A Guide to Keaton
Keatons vs Vulpes Keatons
Keatons come in two different color varieties in a spectrum, and different body traits; Keatons, which follows Majora’s Mask and “vulpes” Keatons, which can have traits and colorations that adhere to fox species in real life. However, we must be clear; Keatons ARE NOT foxes, and are not to be drawn as such. They are a race of bipedal, fox-like beings that have evolved to walk on their two feet – much like their fellow Hyruleans.
Keaton
Keatons are characterized by their yellow fur and the black tips on their ears and tails, with a lighter color between where those two colors meet. All Keatons must follow this set of rules. Keatons can be any hue of yellow, so long as it stays in that color value. If there is a yellow, this Keaton type can have it. Other than a light colored muzzle, throat, chest, and paws, they naturally do not come with any other type of markings, so, if you would like your Keaton to have them, it must be done cosmetically.
Keatons can be melanistic, have albinism, or leucism of their fur!
Vulpes Keaton
Over many generations, Keatons began to exhibit mutations that differed from their kin. Never before seen physical traits, colorations, and markings. These persisted and now there are many Keaton that take after these foxy traits. Players can mix and match; keatons can have mixed body styles (like ears, etc), colors, and markings of different fox species in one (like a keaton with bat-eared fox ears and swift fox colors).
There are no limits to the combinations a player can create. As long as they follow the general rules as the aforementioned basic Keaton; Base color > Lighter color > Black ear and tail tips. Players do not have to follow the markings of the previous Keaton section above, however.
“Vulpes” Keatons can also follow real life vulpine color mutations of Red Foxes for even more color variation, which can be found here and Hybrid Foxes found here.
Please, do research! While this website may have many, this may not be all of them!
This is essentially a "chroma" or "skin" for your keaton; whatever fox they're based on will not determine where they can live! This only applies to the three subspecies.
** IMPORTANT - Keatons can be based on real life vulpines; however, the only Keaton subspecies are the Gray, Arctic, and Fennec varieties. For example; a Keaton that has the coloration and ears of a Bat-eared Fox are not called Bat-eared Keatons, they are simply Keatons with those traits. Subsequently, only the regional variants can have the traits that make them what they are. (ie: Arctic Keatons having very short, thick ears.)
Human Disguises
Once a Keaton’s tail splits for the first time, they are able to freely use their innate magical ability – disguise magic. The number of tails on a Keaton directly translates into how much magical power they possess, and have control over. Typically, Keaton human disguises take on the shape of Hylians, but they can look like Sheikah as well. Or a mix!
1st tail - Untrained and little magical power. Keatons with only 1 tail must use a form of a medium to concentrate in order to don their human disguise – whether that be a leaf (think Shippo from Inuyasha) or a stick placed on their head. A rock. The length of time they are transformed is very short. They’re also not strong enough to use a wide range of body types, traits, etc. It’s not great, tbh.
2nd tail - A Keaton’s magic by this point in time should be stronger, more focused, and easier to use. They no longer require something like a leaf to assist in the change. They can hold the transformation for much longer, and have a stronger idea on how to better imagine how they want to be perceived. They are slow, however, to switch between their shapes.
3rd tail - By the split of the 3rd tail, a Keaton should have complete control of their magic and disguise. There is no time limit for the transformation, and they can freely switch between these forms whenever they wish almost instantaneously. The human form can have any type of hair, eyes, skin color, body types, etc. Anything!
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They’re not limited by Hylian or Sheikah race limitations in terms of hair/eye colors.
They are, however, limited to those respective race’s heights and skin color for their human shape.
Generally, though, Keaton’s human hair/eye colors are what their fur/eye colors are in their natural shapes.
A Keaton’s human disguise can either have human feet, or peets (paw feet)!
The Keaton’s ears can either be kemonomimi (on top of the head) or elfish (but obviously Keaton looking).
A Keaton’s human transformation is not an illusion, it's tangible and is a shapeshift. It can be physically touched, pushed, tossed, etc.
Keaton Subspecies
Three subspecies of Keaton, in particular, gravitated to specific villages and are exclusive to those villages – Gray Keatons in Vhintl, Arctic Keatons in Inariko, and Fennec Keatons in Rudania.
** IMPORTANT - Regional variations are locked to their designated villages due to the regions being more suitable to their survival. And while there may be some of these Keatons that could adapt to other climates, we are not allowing any of those to be player characters.
** NOTE - The regional variants still follow the basic Keaton design rules mentioned previously (minus the lighter color for Arctics as they’re pure white).
Fennec Keaton
These subspecies of Keaton are generally smaller on average versus their kin. Their fur is almost always sand-colored, with massive ears to help them regulate their body temperature in hot climates – such as Rudania, which they now live in. Because they adapted to high temperatures, they are exclusive to Rudania and cannot move villages. These Keatons are based on Fennec Foxes.
General Design notes -
Unusually large ears in comparison to their body.
Smallest size; 2’ on average. 2 '08" is the maximum.
Sand-colored, short fur; longitudinal reddish stripes on the back of ears.
Can range in color from reddish cream to light fawn to almost white.
The pads of its paws are covered in dense fur.
Arctic Keaton
A subspecies of Keaton that are best for cold temperatures and tundras. They are pure white, with small ears to better trap in warmth. Arctic Keatons have a thick fur coat during winter months, but in summer they shed their winter coat. It also changes to brown, instead of white. These Keaton are exclusive to Inariko and they cannot move villages, having adapted to colder climes. These Keatons are based on Arctic Foxes.
** FOR APPLICATION PURPOSES NO SUMMER COLORATION ON VISUAL APP.
General Design notes -
Short, thick ears. Shorter muzzle and legs. Foot pads are covered in fur.
Large and very fluffy tails. Compact body shape.
Smaller size; 2’08” on average. 3’ is the maximum.
White in winter. Brown/Light Gray in summer.
Arctic Keatons have color mutations which can be viewed here.
Gray Keaton
There is not much that separates these Keaton from their kin, save for being the only ones that have adapted to live in trees and their fur color. Gray Keatons are exceptionally agile and acrobatic, their longer tails helping to keep balance while climbing. Because they need trees to survive, they are exclusive to Vhintl and cannot move villages. These Keatons are based on Gray Foxes.
General Design notes -
Longer, hooked claws for climbing.
Oval pupils instead of slits. Nocturnal.
Normal size; 3’ - 4’ on average.
Lithe. Shorter fur coats. Tail is slightly longer for balance.
Gray Keatons have a couple color mutations found here.
Design Guide
Keaton Application Design Guidelines
** IMPORTANT - Any Keatons prior to the update are not required to fit the new guidelines! This goes for those with inaccurate stature (quadruped) on their apps! That stature is considered unnatural by their peers, as well as any previously unnatural colorations described below.
** NOTE - Though Keatons look a certain way in this guide, that does not mean how you style your Keatons is wrong. Though technically that’s how they should look, they are not required to look that way. If your style is semi-realistic, draw them as such. Just follow the rules.
Keatons should not be drawn as quadrupeds. They can become quadrupedal for quick movements, travel, etc, but they are strictly bipeds otherwise. They do not have feral forms.
Keatons have a concept of gender, but they don’t show those gender differences on their natural bodies.
However, if their chest fur is super fluffy and mimics a bust or himbo tiddies, that’s a different thing entirely. 🙂
Keatons can have what is considered “fringe”. Long pieces of their fur that can be braided, styled, tied, etc. This is fantasy, live your best life. If you want your Keaton to have a ponytail, give it one.
Keaton proportions are strictly fox-like; meaning, when drawing Keatons they are not to be drawn with human proportions/muscles in their natural state.
Keaton apps must either show their Keaton form with the correct stature (bipedal), or their human forms, which require the tail(s) and ears to be visible.
The app can have both forms if the player wishes!
Keatons do not naturally come in any other colors than what a real life vulpine species comes in, their color mutations, or shades of yellow.
This means no unnatural colors; saturated, bright colors like Red, Green, Purple, etc, or any variations in those hues. If it is not a natural color, pattern, or marking found on one of the real life fox species OR a shade of yellow, IT IS NOT ALLOWED.
The only way this is possible is if they dye the ENTIRETY of their fur, and it's an exception not the rule. It is not permanent, and must be reapplied like any hair dye.
This includes any strangely shaped markings or markings with unnatural colors.
The written application must state that it is cosmetic, otherwise it will be denied.
They can, however, use the snowcoat fox in game coloration if you wish!
Keaton Fun Facts
Keatons in Roots of the Wild are a marriage between Majora’s Mask Keatons and the Keaton enemies from The Minish Cap!
The way in which their tails work is from Japanese kitsune myths, specifically Youko. Even some of their behavior and how their magic works, is based on these yokai!
A Keaton walks/runs/sprints much like Felynes/Palicos do from the Monster Hunter franchise! They can switch to a quadrupedal form of motion for fast movements, or traveling from one place to another quickly. Also things like kneeling, subtle movements below! This is how they might also use any weapons they have!
Grabbing a Keaton’s tail(s), without permission, is considered extremely rude in their culture.
It’s also an easy way to break a 1 tailed Keaton out of their human disguise. This gets progressively harder to do as they gain tails. By 3rd tail it’s almost impossible, but a really fierce grab from behind could possibly undo the change.