Miles "Tails" Prower

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This version of the character is the one found in the TV series and video games. For the version found in the Sonic the Hedgehog comics, see Tails (comic character).
Miles "Tails" Prower

Tails is Sonic's faithful sidekick, and a mechanical prodigy.
Game series Sonic the Hedgehog
First game Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Created by Yasushi Yamaguchi
Designed by Yasushi Yamaguchi (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
Yuji Uekawa (Sonic Adventure)
Voiced by (English) Video Games
Corey Bringas
(1999-2001)
William Corkery
(2004)
Amy Palant
(2005-present)
Cartoons
Christopher Evan Welch (AoStH)
Bradley Pierce (SatAM)
Anime
Lainie Fraiser (OVA)
Amy Palant (Sonic X)
Voiced by (Japanese) Video Games
Kazuki Hayashi
(1999)
Atsuki Murata
(2001)
Ryō Hirohashi
(2002-present)
Anime
Hekiru Shiina (OVA)
Ryō Hirohashi (Sonic X)
Information
Nickname Tails, Fox boy (Used by Eggman and Rouge).
Species Fox
Skills Tails Propeller Flight,[1] Machine Tinkering,[2] Flying Mechas,[2] Super Transformation

Miles Prower (マイルス・パウアー Mairusu Pauā?), better known by his nickname Tails (テイルス Teirusu?), is a character in the Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games, comics, and animated series released by Sega.

The name "Miles Prower" is a pun on "miles per hour", a reference to the famed speed of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. He is a young, male, golden-yellow, anthropomorphic fox with two tails (similar to the mythological kitsune, or "youko", which was often depicted with up to nine), hence the nickname. He is able to use his two tails to propel himself into the air like a helicopter for a limited time. His debut was in October 16, 1992, taking part in the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2; the 16-bit version was released that November. He is 8 years old, stands at 80cm (2ft 7in), and weighs 20kg (44lbs).[2]

During his first appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, his fur was an orange color, but the color was changed to yellow-orange for Sonic Adventure, and light-yellow for Sonic Heroes. In 1993 and 1995, he starred in his own games, Tails and the Music Maker for the Pico, Tails Adventure, and Tails' Skypatrol for the Game Gear. Tails is the third most popular character of the series, behind Sonic and Shadow, according to official polls.[3]

Contents

[edit] Conception and creation

Tails's Original Design
Tails's Original Design

Yasushi Yamaguchi, originally the main artist and zone designer for Sega's Sonic Team, designed Tails for an internal competition for a sidekick to the speedy hedgehog. Tails was originally intended to be a tanuki, a strikingly raccoon-like canid native to east Asia, and extremely popular in Japanese folklore. The designers decided to change him to a fox, however, to avoid possible comparisons with another popular game character.[4] His entry won, but Sonic Team decided to change his character's name from "Miles" to "Tails".

Yamaguchi ended up with a compromise. He sneaked the name "Miles" in as his legal name; "Tails" would be his nickname, ending up with the full name of Miles "Tails" Prower.

Tails was redesigned (along with all of the other Sonic characters) by Yuji Uekawa for Sonic Adventure. His fur changed color to a slightly orange shade of yellow, and he gained visible blue irises.

In the American Sonic comic book, along with the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog cartoons, he was originally a brownish color, but the comic artists eventually decided to change this to match his in-game appearance.

[edit] Game appearances

Tails carrying Sonic in Sonic Advance 3.
Tails carrying Sonic in Sonic Advance 3.

Tails was first seen in Sonic 2 for the Game Gear, where he was kidnapped by Robotnik for ransom. He was first made playable in the Genesis version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, playing the part of Sonic's sidekick. He was a playable character from the second controller and could be chosen as player one for the main game. Sonic Chaos (1993), on the Game Gear/Master System was the second game where the player could control Tails, and the first time the player could control his flight.

Tails made his third major appearance in 1994 when Sonic 3 was released, this time acquiring the ability to pick up Sonic and use his tails to fly him to other areas, rotating his tails like a helicopter. He also gained the ability to swim under water, something Sonic has never been able to do.

Tails has also starred in games without Sonic. His first solo game was Tails' Skypatrol, which is a puzzle-like game for the Game Gear released exclusively in Japan. This was followed by Tails Adventures later the same year, which is a Metroid-esque platformer with RPG elements.[5] Tails is also the star of Tails and the Music Maker for the Sega Pico.

Tails's Cyclone, from Sonic Adventure 2.
Tails's Cyclone, from Sonic Adventure 2.

In later games, Tails has had roles that require unique modes of play. For example, in Sonic Adventure, Tails is one of the six playable characters[6] and his gameplay is standard platforming stages, but the goal of each stage is to get to the Chaos Emerald before Sonic, or to the missile dud in the final race against Dr. Eggman.

In the sequel to Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, he is featured in third-person shooting segments, seated in his "Cyclone" mech.[7] This third-person shooter style of play, along with Dr. Eggman's shooting levels in the same game, were very similar to the E-102 Gamma levels of Sonic Adventure.

Tails has appeared either as a playable character or in a supporting role in almost all later Sonic titles. He still often resumes his role flying other characters around, such as in Sonic Heroes, where Tails appears on Team Sonic as their flight-type character, being capable of carrying both Sonic and Knuckles.[8]

He is also seen in the background of Green Hill Zone along with Silver the Hedgehog and Knuckles in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and is also featured as a trophy.

[edit] Comic and TV show appearances

Tails has appeared in three cartoon shows: Sonic the Hedgehog, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, and the anime Sonic X. However, he is absent from Sonic Underground.[9] He has also appeared in several Sonic series comic books.

[edit] Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog

Tails in AoStH and the SatAM show.
Tails in AoStH and the SatAM show.

In Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, he is supposedly significantly younger than in the games; he is "only 4 and a half." In the games, he is eight, and the youngest besides Charmy the Bee and Cream the Rabbit. As with the game canon, his real name is Miles Prower. However, his fur is brown in the cartoon as opposed to orange in the games.

While Tails is indeed useful to Sonic in many situations, he can be a hindrance. Because he is very young and cannot defend himself, he is incredibly susceptible to kidnappings. Sonic appears to know of this flaw and does his best to protect him, but his protection methods are often the reason why Tails gets kidnapped in the first place. He also seems to have a very large appetite, and like Sonic, his favorite food is chilli dogs, but apparently Tails likes extra cheese on his (in the anime and games, his favourite food is mint candy).[10]

[edit] SatAM

Tails's role in the Saturday morning Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon (dubbed SatAM by fans for short) had him in a supporting role, quite low-key compared to the games and Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon series.

Here he was just another inhabitant of the village where the Freedom Fighters lived, and Princess Sally Acorn's protégé.

He became a full member of the Freedom Fighters near the end of Season 2. In the canceled Season 3, it was rumored that his relationship with Sonic would draw closer to that of the video games.

[edit] Sonic the Hedgehog (comic)

Main article: Tails (comic character)

[edit] Sonic the Comic

Tails also appears in the British Sonic the Comic, published by Fleetway.[11] In this series Tails was initially portrayed as a bit of a push-over, who constantly allows Sonic to insult him and gets flustered in dangerous situations. As time went on, Tails became more competent and heroic.

[edit] Sonic X

Tails in Sonic X.
Tails in Sonic X.

Throughout most of the anime series Sonic X, Tails mirrors his game role in various stories and game adaptations, though he often plays a smaller role in the series due to the presence of Chris Thorndyke. He quickly befriends fellow inventor Chuck Thorndyke, who built the X-Tornado jet with him.

In the third season of Sonic X, Tails is the commanding officer of the Blue Typhoon, and over the series develops leadership. Tails becomes attracted to and eventually falls in love with Cosmo, a plant-like female alien introduced during this season. The strength of Tails's love is shown in Episode 73, where Shadow, in an attempt to kill Cosmo, clobbers Sonic, Chris, and Knuckles, but, despite his best efforts, can't manage to get past Tails despite severe beating and threatenings, who is determined to protect Cosmo no matter the cost. He had an emotional breakdown when he was forced to kill Cosmo himself to stop the Metarex after which he received a seed from Sonic which was assumed to be the last remaining part of Cosmo.


[edit] Personality

Miles is a very sweet-natured[1] and humble fox;[12] who, before he met Sonic, used to be picked on because of his two tails.[2] As a long time friend,[1] he admires Sonic[13] and dreams of being just like him.[14] Though he lacks courage,[2] he wants to prove he can be counted on[15]. He loves mint candy,[16] tinkering with machines, and flying mechas.[2] Tails has a fear of thunder[16] and a tendency to ramble, which can sometimes cause him to annoy others or accidentally blurt out secrets or plans (for example, in Sonic Adventure 2, he tells Eggman that the Chaos Emerald Sonic has is a fake, thus ruining the heroes' plans). He tries to help people with their problems, but because he lacks courage, he sometimes makes it worse. He is normally kind to any person, and because of how nice to people he is, without getting mad, he is usually made fun of and called names such as "Shorty," and "Fox Boy."

[edit] Interaction with other characters

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Tails has many friends besides Sonic, and his skills are respected by everyone who knows him. In Sonic Heroes, he is part of Team Sonic, along with Sonic and Knuckles. Tails mostly treats all of his friends the same with a caring yet somewhat passive attitude.

[edit] Sonic the Hedgehog

As mentioned above, Sonic is Tails's best friend and always has been. In one of the Sonic the Comic series, Sonic and Tails got into a fight which escalated to a fistfight and almost ended their friendship. They became friends again, and always have been ever since that day.

[edit] Dr. Eggman

As with Sonic, Tails finds an enemy and intellectual rival in Doctor Eggman. Tails was especially angered in Sonic Adventure 2 when Sonic was supposedly killed in an explosion, only to be found alive outside Space Colony ARK.

[edit] Knuckles the Echidna

Tails and Knuckles the Echidna are allies. Knuckles respects Tails's intelligence though he prefers to not hear the rambles of how his technology functions. Knuckles seems to converse more with Tails than he does with Sonic the Hedgehog, though they usually end up irritating each other from time to time.

[edit] Amy Rose

For the most part, he has a friendly relationship with Amy Rose, though there are times he becomes exasperated and somewhat annoyed by her persistent chasing of Sonic. Amy herself can be quite insulting, intimidating, and outspoken towards Tails, like she is to everyone else if not more so. However, they work together productively and Amy is defensive of him like an older sister type figure.

[edit] Wave the Swallow

Tails also finds a canny rival in Wave the Swallow in Sonic Riders. In the game, she insults his Extreme Gear skills to lower his morale (though she was actually impressed by his ingenuity), but her action causes a determined Tails to beat her in a race. At the conclusion of the game, Tails and Wave (supposedly) became friendly rivals with a remaining competitive streak.

[edit] Rouge the Bat

On one occasion, Tails received a kiss from Rouge the Bat in Sonic Battle, only as a friendly "Thank you" (this happens if you lose the battle against her in Tails's story). This also happened once in Sonic X during the city tournament, but this was only a way for Rouge to win the match. Tails otherwise seems somewhat intimidated by Rouge, although they are capable of working together for the greater good if needed.

[edit] Shadow the Hedgehog

Tails acts as an ally in multiple Hero Missions of Shadow the Hedgehog, and despite Shadow's main interest being Tails's Chaos Emerald, Tails does his part and cheers Shadow on during the Last Story and in Expert Mode. In the anime series Sonic X, Tails is more intensive to Shadow the Hedgehog, specifically when Shadow attempts to kill Cosmo aboard the Blue Typhoon.

[edit] Cosmo

Tails first met Cosmo in Sonic X. During the time spent on the Blue Typhoon, Cosmo became good friends with the rest of the crew, but most particularly with Tails. During one episode, he falls in love with her. The two of them ended up alone together on a mission at one point, during which their respect for each other was revealed. More romantic feelings came to the surface when they worked together to set up a party for the rest of the crew, and Tails later protected Cosmo when Shadow the Hedgehog targeted her for assassination. Cosmo's attractions to Tails were among the forces that provoked her to sacrifice herself to defeat Dark Oak, and her image appeared to him one last time before she was killed by the Sonic Power Cannon.

[edit] Moves and abilities

Tails running and using his two Tails to glide in the air at high speeds.
Tails running and using his two Tails to glide in the air at high speeds.

Like many of the other characters in the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, Tails can race around at high speeds, which he achieves by propelling himself forward by spinning his tails in a fan-like motion, allowing him to keep up with Sonic's basic cruising speeds in the process. He can also perform different forms of the Spin Attacks.[17] Additionally, Tails also has several unique maneuvers, such as his trademark maneuver in which he can achieve flight by rotating his tails like a helicopter rotor (generating enough lift to keep him and up to two passengers aloft, albeit only briefly before tiring), and can also use his tails for defensive and offensive purposes, since one quick swipe of them packs enough speed and force to slice weeds in two or puncture Eggman's robots, and he was shown using them as makeshift shields when fighting Hawk in the city tournament in Sonic X.[18] He can also swim quite well by dog paddling, which is an ability Sonic never had. Tails was first able to swim in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and the ability has appeared again in Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 3.[19]

Tails has been described as a mechanical prodigy that rivals or matches Dr. Eggman's skill at inventing. With them, he has designed and maintained many vehicles and technologically advanced weapons. Some of his attacks have centered around these devices, such as Dummy Ring bombs. However it has been said that he has yet to realize his full potential.[20]

Like many Sonic characters, Tails can transform into a Super Form, but needs the Super Emeralds instead of the Chaos Emeralds[21]. He also has other transformations in media beside the games (such as Turbo Tails). However, he hasn't appeared in a super form since his "supposed" transformation in Sonic Heroes. His only official transformation was in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles. In the 2006 Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails is considered to be the slowest character in the game, and he gains more speed by flying only. His attacks are Dummy Ring Bomb and Dummy Ring Snipe, although he can damage enemies with his tails while flying, which is vital at one point in Sonic 3.

[edit] Voice acting

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

[edit] English Voices

[edit] TV Shows

[edit] Movies

[edit] Video games

[edit] Japanese voices

[edit] TV Shows

[edit] Movies

[edit] Videos games

[edit] Associated songs

The games feature several theme songs related to Tails. For the most part, Tails is associated with the Pop rock genre.

[edit] Links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Tails's profile from the Sonic Adventure manual
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sonic Team. Tails's official character profile. Sega of Japan. Retrieved on 2007-09-20.
  3. ^ Sonic Channel. Official Popularity Poll results (Japanese).
  4. ^ Sonic the Hedgehog 2
  5. ^ Play Tails Adventure on Great Games Experiment
  6. ^ Sega of America
  7. ^ SONIC ADVENTURE 2
  8. ^ http://www.toughteam.com/uk.html
  9. ^ "Sonic Underground" (1999) - Trivia
  10. ^ Sonic Cult // Sonic - Post 16 bit // Sonic Jam // The Game // Art Gallery: Character Profiles //
  11. ^ Sonic the Comic # 79
  12. ^ Tails bio in the Sonic Heroes game manual.
  13. ^ Tails bio in the Sonic Adventure 2 game manual.
  14. ^ Tails bio in the Sonic Advance 2 game manual.
  15. ^ Sega of America. Tails's official character profile from Sega of America. Sega of America. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  16. ^ a b Tails bio in the Sonic Jam's Sonic World museum profiles.
  17. ^ REAL Character Profile - Miles "Tails" Prower
  18. ^ Team Artail - Sonic X Episode 45 Screen Capture 090tails.jpg
  19. ^ Tails's profile from the Sonic Advance manual
  20. ^ REAL Character Profile - Miles "Tails" Prower
  21. ^ Sonic & Knuckles by Michael Teitelbaum and Ron Zalme
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