Shang Tsung facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shang Tsung |
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| Mortal Kombat character | |
Shang Tsung by John Tobias
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| First appearance | Mortal Kombat (1992) |
| Created by | Ed Boon John Tobias |
| Designed by | John Tobias |
| Portrayed by |
Various
Richard Divizio (MKM:SZ)
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (1995 film, Legacy) Bruce Locke (Conquest) James Lew (Rebirth) Johnson Phan (Legacy) Chin Han (2021 film) |
| Voiced by |
Various
Ed Boon (MK)
Jim Cummings (The Journey Begins) Neil Ross (Defenders of the Realm) Christian Munoz (MK:D) Knute Horowitz (MK:A) James Kyson (MKvsDCU) Andrew Kishino (2011 game) Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (MK11) Artt Butler (Scorpion's Revenge, Battle of the Realms, Snow Blind) Alan Lee (MK1) |
| Motion capture |
Various
Ho-Sung Pak (MK)
Phillip Ahn (MKII) John Turk (MK3, UMK3) Chris Bashen (MKvsDCU) Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (MK11) |
| Information | |
| Origin | Earthrealm; Outworld |
Shang Tsung is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat games for video game consoles. He first appeared as the main antagonist of Mortal Kombat (1992).
He debuted as the final boss in the original 1992 game and has remained one of the franchise's primary villains. A powerful sorcerer, he is principally defined by his abilities to shapeshift into other characters and to absorb the souls of defeated warriors. Shang Tsung is usually portrayed as the right-hand man of Outworld emperor Shao Kahn and the archenemy of Shaolin monk Liu Kang. He also appeared as the main villain of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002), alongside Quan Chi as the eponymous Deadly Alliance, and Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath (2020).
The character has appeared in various media outside of the games, including as the main villain of the 1995 film and the 2021 film. He has received a positive reception for his design, abilities, and role in the series.
Shang Tsung's design varies throughout the series. The initial history of the character was explained in the 1992 Midway-produced comic book based on the original MK game, in which he was the first-ever Mortal Kombat (then the Shaolin Tournament) champion over 500 years ago from the date of the then-current tournament depicted in the actual game, yet he was stricken with a curse that forced him to consume the souls of his defeated opponents in order to keep his youth. The book cited his "failure to appease the gods" as the reason for his premature aging to a withered old man, but he was noticeably younger in Mortal Kombat II, in which Shao Kahn had restored Shang Tsung's youth and powers as part of his plan to take over Earthrealm by luring Liu Kang and his fellow Earth warriors into Outworld for the next MK tournament. His actor in the sequel changed to Phillip Ahn, turning from the original game's Ho-Sung Pak.
Other media
Shang Tsung is the antagonist in Mortal Kombat, where he is played by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa.
Shang Tsung is also the villain of the animated film Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins, voiced by Jim Cummings. In this version, he is portrayed as having the ability to read his opponent's thoughts during the battle (an ability that was not present in the game series), allowing him to predict their attacks and adapt his own strategy to exploit the opponent's greatest weakness.
Shang Tsung appeared in several episodes of the animated series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, voiced by Neil Ross. In the 2015 Mortal Kombat X prequel comics published by DC Comics, in which he has not appeared, his island is described as having been taken over by Reiko and Havik following his death.
In the Mortal Kombat: Konquest TV series, Shang Tsung was portrayed by Bruce Locke as a sorcerer eager to take revenge on the Great Kung Lao, who had defeated him in Mortal Kombat.
Shang Tsung appears briefly in the short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, portrayed by James Lew, and in the third episode of the web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy, played by Johnson Phan. Tagawa reprised his role from the first movie for the second season as successfully luring Liu Kang over to Outworld.
Shang Tsung appears in the animated film Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge and the sequel Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms. Voice actor Artt Butler compared Shang Tsung with the Star Wars villain Darth Vader due to how powerful he is yet he is still serving Shao Khan.
Chin Han portrays Shang Tsung in the 2021 reboot film Mortal Kombat.
Images for kids
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"Shang Lao's" design and story in John Tobias' sketchbook (1990)
See also
In Spanish: Shang Tsung para niños
