History Main / TanukiKitsuneContrast

->"''Have you ever worked with a fox? Yes, foxes are never to be trusted, hm? I worked with a fox once in my life. Never again. Not after... the incident.''"
-->--'''Tom Nook''', referring to Crazy Redd, ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossingHappyHomeDesigner''

In Japanese folklore, the {{Tanuki}} (or raccoon dog) and {{Kitsune}} are perhaps the two most recognizable members of the ''henge'', a subset of {{Youkai}} consisting of supernatural, [[TheTrickster mischievous]] {{Shapeshifting}} animals with human intelligence.

* ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand3'': Pon & Con serve as the DualBoss of Sand Canyon area, consisting of a tanuki/raccoon and a kitsune/fox respectively.

[[caption-width-right:350:AnimalJingoism knows no borders.]]

->"''Have you ever worked with a fox? Yes, foxes are never to be trusted, hm? I worked with a fox once in my life. Never again. Not after... the [[NoodleIncident incident]].''"

Tales where the two creatures come into conflict are known as ''Kori no Tatakai'' (roughly "Tanuki/Kitsune Battle", with ''kori'' referring to both youkai), in which the Tanuki and Kitsune pit their abilities against each other in supernatural showdowns. Ability-wise, the Kitsune will easily beat the Tanuki in terms of raw power, but the Tanuki will be [[WeakButSkilled far more capable and creative when it comes to trickery and disguises]], summarized by the famous expression "the fox has seven disguises, but the tanuki has eight". In most of these stories, the Tanuki's knack for mischief often enables it to outwit the Kitsune and emerge victorious.

* No ''actual'' tanuki or kitsunes are in ''LightNovel/TheCaseFilesOfJewelerRichard'', but Jeffrey and his boyfriend, Joachim, are compared to this by narrator Seigi.

Tales where the two creatures come into conflict are known as ''Kori no Tatakai'' (roughly "Tanuki/Kitsune Battle"), in which the Tanuki and Kitsune pit their abilities against each other in supernatural showdowns. Ability-wise, the Kitsune will easily beat the Tanuki in terms of raw power, but the Tanuki will be [[WeakButSkilled far more capable and creative when it comes to trickery and disguises]], summarized by the famous expression "the fox has seven disguises, but the tanuki has eight". In most of these stories, the Tanuki's knack for mischief often enables it to outwit the Kitsune and emerge victorious.

Tales where the two creatures come into conflict are known as ''Kori no Tatakai'' (roughly "Tanuki/Kitsune Battle"), in which the Tanuki and Kitsune pit their abilities against each other in supernatural showdowns. Ability-wise, the Kitsune will easily beat the Tanuki in terms of raw power, but the Tanuki will be [[WeakButSkilled far more capable and creative when it comes to trickery and disguises]], summarized by the famous expression "the fox has seven disguises, but the tanuki has eight". In most of these stories, the Tanuki's knack for mischief means it will often outwit the Kitsune and emerge victorious.

These two critters are often portrayed in Japanese culture as [[AnimalJingoism rivals]] and {{foil}}s to each other in various ways, sharing much in common yet being different from each other at the same time. In many cases, they will have a SlobsVSSnobs relationship where the Tanuki tends to serve as the "Slob" of the dynamic, generally being the simpler, humbler, [[BigFun jollier]], and good-hearted one who plays petty pranks [[ItAmusedMe just because it's funny]]; the Kitsune in turn tends to be depicted as the "Snob", being much more graceful, prideful, and dignified, but also more cunning and ambitious if not outright malevolent, meddling with humans in ways that can change the course of their lives. If either one is portrayed as evil, the Tanuki usually gets the sympathetic end of the stick (e.g. being a GuileHero and a LovableRogue compared to the Kitsune being a MagnificentBastard), but the opposite is not unknown (e.g. a Tanuki pulling cruel pranks ForTheEvulz vs. a Kitsune with UndyingLoyalty).

The duo are also used to describe facial features (or as a more general FatAndSkinny {{Animal Motif|s}}), with people being either "tanuki-faced" (square/round) or "kitsune-faced" (inverted triangle/heart-shaped). [[FoxyVixen Naturally, "foxy" features tend to be more popular]], and you can expect the fox to be the Veronica whenever the two appear as a BettyAndVeronica pair.

These two particular critters are often portrayed in Japanese culture as [[AnimalJingoism rivals]] and {{foil}}s to each other in various ways, commonly having a SlobsVSSnobs relationship. In this case, the Tanuki tends to serve as the "Slob" of the dynamic, generally being the simpler, humbler, [[BigFun jollier]], and good-hearted one who plays petty pranks [[ItAmusedMe just because it's funny]]; the Kitsune in turn tends to be depicted as the "Snob", being much more graceful, prideful, and dignified, but also more cunning and ambitious if not outright malevolent, meddling with humans in ways that can change the course of their lives. Ability-wise, the Kitsune may also possess more raw power while the Tanuki is [[WeakButSkilled more creative and capable at trickery and disguises]], as referenced by the famous expression "the fox has seven disguises, but the tanuki has eight". If either one is portrayed as evil, the tanuki usually gets the sympathetic end of the stick (e.g. being a LovableRogue compared to the kitsune being a MagnificentBastard), but the opposite is not unknown (e.g. ForTheEvulz tanuki vs UndyingLoyalty kitsune).

These two particular critters are often portrayed in Japanese culture as [[AnimalJingoism rivals]] and {{foil}}s to each other in various ways, commonly having a SlobsVSSnobs relationship. In this case, the Tanuki tends to serve as the "slob" of the dynamic, generally being the simpler, humbler, and [[BigFun jollier]] one who plays petty pranks [[ItAmusedMe just because it's funny]]; the Kitsune in turn tends to be depicted as the "snob", being much more graceful and dignified, but also more sly and ambitious, meddling with humans in ways that can change the course of their lives. Ability-wise, the Kitsune may also possess more raw power while the Tanuki is [[WeakButSkilled more creative and capable at trickery and disguises]], as referenced by the famous expression "the fox has seven disguises, but the tanuki has eight". If either one is portrayed as evil, the tanuki usually gets the sympathetic end of the stick (e.g. LovableRogue tanuki vs MagnificentBastard kitsune), but the opposite is not unknown (e.g. ForTheEvulz tanuki vs UndyingLoyalty kitsune).

These two particular critters are often portrayed in Japanese culture as [[AnimalJingoism rivals]] and {{foil}}s to each other in various ways, commonly having a SlobsVSSnobs relationship. In this case, the Tanuki tends to serve as the "slob" of the dynamic, generally being the simpler, humbler, and [[BigFun jollier]] one who pranks humans [[ItAmusedMe just because it's funny]]; the Kitsune in turn tends to be depicted as the "snob", being much more graceful and dignified, but also more sly and ambitious, meddling with humans in ways that can change the course of their lives. Ability-wise, the Kitsune may also possess more raw power while the Tanuki is [[WeakButSkilled more creative and capable at trickery and disguises]], as referenced by the famous expression "the fox has seven disguises, but the tanuki has eight". If either one is portrayed as evil, the tanuki usually gets the sympathetic end of the stick (e.g. LovableRogue tanuki vs MagnificentBastard kitsune), but the opposite is not unknown (e.g. ForTheEvulz tanuki vs UndyingLoyalty kitsune).

-->--'''Tom Nook''', referring to Crazy Redd, ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossingNewLeaf''

->'''Tom Nook''': Have you ever worked with a fox? Yes, foxes are never to be trusted, hm? I worked with a fox once in my life. Never again. Not after... the [[NoodleIncident incident]].

See also TigerVersusDragon, JapaneseBeetleBrothers and DogStereotype. For a rough Western equivalent with a similar dynamic, see ElvesVsDwarves.

See also TigerVersusDragon, JapaneseBeetleBrothers and DogStereotype. For a rough Western equivalent with similar dynamics, see ElvesVsDwarves.

* ''TabletopGame/GoldenSkyStories'': Both fox and raccoon dog ''henge'' are playable character classes with their own powers and personality traits. Notably, foxes tend to be more dignified and archaic (due to their [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld age]], and they're in some ways closer to minor kami than henge), with most of their tricks involving seduction or faux-divine visitations. Racoon dogs, however, are much more mischievous and straightfoward; they're likely as not to break into your pantry, eat all the food, then transform into a teapot when you come looking.

See also TigerVersusDragon, JapaneseBeetleBrothers and DogStereotype. For a rough Western equivalent, see ElvesVsDwarves.

* In ''Manga/KemonoJihen'', the tanuki are good-natured Kemono who seek to live undisturbed by humanity, secluding themselves in [[HiddenElfVillage a temple hidden by their illusions]] and only coming out in human disguises to mediate conflicts and maintain the {{Masquerade}}. In contrast, the kitsune faction -- led by [[BigBad Inari]] -- are sociopathic, power-hungry Kemono who seek to take over the entirety of Japan, and will commit mass slaughter against their fellow kemono as well as humans in the name of this goal..

* In ''Manga/KemonoJihen'', the tanuki are Kemono who seek to live undisturbed by humanity, secluding themselves in [[HiddenElfVillage a temple hidden by their illusions]] and only coming out in human disguises to mediate conflicts and maintain the {{Masquerade}}. Their rivals, the kitsune, are the main antagonistic force of the plot, seeking to help their master Inari acquire all of the Kemono calculi to increase her MasterOfIllusion powers to the point of being able to control all of Japan. Inari and her kin commit mass slaughter against their fellow kemono as well as humans in the name of this goal, and cover up their activities through their shapeshifting and memory manipulation abilities.

* ''Anime/MatoiTheSacredSlayer'': Yuma has two [[PowersViaPossession spirit partners]] rather than one, allowing her to [[MultiFormBalance switch between]] an offense-oriented kitsune form and a defense[=/=]utility-based tanuki form.

These two particular critters are usually portrayed in folklore and media as [[AnimalJingoism rivals]] and {{foil}}s to each other in various ways, commonly having a SlobsVSSnobs relationship. In this case, the Tanuki tends to serve as the "slob" of the dynamic, generally being the simpler, humbler, and [[BigFun jollier]] one who pranks humans [[ItAmusedMe just because it's funny]]; the Kitsune in turn tends to be depicted as the "snob", being much more graceful and dignified, but also more sly and ambitious, meddling with humans in ways that can change the course of their lives. Ability-wise, the Kitsune may also possess more raw power while the Tanuki is [[WeakButSkilled more creative and capable at trickery and disguises]], as referenced by the famous expression "the fox has seven disguises, but the tanuki has eight". If either one is portrayed as evil, the tanuki usually gets the sympathetic end of the stick (e.g. LovableRogue tanuki vs MagnificentBastard kitsune), but the opposite is not unknown (e.g. ForTheEvulz tanuki vs UndyingLoyalty kitsune).

* ''Anime/BNABrandNewAnimal'': As main character Michiru is a raccoon dog beastman with the ability to shapeshift much like the mythical Tanuki, it should come as no surprise that [[spoiler:her old friend Nazuna is revealed to be a fox beastman herself reminiscent of a Kitsune. Both are initially set up as rivals in typical Tanuki/Kitsune jingoism -- with many {{foil}} hallmarks such as sharing a TomboyAndGirlyGirl / SlobsVsSnobs dynamic (Michiru is an tomboyish, friendly and impulsive PassionateSportsGirl; Nazuna is a prideful, more feminine-looking girl with [[LongHairIsFeminine longer hair]] and [[PinkIsFeminine pink fur]] who aspires to be an IdolSinger) along with a difference in power ([[QuantityVsQuality Michiru has more numerous, but uncontrollable transformations; Nazuna has flashier ones with a finer degree of control over them]]) -- but ultimately rekindle their friendship and trust in a subversion.]]

Whether or not the work pits both ''henge'' against each other or showcase their contrasting traits, you can still expect Tanuki and Kitsune to appear together as a pair; even if one of them shows up by themselves, the other likely won't be too far behind.

See also TigerVersusDragon and JapaneseBeetleBrothers. For a rough Western equivalent, see ElvesVsDwarves.

These two particular critters are usually portrayed in folklore and media as [[AnimalJingoism rivals]] and {{foil}}s to each other in various ways, commonly having a SlobsVSSnobs relationship. In this case, the Tanuki tends to serve as the "slob" of the dynamic, generally being the simpler, humbler, and [[BigFun jollier]] one who pranks humans [[ItAmusedMe just because it's funny]]; the Kitsune in turn tends to be depicted as the "snob", being much more graceful and dignified, but also more sly and ambitious, meddling with humans in ways that can change the course of their lives. Ability-wise, the Kitsune may also possess more raw power while the Tanuki is [[WeakButSkilled more creative and capable at trickery and disguises]], as referenced by the famous expression "the fox has seven disguises, but the tanuki has eight". If either one is portrayed as evil, the tanuki usually gets the sympathetic end of the stick (e.g. LovableRogue tanuki vs TheCorruptor kitsune), but the opposite is not unknown (e.g. ForTheEvulz tanuki vs UndyingLoyalty kitsune).

* The requisite ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' example would be Ran Yakumo, the resident kitsune of the series, and Mamizou Futatsuiwa, a tanuki introduced later on who tends to get into mischief. Not surprisingly, the two don't like each other at all, and Mamizou is even stated to have driven the entire fox population away from her native island of Sado.