Prior to his debut in a 2021 movie, Shang-Chi was an unfamiliar Marvel character for many. Modeled after Bruce Lee, he is a skilled Kung Fu master proficient in weapon-based martial arts and is known as the top martial artist within the Marvel universe, able to face off against superhuman adversaries. In “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” the 25th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), this distinctive hero was introduced to a wider audience.
Here, Shang-Chi is forced to confront his past after his father’s terrorist organization draws him into a search for a mythical village. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was a critical and commercial success. But after watching the film, some viewers were left wondering the same question: did the MCU just sneak Pokémon into its movie?
Was That Ninetales and Moltres in ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’?
As a movie enthusiast, if you haven’t been secluded from the outside world for the past three decades, chances are you’ve come across Pokémon at some point. This started off as a game for youngsters on the Nintendo Game Boy, but it evolved in ways nobody could have predicted, transforming into a global sensation. Today, it stands as the highest-grossing media franchise globally, branching out from video games and encompassing anime, manga, trading cards, literature, and an array of merchandise.
The idea is straightforward: humans live alongside creatures called Pokémon, a vast array of species with unique abilities. While some Pokémon, like the iconic Pikachu from the franchise, are well-known even to a broad audience, others are only familiar to dedicated fans. Interestingly, these passionate fans claim they spotted several Pokémon in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
In the movie, Shang-Chi ventures into the fantastical town of Ta Lo, located in a different realm than ours. This realm abounds with magical beings who bear a striking resemblance to creatures from Pokémon. At one instance, a nine-tailed fox similar to Ninetales was spotted. Interestingly, did that swiftly flying legendary bird, Moltres, just cross our screens?
What You’re Really Seeing Are Chinese Mythological Creatures
It seems like you’re wondering if those creatures in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” are Pokémon, but that’s not the case at all. Instead, they are based on Chinese mythology, specifically a nine-tailed fox spirit known as the “huli jing”. These creatures can take various forms, but are often depicted with nine tails. They can be either benevolent or malevolent, depending on the story. Interestingly, Ninetales’ design was influenced by the huli jing.
By the way, the bird you spotted wasn’t Moltres. Instead, it was the fenghuang, another name for the Chinese Phoenix. The fenghuang is considered the ruler of all birds and is often seen as the female equivalent to the legendary Chinese dragon (although neither are typically assigned genders anymore). Initially, its form was a mix of various animals, but today it’s portrayed as a combination of different bird species. In many representations, the fenghuang is shown with black, white, red, yellow, and green colors, although in some instances, it might appear as a fireball, like in movies.
Unfortunately for Pokémon enthusiasts, it’s unlikely you’ll ever witness Pikachu or Mew appearing in a Marvel film. However, there’s always hope for a future live-action adaptation that presents Pokémon as more lifelike and magical beings.
The Future of Shang Chi
Moving forward, what can we anticipate for Shang-Chi? Despite not being as popular as Spider-Man or Captain America, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was successful both critically and financially. The film was particularly praised for its depiction and celebration of Asian culture, distinguishing it from other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions. It earned $432 million globally in 2021 and was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Visual Effects category. Given such success, it’s clear that a sequel for Shang-Chi is on the horizon.
The Shang-Chi sequel, initially given the green light by Marvel shortly after its release in September 2021, has faced delays due to director Destin Daniel Cretton being assigned to direct a Spider-Man film in the MCU, considered a more pressing project. Since then, there have been no new developments.
It seems that the weariness towards superheroes, which affected Marvel’s production pace, causing them to release only one movie in 2024, might not have been beneficial. Unfortunately, those eagerly awaiting a Shang-Chi sequel will need to be patient. However, if you’re a fan of Pokémon, you’ll find an abundance of content available instead.
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2025-03-15 02:32