Fox McCloud
The ace pilot leading the galaxy's most elite mercenary squadron.
Fox McCloud (Japanese: フォックス・マクラウド, Hepburn: Fokkusu Makuraudo) is the main protagonist of Nintendo's Star Fox series. He is an anthropomorphic red fox created by Shigeru Miyamoto and designed by Takaya Imamura. Fox first appeared as the playable character in the 1993 video game Star Fox. Across the series, the player controls Fox as he pilots his spacecraft, the Arwing, with gameplay varying by title. He serves as the leader of the Star Fox team, undertaking missions alongside his teammates. Fox has appeared in other video game franchises, including as a playable character in the Super Smash Bros. fighting games.
- Species
- Fox
- Role
- Team Leader / Pilot
- Affiliation
- Star Fox Team
- Ship
- Arwing
- Debut
- Star Fox (Super Nintendo)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Following in his deceased father James McCloud's footsteps as a mercenary, Fox is a highly skilled pilot and combatant. Cocky and playful, Fox has a strong loyalty to his team. Fox first appears in 1993's Star Fox for the Super NES as the leader of Team Star Fox, alongside Falco, Slippy, and Peppy. He and his team face off against the antagonist Andross and his empire, who seek to conquer the galaxy. He and his team appear in 1997 game Star Fox 64 and its remake Star Fox 64 3D (2011), fighting against Andross as well as other enemies such as Wolf O'Donnell, Fox's rival. Fox appears in a comic released concurrently with the 2002 game Star Fox Adventures. In the game, Fox fights on the ground, helping Dinosaur Planet and a vixen named Krystal against an attack by General Scales, allying with triceratops Prince Tricky, and eventually culminating in a fight against Andross. In 2005's Star Fox: Assault, Fox works alongside a number of allies to fight against the threat of the Aparoid race, a species who seeks to assimilate all life into itself. 2006's Star Fox Command, sees Fox fighting against the Anglar Empire, now without his team as a result of them splitting paths. As Command has nine different outcomes, it is uncertain which is the true path Fox and crew take, and even whether or not Command is even canon to the series. Despite this, the developers have suggested that any sequel might ignore the nine endings and instead pick up the story from the middle. Fox appears in 2016 game Star Fox Zero, a reboot of the series, where he seeks to defeat Andross once more. He appears in 2017 game Star Fox 2, an initially scrapped game that was intended for release for the SNES.
In Their Own Story
The cockpit hummed with energy as Fox gripped the controls of his Arwing. Outside, the nebula swirled in violent shades of purple and gold. "Star Fox, form up," he transmitted calmly into the comms channel. Alarms blared softly on his HUD as enemy fighters broke formation from the asteroid belt. He didn't flinch; this was where he belonged, dancing through fire to keep peace in a chaotic universe.
Reader's Guide
Fox McCloud is an anthropomorphic red fox serving as the main protagonist of the Star Fox series. His role involves piloting the Arwing spacecraft while leading the Star Fox team. Personality-wise, he is cocky and playful, with a strong loyalty to his team. Fox first appears in 1993's Star Fox for the Super NES as the leader of Team Star Fox, alongside Falco, Slippy, and Peppy. He and his team face off against the antagonist Andross and his empire. He appears in Star Fox 64 and its two remakes, Star Fox 64 3D (2011) and Star Fox (2026), fighting against Andross as well as other enemies such as Wolf O'Donnell, Fox's rival. In Star Fox Adventures, Fox fights on the ground, helping Dinosaur Planet and a vixen named Krystal against an attack by General Scales, allying with triceratops Prince Tricky, and eventually culminating in a fight against Andross. In Star Fox: Assault, Fox works alongside allies to fight against the threat of the Aparoid race. In Star Fox Command, Fox fights against the Anglar Empire, now without his team as a result of them splitting paths. Fox appears in Star Fox Zero, a reboot of the series, where he seeks to defeat Andross once more. He appears in Star Fox 2, an initially scrapped game intended for release for the SNES.
Did You Know?
- Fox's name was suggested by programmer Dylan Cuthbert; his last name McCloud was a play on the traditional Scottish Gaelic name McLeod.
- Fox's personality and facial features were based on Shigeru Miyamoto.
- Fox's design underwent significant changes from his original concept; early beta materials show a much more cartoony appearance compared to the final version.
- Fox was considered to be a playable character in the 2015 game Skylanders: SuperChargers, but this claim lacks credible evidence from official sources.
- For his appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Fox was part of Illumination's original pitch for the film, with Miyamoto excited at the idea of including the character.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Fox McCloud?
Fox McCloud is an anthropomorphic red fox created by Shigeru Miyamoto who debuted as the main protagonist in the 1993 Super Nintendo game Star Fox. He serves as the commander of the mercenary squad known as Star Fox and pilots his personal Arwing spacecraft during missions.
What are Fox McCloud's powers or role?
As the team leader, his role focuses on coordinating with teammates while engaging in high-speed dogfights to protect the galaxy from threats like Andross. Gameplay across the series primarily tasks players with controlling him through various aerial combat scenarios.
Does Fox McCloud have special abilities?
Fox lacks supernatural abilities but is distinguished by his status as an ace pilot with exceptional reflexes and tactical leadership skills. His effectiveness relies on mastering advanced spacecraft technology rather than using magic or superhuman powers.
How does Fox McCloud's story end?
The storyline does not feature a permanent conclusion, as he continues to appear in new titles that expand the ongoing conflict within the Lylat System. Each game typically resolves an immediate crisis while leaving his character open for future adventures.
Why is Fox McCloud important?
He is significant because he was one of the first characters designed specifically for 3D gameplay and now appears in major crossovers like Super Smash Bros. His design by Takaya Imamura helped define the aesthetic standard for many third-person action games that followed.
More in Pilots & Crew
Related in Star Fox
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Elsewhere in the Star Fox universe
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