12045/vulpix.html
3. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Red and Blue. (Nintendo). Game Boy. (1998-09-30) "At the time of birth, it has just one tail. The tail splits from its tip as it grows older."
4. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Gold. (Nintendo). Game Boy Color. (2000-10-15) "As it develops, its single white tail gains color and splits into six. It is quite warm and cuddly."
5. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Yellow. (Nintendo). Game Boy. (1999-10-19) "Both its fur and its tails are beautiful. As it grows, the tails split and form more tails."
6. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Sapphire. (Nintendo). Game Boy Advance. (2003-03-17) "Inside Vulpix's body burns a flame that never goes out. During the daytime, when the temperatures rise, this Pokémon releases flames from its mouth to prevent its body from growing too hot."
7. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Emerald. (Nintendo). Game Boy Advance. (2005-05-01) "It can freely control fire, making fiery orbs fly like will-o'-the-wisps. Just before evolution, its six tails grow hot as if on fire."
8. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Silver. (Nintendo). Game Boy Color. (2000-10-15) "If it is attacked by an enemy that is stronger than itself, it feigns injury to fool the enemy and escapes."
9. ^ http://ds.ign.com/articles/107/1078539p3.html
10. ^ Staff (1999-11-01). "Pokémon of the Day: Vulpix". IGN. IGN Entertainment. http://pocket.ign.com/news/11735.html. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
11. ^ http://faqs.ign.com/articles/379/379699p1.html
12. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=MOQc163-XCcC
13. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/ds/f/the-complete-pokemon-rby-pokedex-part-4/a-20070820133028489035/g-2006100415372930075/p-4
14. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=L9dz4A6HLmYC
15. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=08IRMQAACAAJ