Vulpix and Ninetales facts for kids

Vulpix and Ninetales are two famous fictional creatures from the Pokémon world. In Japan, Vulpix is known as Rokon, and Ninetales is Kyukon. These Pokémon are linked because Vulpix can evolve into Ninetales. To make Vulpix evolve, it needs to be exposed to a special item called a Fire Stone. However, if you have an Alolan Vulpix, it needs an Ice Stone to evolve.

Both Vulpix and Ninetales were created by Ken Sugimori. They first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue. Since then, they have been in many other Pokémon games, toys, and cartoons. They are both known as the Fox Pokémon.

Meet Vulpix and Ninetales

Vulpix and Ninetales are both known as the Fox Pokémon. They are also both Fire-type Pokémon and have many tails!

All About Vulpix

When the Pokémon games were translated for players outside Japan, Nintendo wanted to give the Pokémon names that were easy to understand. The name Vulpix comes from "vulpus," which is the Latin word for fox.

Vulpix looks like a fox and has six curled tails. It is based on a Japanese fox spirit called a kitsune. When Vulpix is born, it only has one white tail. As it grows, this tail splits into more tails and turns red. Most Vulpix are female. They are famous for their beautiful fur and tails.

Vulpix has a flame inside its body. If it gets too hot outside, Vulpix lets out fire from its mouth to cool down. It can control this fire and even make it fly like a will-o'-wisp. In the wild, Vulpix might pretend to be hurt to escape from bigger, stronger Pokémon.

Did you know there was an idea for a "baby" version of Vulpix? It was called Trifox and was planned for the 1999 video games Pokémon Red and Green. However, Trifox was removed from the games before they were released. In an early version of Pokémon Gold and Silver from 1997, Trifox was even a Water-type Pokémon, which is different from Vulpix and Ninetales, who are Fire-types.

All About Ninetales

Ninetales is a golden-white fox with nine tails. It is also based on the kitsune, a Japanese fox spirit. The Kyūbi, which are powerful spirits that can change their shape, were a big inspiration for Ninetales. Its name comes from its nine tails and old Japanese stories.

A print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi showing a nine-tailed fox, which helped inspire Ninetales.

This fox-like Pokémon has thick, soft, golden-white fur. It has a fluffy crest on its head and a similar ruff around its neck. Ninetales has bright red eyes that are said to give it the power to control minds. Its nine tails hold strange, magical powers that let it live for 1000 years!

Ninetales are very smart Pokémon and can understand what humans say. They can also be very protective. Legends say that Ninetales can curse those who treat them badly for 1000 years. One old story says that Ninetales was born when nine saints (holy people) came together and became this Pokémon.

Where Vulpix and Ninetales Appear

In the Video Games

Vulpix and Ninetales first appeared in Pokémon Red and Blue. In Blue, you could catch Vulpix without needing to trade with another player. They have been in every main Pokémon game since then, including remakes like Pokémon Yellow and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.

Outside of the main games, Vulpix and Ninetales have appeared in many other Pokémon titles. These include Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Trozei!, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, the Pokémon Ranger games, Pokémon Rumble, and PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. Vulpix and its Alolan form also show up in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as items from Poké Balls and as Spirits.

Vulpix also appears in Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Puzzle League, and Pokémon Channel. It can be a starter or partner Pokémon in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team, Ninetales plays a big role in the story. It was said that Ninetales put a curse on a human, turning them into a Pokémon, which caused many natural disasters. The player character is blamed for this. They travel to Ninetales' home on Mt. Freeze to find out the truth. Ninetales later appears when Gengar (who was the real cursed human) wants to fix his mistakes.

Ninetales has also made a quick appearance in Pokkén Tournament and Pokkén Tournament DX as a support Pokémon.

In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Vulpix and Ninetales have special Alolan Forms. Alolan Vulpix is an Ice-type Pokémon, and Alolan Ninetales is an Ice/Fairy-type Pokémon.

In Other Media

Vulpix has appeared often in the first season of the Pokémon anime. It was one of Brock's Pokémon. A girl named Suzy gave it to him because she felt Brock could take better care of it. Brock later returned Vulpix to Suzy.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga, a Fire-type Pokémon Trainer named Kiaraway owns a female Vulpix. She is one of his most used Pokémon. In Pokémon Adventures, Flannery owns a Vulpix. Bill also has a Vulpix in the Yellow chapter. In Pokémon Battle Frontier, the main character, Enta, has a strong and loyal Vulpix.

Ninetales first appeared in the anime in an episode called Beauty and the Breeder. A friend of Suzy's named Zane had a Ninetales and used it in a Pokémon breeding contest. In another episode, Just Waiting On A Friend, a very old Ninetales became friends with Brock. This Ninetales could create many illusions. Other Ninetales have also appeared, like one used by Blaine to battle Ash.

In Season 20: Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, in Episode 14, an Alolan Vulpix hatched from an egg found on Mount Lanakila. Lillie caught this Vulpix and used it to fight Team Rocket. After this, Lillie started to get over her fear of touching Pokémon because she could touch Vulpix. Also, a normal Vulpix hatched from an egg that Ash brought to Alola. This Vulpix is now cared for by his cousin, Principal Samson Oak.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Red and Blue both tried to catch the same Ninetales. Magma Admin Courtney uses a Ninetales as her main battle Pokémon. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team, the curse that Ninetales can create is a very important part of the story.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Pokémon de la primera generación para niños