Asia’s Magical, Multi-Tailed, Shapeshifting Fox!
So the first week we brought this contest online, my buddy Dan was all “hey we should do the Kitsune!” I don’t quite recall exactly what I said, but since i tend to be a bit of a dick in the real world, I assume it was something about how we had a few child eating bogies to knock out and he’d have to wait a few weeks for his precious Volpix… the way I figure, 4 years is probably more than long enough… So this one’s for you T bird! Sorry it took so long!
Now as many of you know, Japanese beasts confuse the hell out of me. Many of their magical creatures share a lot of the same characteristics (shape shifting, possession, growing extra appendages with age, trickery etc). So as not to embarrass myself, we’re going a lil light on the mythology this round.
Suffice it to say It’s a magical fox who grows extra tails with age. In some stories, it works for the spirit protector of rice and prosperity as a messenger and bringer of good fortune. In contrast, seemingly just as many stories place it in the malicious spirit camp. Known to possess folks to do their foxy bidding or shape shift to trick folks into the same end… then there’s just the oddball “Splash” telling of the Kitsune who transforms into a woman, for no further reason than to marry a man and just live happily ever after?
Jump ahead to modern times, and there’s no shortage of current Kitsune references. As previously mentioned, the Pokemon, Volpix was a kitsune, as is Ninetails, as is the possessing spirit in the ever popular Naruto, and I know there’s at least one in Inuyasha and I would assume like 55% of deviantart portfolios… but don’t let that bug you.. this is your time to shine, we don’t care, nor need you to be “good”, so long as you have fun, so here’s what you’ve got to work with.
- At it’s most basic level, it’s a fox, small, cute reddish and canine
- Said to gain tails with age or experience, to my knowledge, the maximum is 9
- Able to shapeshift into human form, but often has issue disguising it’s tail/s
- Able to possess humans, objects and animals and or create elaborate illusions and dreamworlds
- It’s favorite food is thinly sliced fried tofu
- In many tales, it’s also able to fly
That’s it! All I ask is you don’t try too hard and have fun with it! We’ll close off submissions for judgement midnight of Friday the 11th… As always our judge’s favorite wins a shirt, so get your asses doodling!
I pulled the aforementioned buddy Dan, back in to sort through our multi- tailed foxes for worth and after much debate he came back with #12!
“Kawaii! as the Japanese say. This little guy looks both cute and stoic with his fading tails. Great rendering and I love his expression!”
Disagree if you must but know that judgement is law and to the winner a shirt will go…. Thanks to drawers and judges alike. And even though the contest is done we’ll always welcome new Kitsune drawings for the archives! So draw on and remember, 25 beasts drawn earns you a shirt!
