| “ | It started with the tanuki. No one minded too much. They were smelly, drunken, pesky little bastards. | „ |
| ― Rapunzel, Fairest #9 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter Two: Hard-Boiled Wonderland" |
The tanuki is an animal species and form of yokai that lives in hiding in Tokyo, Japan. It debuts in Fairest #9 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter Two: Hard-Boiled Wonderland."
Physiology and culture
The tanuki are anthropomorphic Japanese raccoon dogs capable of shapeshifting. These beings are classified as a type of yokai. They enjoy drinking and are often found intoxicated. Rapunzel characterizes them as having a foul smell.[1]
History
Homelands
The tanuki, a form of shapeshifting yokai from the Hidden Kingdom, the Homelands version of Japan, were banished from the local Emperor's court as part of the Shogun Ryogan's plan for laying the way for the Adversary to invade. According to Rapunzel, no one was particularly bothered. They were foul-smelling, drunken, and bothersome little nuisances.[1]
After the Adversary invaded, the tanuki joined a group of refugees lead by the kitsune Tomoko. The group eventually settled in a hidden Fable community in Tokyo, Japan.[2]
Mundane world
Joel Crow notices the tanuki when he and Rapunzel go to Tokyo on a mission, and mistakenly refer to them as "raccoons."[1] Later, one of them is shown to be working for Tomoko.[3]
Appearances
Fairest
- Fairest #9 (first appearance)
- Fairest #10
- Fairest #11 (flashback)
- Fairest #12
- Fairest #13
Original source
They are based on the tanuki, the Japanese raccoon dog, a real-life animal that prominently figures in Japanese folklore. Just like in the comics, they love to drink.