Mai Shiranui is the
granddaughter of Hanzo Shiranui, a master of ninjitsu and Koppo-ken. Mai learned
the secrets of Ninjitsu from her father and from her grandfather's old friend, Jubei
Yamada. Mai met
Andy
Bogard when
he moved to Japan to further his training. At first, Mai wasn't interested in
Andy and thought he was just another callous man only interested in his
training. However, when Andy gave her a present on her birthday, she eventually
fell in love with him. After they were in a serious relationship, Mai spent much
of her time pursuing Andy and fantasizing various daydreams about their wedding.
The sexy aspect of Mai's design and "bounce" was inspired from a kunoichi (female ninja) method of assassination: to be sensual to their unassuming prey before they strike. On
a side note, the contrastingly ugly
Gen-An
from Samurai Shodown is rumored to be Mai's late
ancestor.
For many years, Mai pressured Andy to enter and form a team with her in The King
of Fighters tournament. However, Andy usually chose to join a separate team.
Mai, upset with Andy, decided to form the Women Team with Yuri
and King. Her teammates changed throughout
the years, but she wanted to prove to Andy that he was wrong for not joining her
team. In King of Fighters 99, she finally convinced Andy to join her
team. However, in the following tournament was asked to sit out so that
Blue
Mary investigate a case. During
King of Fighters XIII, Mai felt that a KOF tournament isn't complete without
her, and decided to join with her original KOF teammates.
OTHER
APPEARANCES:
Fatal
Fury Special, Fatal
Fury 3, Real Bout Fatal Fury,
Real Bout Fatal Fury Special, Real
Bout Special: Dominated Mind, Real Bout
Fatal Fury 2, Fatal Fury: Wild
Ambition, Fatal Fury: First
Contact, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves,
King of Fighters '94, KOF
'94 Rebout, King
of Fighters '95,
King of Fighters '96,
King
of Fighters '97,
King of Fighters '98, KOF '98: Ultimate Match, King
of Fighters '99,
King of Fighters 2000,
King
of Fighters 2001,
King of Fighters
2002, KOF 2002 Unlimited Match,
King
of Fighters 2003, King of Fighters XIII,
King of Fighters XIV,
King of Fighters XV, KOF:
Neowave, KOF:
Maximum Impact, KOF: Maximum Impact 2,
KOF: Maximum Impact Regulation A, Card
Fighters Clash, Card Fighters
Clash 2, Card Fighters
Clash DS, SNK Vs. Capcom: The Match of
the Millennium, SNK
Gals Fighters, SNK Heroines: Tag Team
Frenzy, Capcom Vs. SNK, Capcom
Vs. SNK: Pro, Capcom Vs. SNK 2, SNK
Vs. Capcom
Chaos, Neo Geo Battle
Coliseum, DOA5: Last Round, Dead
or Alive 6, Street Fighter 6
|
|
Page
Updated: Dec. 5th, 2024
|
|
Mai is SNK's original
curvy ninja gal, yes, with large breasts (a trademark part of her design since the very beginning). Indeed, Mai was one of the first (if not the first) fighting game females to show off noticeably
bouncy boobs (and booty) in a 2D game. Interestingly, Mai's sexual features are part of her design as a kunoichi (using her sex appeal on her prey before she strikes). So in this case, Mai's sexuality has a purpose in her visual design and personality!
Over the decades, Mai has gone through some cool evolutions, as she appeared in all KOF installments as well as making guest appearances in crossover titles. Seeing Mai's 2D sprite evolve was something! Mai's KOF13 sprite = PEAK. Best 2D boob jiggle ever? YES. (Simply giving "artistic credit" where it is due.) Besides Mai's awesome return in KOF13, I think Mai's
overall best appearance was in
Capcom Vs. SNK. Her 2D animations by Capcom are still gorgeous. In closing,
Mai comically seems "undisciplined" to be a legit ninja. Is she a real ninja, though? FUN FACT: Mai Shurani inspired Kasumi
from DOA.
|
|
Fighting
Style / Moveset |
|
Personality
/ Charisma |
|
Outfit(s)
/ Appearance |
|
Effectiveness
in series |
|
Overall
Score |
|
|