Tails (Sonic the Hedgehog) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids TailsMiles Prower |
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| Sonic the Hedgehog character | |
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| First appearance | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) |
| Created by | Yasushi Yamaguchi |
| Designed by | Yasushi Yamaguchi (Sonic the Hedgehog 2) Yuji Uekawa (Sonic Adventure) |
| Voiced by |
Russi Taylor (1992) (AoStH, unaired pilot)
Christopher Stephen Welch (1993) (AoStH) Bradley Pierce (1993–1994) (SatAM) Chris Turner (1996) (Sonic Christmas Blast) Lainie Frasier (1999) Corey Bringas (1999–2000) Connor Bringas (2001) Amy Palant (2003–2010) William Corkery (2004) Kate Higgins (2010–2013, 2021) Colleen O'Shaughnessey (2014–present) Alicyn Packard (2022; Sonic Drone Home) Ashleigh Ball (Sonic Prime) Nariko Fujieda (1994–1996)
Hekiru Shiina (1996) Kazuki Hayashi (1998) Atsuki Murata (2000–2001) Ryō Hirohashi (2003–present) Takuto Yoshinaga (Classic Tails, 2011) |
| Information | |
| Species | Fox |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation |
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| Origin | Cocoa Island |
| Age | 8 |
| Weight | 20 kg (44 lb) |
Miles Prower (Japanese: マイルス パウアー, Hepburn: Mairusu Pauā), better known as his nickname Tails (テイルス, Teirusu), is a popular character from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series. He is a young, two-tailed fox who is best friends with Sonic. His full name, "Miles Prower," is a fun play on words for "miles per hour," which fits perfectly with Sonic's super speed.
Tails is not just a sidekick; he's a brilliant inventor and a skilled pilot. He can fly by spinning his two tails like a helicopter rotor, which is how he got his nickname. He first appeared in November 1992 in the game Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Tails has also starred in his own games, comic books, cartoons, and movies. In 2009, Sega held a poll where fans voted Tails as the third most popular character in the Sonic series!
Contents
How Tails Was Created
Designing a Sidekick
Yasushi Yamaguchi, who was a main artist and designer for Sega's Sonic Team, created Tails. He designed Tails for a special contest to find a sidekick for Sonic. The idea for Tails came from a kitsune, which is a fox-like creature from Japanese stories that can grow many tails over time. Yamaguchi wanted Tails to really look up to Sonic.
Choosing a Name
Yamaguchi's design won the contest. Sega of Japan wanted to name the character "Miles Prower." This name was a clever joke based on "per hour." However, Sega of America, the company's branch in America, liked the nickname "Tails" more.
To convince the Japanese team, Sega of America made up a cool backstory for the character. In the end, they found a good compromise. "Miles Prower" became Tails' real name, and "Tails" became his well-known nickname. This is why his full name is Miles "Tails" Prower.
Tails' First Appearances
Tails first showed up as Sonic's partner in the second Sonic game. He has been an important character ever since. At first, players couldn't control his flying. But in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, players could finally control Tails' flight. This made him even more unique and fun to play.
Tails' New Look
For the game Sonic Adventure, Tails got a new look, just like other Sonic characters. His fur changed from orange to a brighter yellow color. He also got blue irises in his eyes. In some early American comics and cartoons, Tails was dark brown. But artists later changed his color to match his look in the video games.
Who Voices Tails?
Many talented voice actors have brought Tails to life over the years. In Japan, Ryō Hirohashi has been his voice since 2003. In English, Colleen O'Shaughnessey has voiced Tails since 2014. She voices him in the games, the Sonic Boom TV show, and the live-action movies. Other actors like Amy Palant and Kate Higgins also voiced him for many years before her.
Tails' Personality and Skills
A Kind and Clever Fox
Tails is known for being a very kind, friendly, and humble fox. Before he met Sonic, other characters sometimes made fun of him because of his two tails. But Sonic saw how special Tails was and encouraged him. Because of this, Tails really looks up to Sonic and wants to be just like him.
Even though he can be a bit shy, Tails is brave when it counts. He wants to prove he can help. He has even fought against Dr. Eggman and his robots by himself. Tails loves to tinker with machines and enjoys flying his planes. He is also a big fan of mint candy!
Tails' Amazing Abilities
Tails is a mechanical genius. Some say his skills with machines are almost as good as Dr. Eggman's! He hasn't even reached his full potential yet. He is also an excellent pilot. He uses his special biplane, called the "Tornado," to help Sonic on their adventures.
His most famous ability is flying by spinning his two tails like a helicopter rotor. This lets him keep up with Sonic. However, flying this way makes him tired quickly, which is why he often uses his planes. Unlike Sonic, Tails can also swim! Tails can even turn into Super Tails, a super-powered form, when he has enough power from special emeralds.
Tails in Games and Movies
Video Game Adventures
Tails first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in 1992 as Sonic's loyal sidekick. Players could control him with a second controller. In Sonic Chaos (1993), players could finally control Tails' flight, which changed how the game was played.
In Sonic 3 (& Knuckles), Tails gained the ability to pick up Sonic and fly him to new areas. He could also swim underwater, something Sonic can't do. Tails even starred in his own games, like Tails' Skypatrol and Tails Adventure, where he was the main hero.
Tails has been a playable character or a helper in many Sonic games. In Sonic Adventure, he was one of six playable characters. In Sonic Adventure 2, he fought enemies from inside his "Cyclone" mech. He often helps Sonic and his friends, like carrying them in Sonic Heroes.
Tails also appears in the Mario & Sonic sports games and racing games like Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. In Sonic Generations, Tails helps both Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic defeat the Time Eater. In Sonic Lost World, Tails shows his amazing smarts by outsmarting the Deadly Six villains. He is also a playable character in the popular game Sonic Mania.
Tails in Other Stories
Tails is a main character in many Sonic cartoons, including Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic X, and Sonic Boom. He also appeared in the 1996 Sonic the Hedgehog animated movie.
Tails made a surprise appearance at the end of the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog film. He came through a ring portal to Earth, looking for Sonic. This was a hint that he would have a bigger role in the next movie.
In the movie Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Tails is a main character. He is voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey, just like in the games. In the movie, Tails was lonely on his home planet because of his two tails. But he became a big fan of Sonic after seeing his bravery. Tails travels to Earth to warn Sonic about Knuckles and helps Sonic find the Master Emerald. He uses his flight and cool gadgets to assist Sonic. By the end of the movie, Tails, Sonic, and Knuckles team up to save the world and become a new family with Sonic's adoptive parents.
See also
In Spanish: Miles «Tails» Prower para niños
