The Real Miles "Tails" Prower (The Real Japanese Character Analysis Of Tails)

[@Caydeeboi]

Eh about the whole “tails not being Sonic’s best friend thing” Sega doesn’t have to TELL us that their best friends when the games already SHOW us that they are. Sonic and Tails go almost everywhere together and that shows how unbreakable their bond is. Hell, in advance 3 Sonic and Tails’ duo name is literally called “unbreakable bond”.

[@kingkazma3246]

Sonic also stays in Tails' home and sleeps in Tails' sofa as he doesn't have a home, he even said it in a Twitter Takeover.

[@Solebinku]

@@Caydeeboi Well that can always be argued you don’t have to be best friends to have a breakable bond. I have multiple friends that I have an unbreakable bond with but they all have their own best friends. They usually only give that title out to their true best friend and for Sonic to say that or even believe that like I said in the literal video their dynamic would need to be pushed more. Because Sonic besides certain parts doesn’t change how he speaks compared to anyone else or anything close to bond is ever really shown.

[@Caydeeboi]

@@Solebinku I guess I can see what you mean, but still at the same time I feel like the “show don’t tell” rule applies to Sonic and Tails’ relationship greatly. They’re always shown together on multiple adventures and have tons of faith in each other. Sega doesn’t have to tell us their relationship when it’s always been shown to us. But that’s just me i guess

[@Solebinku]

@ Even if we go by that then we could do the same for Knuckles? So would Knuckles also be his best friend because he’s always going on adventures with him. And yeah it’s been shown to us but never have they shown to be best friends like Sonic puts Tails on a higher pedestal or have more faith than anyone else. Even in X during the false moon arc he doesn’t even tell him what he’s doing it’s clear he’s a good friend but not really his bff because Sonic doesn’t really have one. Again unless you count the world which would be Chip which he clearly has a special connection to because it’s essentially us. And we know he loves the world and adventures and holds it clearly to a tighter degree then anyone in the series

[@galten7361]

@@kingkazma3246 Takeovers are fanon/memes. Not the actual game canon from ST/SoJ. Shadow being OOC reflects this.

[@SuperAngel2384]

Ian Flynn to this guy is the equivalent to the Bat Credit Card for the nostalgia critic. It's always so funny hearing him rant about Ian Flynn, I love it!

[@kingkazma3246]

The creator of Tails said that he created Tails to be in a Piccolo and Gohan dynamic, with Tails being the Gohan to Sonic's Piccolo attitude, goes to show how different Sonic's attitude was back then, almost or exactly a bad boy serious anti-hero.

[@Solebinku]

@@kingkazma3246 I don’t think that means he’s a bad boy. If you look at the ova or most manuals he’s just more silent and chill and a little playful. Never really bad the only real difference now is that he’s a little more hyper and looking at these adventures as fun nothing dramatic has been changed. All his traits from the manuals still count all the way today some just get less exaggerated.

[@kingkazma3246]

Dude, his shoe buckles were literally inspired by Michael Jackson's Bad! 😎

[@galten7361]

@@Solebinku >ova The OVA Sonic legit tells OVA Tails to shut up.

[@Godiswithus3]

Additionally, Your articulation of the difference between Sonic and Tails being a hero…helped make sense of their true characterization. With Tails, he holds himself to the ideal standard of a hero. With Sonic, he doesn’t hold himself to any heroic standard. He does what he wants. He saves the day his own way. In other words, Tails fits the hero trope. Not Sonic.

[@Godiswithus3]

I will confess that “Sonic and Tails are not best friends” took me by surprise. After hearing your arguments though, I can see the validity in it. It will take some time to get use to it. The way you described Classic Sonic and Tails relationship, and their amusing banter, makes me love their friendship more. I also thank you for pointing out the difference between Classic Tails and Maekawa Tails. I didn’t catch it until you pointed it out. Now that you did, I clearly see how Tails really did better, and it is a travesty how much character assassination he got from Lost World, Forces, and to some extent, IDW.

[@galten7361]

@Godiswithus3 You left out Unleashed.

[@Godiswithus3]

I stand corrected.

[@Tuznecote]

(EDIT: you cover this) Wasn't the difference that Tails in the Japanese story sees sonic park his plane and the do amazing things and immediately follows him. This was moments before Sonic 2 so during Sonic 2 he is practically mimicking him and following him like a weirdo. The non-canon (the sonic turned blue canon) tails was inspired by sonic and learnt to spin dash which impressed sonic and they quick became friends when he found out he could fly. Tails weirdly is the real hero in many of the games lol. Sonic is just the solider that enacts the plan.

[@SuperSonicbros4]

Tails being a mechanic genius is cool but him also being a very super genius scientistish is also very cool (same with best friend too)

[@PikachuGamerSMT]

I love that you (unlike most Sonic KZbinrs) use the Japanese stuff. I have one issue with this video though and it’s the pronunciation of the word Saiyan. You say it like the dub says it which is kinda weird as you use the Japanese stuff for Sonic but not Dragon Ball

[@Solebinku]

I use all Japanese stuff for Dragon Ball too I know how to properly say it it’s just not how I grew up on it it’s hard to change how I pronounce things. It’s not like I call all the Sonic characters by their Japanese pronunciation like "Chaouse Contrrol" I use Japanese names when I can especially for Dragon Ball especially since a lot of names are changed for no reason but I can’t help dubisms at times it’s planted since birth

[@jdh9419]

“Freakishly two”

[@LowQualitySpamtonDeltarune]

Babe wake up, Solebinku dropped (u are literally in my top people I watch on KZbin)

[@Solebinku]

@@LowQualitySpamtonDeltarune I’m glad I could be in some sort of ranking thank you for the appreciation!

[@mavrickindigo]

I came here to learn about the Japanese side of things, not hear someone whine and complain about the US side of things.

[@Solebinku]

@@mavrickindigo Then you weren’t listening lol

[@calebdrake-rh1jz]

Sonic x is my favorite characterization of the cast hands down.

[@surenderreddy8144]

I overall agree with your points but I think you ramble a bit too much here and there. Like you will occasionally make a point that is dragged on for longer than it needs to be. I think a more structured approach would be work better, but that’s just me I guess. Good video regardless

[@freezeblazestar1079]

i like sonic and tails as brothers🦔🦊💙💛

[@Solebinku]

@@freezeblazestar1079 100% agree

[@Milkmanrules1032]

Idk if I agree that Sonic is not a hero at all, maybe not a superhero, but you could say he is a untraditional hero. I mean he is on the heroes wiki, and their is "team hero" in lot of games.

[@Solebinku]

@@Milkmanrules1032 Well obviously I mean a untraditional hero it’s apart of his core that he doesn’t think of himself as one and I choose usually to word it like that because it’s how he feels he does heroic things just like Goku but it’s never something they’d call themselves and even then their untraditional ways of doing it goes somewhat against that hero idea like Batman or others who are heroes

[@galten7361]

@@Solebinku There is more than one way to be a hero in stories. Sonic's not a superhero or messiah figure (think Steven Universe) or rebel commander (think Luke Skywalker) or a ruler (think King Arthur) or a survivalist/warlord hero (think Fallout or Walking Dead or Attack on Titan or Last of Us etc.). He can be put with Goku sure but Sonic's not a fll time martial artist/warrior either.

[@crimsonzone8984]

Great analysis video! Say, Is there a character in sonic who's an omnivert?

[@shmeckminwhepper-c8n]

I enjoyed this video a lot and it gave me some insights on things about tails. But I do have some problems with this video. First thing first why the fuck does sega need to tell us of whether or not sonic and tails are “best friends” or not? You like to bring up the OVA a lot, but in the OVA sonic and tails literally fucking live with each other, and constantly go on adventures with each other, in fucking sonic advance 3 it says they have an unbreakable bond, and you even say that sonic reacts differently towards seeing tails than any of the other characters. You also brought up tails and Sonic’s dynamic being like gohans and piccolos and even their dynamic is very close, you also said that “Sonic and tails are more like brothers” no regular dandy ass friend would be like your brother. Also that buckle thing you mentioned with tails adding on buckles to his gear so it could “be like sonic” is absolute bull shit he was wearing the same buckle shit before he even fucking met sonic. He literally wore it in origins and he didn’t even know sonic. Also if you want to say that origins is stupid, than how the fuck does tails have enough time to find new shoes apply a buckle to them and his gloves shortly after meeting sonic? But other than these I respect a lot of what you have to say and it really did open my mind up to tails character.

[@shmeckminwhepper-c8n]

Also another thing you are way too fucking cocky and snarky about Ian Flynn being a bad writer.I don’t like Ian Flynn writing that much but saying you understood the characters more as a kid than Ian Flynn the head fucking writer at sonic team is very arrogant.

[@swindiler-vs1ww]

wait do you think tails was as capable as sonic in combat.

[@Solebinku]

@@swindiler-vs1ww I think I said this in the video but somewhat yeah

[@swindiler-vs1ww]

@@Solebinku is there any evidence for tails being as capable as sonic.

[@Cretaceous158]

@@swindiler-vs1ww Tails used Napalm bombs once. They were literally called that in-game.

[@swindiler-vs1ww]

@@Cretaceous158 okay and

[@Cretaceous158]

@@swindiler-vs1ww He used it to fight off a literal invading military.

[@geoffreyrichards6079]

Honestly, I don’t really see how Tails geeking out over machines and such being played off as jokes is that out-of-character. If anything, those particular moments made him feel all the more relatable as a character. While not officially confirmed, Tails does display a lot of tendencies found in those who are autistic, where they hyperfixate on particular subjects and interests that others might find excessive or difficult to comprehend. That along with some other traits of his are what I and others found so endearing in his personality. I also don’t really mind the sass he develops in later games either. I mean, when you’ve been hanging around a cocky, arrogant show-off like Sonic oftentimes is, chances are a lot of those traits are going to rub off onto you. I see Tails’ conceitedness and impudence in later developments as a result of that, combined with his rather depressing background of being underappreciated and bullied. The kid probably has a lot of pent up frustration from all those years of victimhood, and wants to rise above the prejudice to prove his self worth. Also, is it really necessary for writers to know everything about the Japanese influence behind Tails’ character? I mean, even if the obvious influence is there, Sonic Team have denied that he is a mystical kitsune - meaning that it really shouldn’t matter. His character ought to be understood by everyone, regardless of their cultural origins.

[@Solebinku]

@@geoffreyrichards6079 It’s playing towards a stereotype of geeking out is weird and nerdy. We can joke about people being nerdy I’m literally calling myself a weeb. Him nerding out is the joke and it’s a thing he has but also something others don’t understand. Japan with their characters don’t always make others stupid when the smart person explains. Sonic in Riders clearly understands what he’s saying about the Babylon. All it does is make him the stereotypical nerd who says nerdy things and others don’t understand. Sonic has an iq of around 200 he’s not dumb enough to not understand they’re all smart characters just not as much as him. And I’m all for autistic representation I would just not like it to be seen as too much and just something they do as far as I know not all of them do that. And it’s great you can find traits you related to but my point is that it to the degree in my video wasn’t there geeking out was never what he’s doing he was explaining a complex subject that everyone will get. Again no one in Ian’s until now in Shadow Gens weren’t in character. Also I can see you haven’t seen my Sonic or Eggman video lol. Because Sonic was never really quippy or cocky he’s only one of those things and that’s when Maekawa writes him. And if we know Sonic’s character in general he’s playful and confident. He doesn’t make jokey remarks to everyone there’s specific people he does it to and even then it’s only towards them not everyone. And even then I don’t think we should be validating shit taking because we got bullied in the past. Tails was never that type ever he’s a fairly polite kid. And I’m not saying he’s never allowed to make a joke Sonic has just never been a game series focused on jokes until the 2010s but that’s not Sonic. Also what type of question is that? Yes it’s worth it when you misinterpreted what that character is about and what they were made to be and how it can make ideas for stories. And it’s a Japanese game series of course. It’s like me writing a book about China and not knowing anything about them you have to know a little bit. And just because Sega says he has nothing to do with the Kitsune doesn’t mean you can’t take that influence from the Kitsune and make something out of it. Like Nine in prime has nine tails. Hm… I wonder where that came form??? No matter if there’s a bunch of different influences you still have to go to its core to understand its ideas. Literally Toyoda talks about his strong Japanese ideas and storytelling whenever he makes a story with Sonic because that’s what the Japanese do it’s their series and their way of storytelling.

[@geoffreyrichards6079]

@@Solebinku I dunno. It seems to me that there isn't really a "true" version of the character. There is an original version, obviously, but referring to it as the "true version" sounds a little skewed in my opinion. I feel it also limits the character's potential for more unique interpretations and developments since there would be fewer nuances left to explore if it were to be adopted as the standard. Like, a version of Tails that I assisted in creating for a web comic set in its own continuity draws inspiration from a variety of sources we liked -fusing his classic origin, modern technical genius, and his little-brother SatAM dynamic with Sonic to create a more nuanced take on Tails. It’s far from the original version, but for me and my collaborator, this is pretty much our ideal take on the character. I still don't think understanding the folklore is a necessity to understanding Tails' character. And that’s saying something since, in the aforementioned webcomic, we actually do fully lean into the kitsune mythology when Tails’ background origin is revealed. After helping with all that research, I feel like I can safely say that the kitsune influence in the games isn’t really that deep, with most of the parallels and references being surface-level at most. It’s more of a loose aesthetic if anything.

[@sudokupro5579]

Tails is the embodiment of the concept that you can be smart without being a nerd ass.

[@geoffreyrichards6079]

@@sudokupro5579 He may have some nerdish tendencies, but he still doesn’t fit the glove in how the stereotype is generally portrayed. He doesn’t wear glasses, he’s doesn’t wear pocket protectors, he’s not a hypersensitive germaphobic, he’s not OCD or bipolar, and he doesn’t seem to be into escapist activities like RPGs, novels, or video games (at least that we’re aware of). And with the notable exception of the pre-reboot Archie comics (which, to be fair, he was a preteen in that continuity), he generally hasn’t been obsessed with the opposite sex.

[@sudokupro5579]

@@geoffreyrichards6079 you don't have to be all of that to be a nerd. To me Tails shows that you can be cool by being smart instead of weird and nerdy.

[@thebluewind5733]

Bro the Fleetway Sonic is the British comic not American, Archie was the American Sonic until IDW changed that. Just a correction.

[@Solebinku]

@@thebluewind5733 I don’t think I ever brought up fleetway mostly because I forget it exists and what ever even going on in it. But I do know that Fleetway is still ooc if that helps at all lol.

[@trainerred6990]

​​@@Solebinku Not all versions of characters should be the same, it's rich franchise with many different interpretations.

[@alteredishere]

@@trainerred6990he said in his Sonic video that interpretations are fine, but it’s just not the real Sonic (or tails)

[@trainerred6990]

@@alteredishere the world "real" is too dismissive for other versions. Every Sega licensed Sonic real, but only one canon

[@ashesGeek]

​@trainerred6990 the whole "real" Sonic thing while makes sense just more often makes games fanboys sound like some sort of Nazis to those who dare to like or even prefer other interpretations of these characters and stories.

[@J0shyJosh1105]

This seems less like a character analysis and more criticizing what certain material does wrong.

[@Milkmanrules1032]

I guess so, but he did cover some interesting things I never knew.

[@J0shyJosh1105]

@Milkmanrules1032 Same here if I'm being honest. It's some decent insight.

[@mavrickindigo]

I feel like this video was a bit too means pirited and rambly about things to really get your point across. There are moments where it comes off as "US Sonic Bad" which, really, what is that going to do to convince people of your points?

[@Solebinku]

@@mavrickindigo That seems very ignorant and kind of just dismissive of the points I’m making. Because I clearly criticize both sides of the table. The only things I do is make jokes and say what doesn’t make sense to the original character. I don’t care for other versions I say that in my videos every time I didn’t just say oh they all suck no I just gave most examples how the American side is different and what they did wrong. Because I literally say what AOSTH does right by keeping Tails a kid, also I literally criticized how Maekawa changed Tails to be a super genius and less of a kid and guess what he’s Japanese. So clearly I’m not just on one side you just chose to ignore it for the sake of your comment.

[@tristanjames9367]

You

[@swindiler-vs1ww]

Amy rose should not be apart of team sonic.

[@Milkmanrules1032]

I don't really agree with that, I always thought Amy was a hero herself just a untraditional one, similar to Sonic.

[@swindiler-vs1ww]

@@Milkmanrules1032 Amy is weak

[@Milkmanrules1032]

@@swindiler-vs1ww On the surface she is weak, all I a gonna say

[@swindiler-vs1ww]

@@Milkmanrules1032 Amy cant fight for shit even cream beats her

[@swindiler-vs1ww]

@@Milkmanrules1032 Amy can’t fight for shit even cream beats her

[@Alizamk1]

videos too whiny for it's own good. you should of just stuck to how tails is depicted is japan compared to the western version instead of whinging about it

[@tristanjames9367]

This video is Just you Saying you don't like American tails

[@Solebinku]

@@tristanjames9367 By me never stating that and saying why they aren’t accurate to the Original? You are as educated as a dog is to shitting on the mat lol

[@tristanjames9367]

So cry a river now

[@tristanjames9367]

Also. Given a actual argument You're just calling me uneducated

[@Solebinku]

@ I don’t think I need to cry for your stupidity but thanks for the offer lol

[@tristanjames9367]

Cry now