Tails is a character from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise. He is a young, anthropomorphic fox with two tails, hence his nickname “Tails”. Tails is known for being Sonic’s best friend, sidekick, and flight companion.
Who is Tails?
Miles “Tails” Prower is a fictional, anthropomorphic fox from the Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games, comics, cartoons and movies. He first appeared in the 1992 Sega Genesis game Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as Sonic’s sidekick. Tails’ unique trait is that he was born with two tails instead of one, which he can spin like rotary blades to fly. This allows him to keep up with Sonic’s supersonic running speed.
Some key facts about Tails:
- Full Name: Miles Prower
- Nickname: Tails
- Species: Fox
- Age: 8 years old
- Gender: Male
- Notable Features:
- Yellow fur
- White muzzle
- Blue eyes
- Red and white shoes
- Two tails that can spin to achieve flight
- Abilities:
- Flight by spinning two tails like helicopter rotors
- Running at high speeds
- Swimming
- Mechanical engineering and tinkering skills
- Occupation:
- Sonic’s sidekick
- Mechanic
- Pilot
So in summary, Tails is an intelligent, mechanically-gifted fox with the unique ability to fly using his two tails. He is Sonic the Hedgehog’s loyal friend and enjoys tinkering with machines and gadgets.
Origin and Background
Tails was created by Yasushi Yamaguchi for Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2 game, which launched in 1992 for the Sega Genesis. The game’s director, Yuuji Naka, wanted Sonic to have a sidekick who could keep up with his fast speed. The idea of giving the new character two tails was inspired by the kitsune (magical foxes) in Japanese folklore that possess multiple tails.
In the games, Tails’ real name is Miles Prower. His nickname “Tails” obviously comes from his unique twin-tailed trait. Tails grew up an orphan and first met Sonic when he was being picked on by some bullies. Sonic stood up for Tails and the two became fast friends after that.
Some key details about Tails’ background:
- First appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992)
- Creator: Yasushi Yamaguchi
- Age: 8 years old
- Birthplace: Westside Island
- Species: Fox
- Best friend: Sonic the Hedgehog
Over the years, Tails has appeared in dozens of Sonic games across multiple gaming platforms. He is one of the most popular and well-known characters from the franchise, especially praised for his unique flying abilities.
Personality and Traits
Tails has a friendly, kind-hearted personality. He looks up to Sonic as his hero and older brother figure. Tails is incredibly intelligent and mechanically skilled, able to build and pilot airplanes, customize vehicles, and operate all kinds of machinery. He loves tinkering with gadgets and gizmos in his workshop.
Some key personality traits and characteristics of Tails:
- Intelligent – Possesses genius-level IQ and mechanical skills
- Inventive – Constantly dreaming up new gadgets and machines
- Courageous – Bravely assists Sonic on adventures
- Loyal – Sonic’s devoted little buddy
- Playful – Youthful enthusiasm and energy
- Confident – Believes in his abilities and talents
- Positive – Upbeat, kind, and caring towards others
However, Tails sometimes struggles with self-confidence when tackling challenges on his own. He relies on Sonic’s companionship and moral support. Overall, Tails uses his intelligence, flying skills, and can-do attitude to be a big help to Sonic on their heroic missions.
Role and Abilities
Tails plays an important role in the Sonic games and universe. He is Sonic’s reliable sidekick, always ready for adventure. Tails uses his unique abilities to complement Sonic’s supersonic speed.
Some of Tails’ notable abilities and skills include:
- Flight – By spinning his two tails like helicopter rotors, Tails can fly and keep up with Sonic
- Running – While not as fast as Sonic, Tails can still run at very high speeds
- Swimming – His tails make him an adept swimmer and underwater fighter
- Intelligence – Super smart inventor and mechanic
- Piloting – Skilled at flying and driving all kinds of vehicles
- Engineering – Can build and customize robots, gadgets, vehicles, etc.
- Repairing – Knows how to fix and maintain machinery
- Hacking – Has computer hacking and programming skills
In the games, Tails serves many important functions when teaming up with Sonic:
- Gives Sonic extra flight mobility
- Scouts ahead and reaches places Sonic can’t
- Provides airlift support and transportation
- Operates and repairs machinery
- Fights enemies with his twin tails and inventions
- Hacks computers and solves technical problems
- Offers encouragement and moral support
Without Tails’ assistance, Sonic would have a much tougher time taking down Dr. Eggman and other villains. Tails’ abilities nicely complement Sonic’s speed and combat skills.
Appearance and Design
Tails has a distinctive fox-like appearance characterized by his most famous features – his two tails. Let’s breakdown his look:
- Tails – The most obvious trait, two long bushy tails that protrude from his rear. He uses them to fly by rotating them like helicopter blades.
- Fur – Covered in yellow-orange fur over most of his body, with white fur on his chest and muzzle.
- Shoes – Wears red and white sneakers with white socks, similar to Sonic’s footwear.
- Eyes – Has large blue eyes.
- Head – Large pointed ears and a small black nose, like a fox.
- Body – Fairly short in stature, with a round body shape and short arms and legs.
Tails’ iconic twin-tailed appearance makes him immediately recognizable. His color scheme matches Sonic’s palette of blue, yellow, white, and red. His energetic fox-like mannerisms and facial expressions are very youthful and energetic, befitting his cute sidekick role.
Friends and Relationships
Here are some of the key relationships and friendships Tails has formed with characters in the Sonic universe:
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic is Tails’ best friend and brother figure. They have an extremely close bond and always have each other’s backs. Sonic was the first person to stand up for Tails when he was being bullied, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.
Knuckles the Echidna
Knuckles is somewhat of a friendly rival to Tails. The two are both very intelligent and often enjoy competing over who has superior technical skills. However, they work together well when needed.
Amy Rose
Amy and Tails have a caring friendship, with Amy sometimes acting like a nurturing older sister towards him. She appreciates his kindness and intelligence.
Cream the Rabbit
Cream is one of Tails’ closest friends. The two have a lot in common including their love of mechanics and machines. Tails helps Cream learn new technical skills while she supports his creativity.
Miles “Tails” Prower
Tails has a mostly friendly rivalry with his mirror universe doppelganger Miles. They often compete to see who is the superior Tails. However, they will cooperate when necessary.
In addition to his core friend group, Tails has many friendly acquaintances throughout the Sonic cast of characters. His outgoing and kindly nature makes him easy to get along with for almost everyone.
Notable Appearances
Tails has appeared frequently throughout the Sonic franchise since his debut in 1992. Here are some of his most significant game appearances over the years:
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992)
This was Tails’ first appearance where he was introduced as Sonic’s new friend and flying companion. Players could control Tails in 2-player mode.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994)
Sonic 3 further developed Tails’ abilities. He could now carry Sonic while flying and use his tails to attack enemies. This game highlighted the duo’s teamwork.
Tails’ Skypatrol (1995)
This Game Gear title was Tails’ first solo game where he was the star without Sonic. Tails used his flying skills to navigate levels and defeat enemies.
Sonic Adventure (1998)
The first major 3D Sonic game gave Tails levels based around flying races and mechanical missions. He could also pick up and throw Sonic.
Sonic Heroes (2003)
Sonic Heroes featured Tails teaming up with Sonic and Knuckles. He served as the flight character that carried the other two teammates.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
This game for Xbox 360 and PS3 featured an updated look for Tails with more realistic fur texturing while retaining his iconic twin tails.
Beyond games, Tails has also starred in cartoons like Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog, and the anime Sonic X. His ability to fly using his twin tails makes him a fixture of the Sonic cast in any medium.
In Popular Culture
As one of the most recognizable Sonic characters, Tails has made many appearances in popular culture outside of the video games, including:
- TV show cameos – Shows like The Simpsons and Robot Chicken have featured Tails in parody sketches.
- Comic books – Archie Comics published a Sonic comic series with many stories starring Tails.
- Theme park rides – Sonic-themed rides at Universal Studios and other parks have incorporated Tails as a flying character.
- Toys and merchandising – Plush dolls, action figures, apparel, accessories, and more featuring Tails.
- Halloween costumes – Tails is a popular video game character for people to dress up as on Halloween.
Tails’ unique design and abilities, alongside his close friendship with Sonic, have made him iconic. He is recognized even by people not familiar with Sonic games as Sonic’s fox buddy who can fly with his two tails.
Criticisms and Controversies
While overall quite popular, Tails has faced some criticism and controversy over the years:
- Redundant abilities – In some games, Tails’ flying skills overlap too much with other characters.
- Annoying voice – Some fans find Tails’ high-pitched voice from certain games and cartoons grating.
- Overpowered – Tails’ intelligence and mechanical skills make some challenges too easy.
- Characters development – Fans feel Tails has become somewhat stagnant and want more growth for him.
- Kitsune origins – Some Japanese fans argue Tails misappropriates kitsune mythology.
However, most of these complaints are quite minor. Overall, Tails remains one of the most liked and iconic Sonic franchise characters after decades of popularity.
The Future of Tails
As Sonic’s ever-present sidekick, Tails continues to appear frequently in new Sonic games and media. Some possibilities for Tails’ future include:
- More prominent solo games starring Tails
- Deeper character development and growth for Tails
- New interactions with other characters besides Sonic
- Showcasing new uses for his twin tails abilities
- Introducing new inventions and gadgets for Tails to build
Game developers walk a fine line with Tails – keeping his iconic traits like flight intact, while expanding and evolving his character. As long as Sonic keeps speeding through adventures, fans can expect his two-tailed fox pal Tails to keep pace alongside him.
Conclusion
In summary, Miles “Tails” Prower is the iconic flying fox sidekick from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. Debuting in 1992’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Tails’ ability to spin his twin tails and fly at fast speeds complemented Sonic’s blazing running ability. Tails quickly became a fan favorite due to his unique design, fun gameplay, and close bond with Sonic.
Key traits that define Tails include his intelligence, engineering skills, loyalty to Sonic, youthful personality, and iconic twin-tailed appearance. He serves as Sonic’s right-hand ally, using his wits and mechanical know-how to help Sonic taken down villains like Dr. Eggman. Tails continues to appear frequently in new Sonic games, playing an important role in the franchise’s success for over 25 years now.