History Main / CunningLikeAFox

** ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' introduce Nickit and Thievul, two Dark-type Fox Pokemon who are described as cunning thieves in the Pokedex.

** In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/7592320/chapters/17276710 The Grand Deception]]'' Lila, deciding that if Ladybug and Chat Noir couldn't take Hawk Moth down in a year is time that someone else gives it a try, puts together a masterful plan to do just that, and is being successful. But as she knows it could go wrong, she decides to get a backup in case something happens and tells about it to someone she trusts and how she must not tell it to Ladybug or Chat Noir or it will fail, as the plan includes deceiving ''them''... Except her chosen back-up is [[spoiler:''Marinette'']], thus dooming the plan herself.

** [[Characters/MiraculousLadybugLilaRossi Lila Rossi]] is turned in the fox-themed supervillain Volpina, with her only power, inspired by the Fox Miraculous, being hyperrealistic illusions that dispel with touch. Thanks to her cunning, she's one of Hawk Moth's most successful minions, getting Ladybug to surrender ''twice'' thanks to judicious use of her powers and only failing due to unrelated events she had no way to anticipate exposing her illusions for what they were.

* Crazy Redd from ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' is a [[AsianFoxSpirit kitsune]] and a travelling salesman, pressuring customers to buy his "special deals" and selling famous artwork which is often fake. [[HonestJohn His deals are CRAAAAZY!!]]

** Homer Simpson tries to invoke this while trying to get Springfield's lemon tree back from Shelbyville's car impound, responding to the man in charge saying "Bust in here and take it?! You must be [[HypocriticalHumor stupider]] than you look!" with "Stupider ''like a fox''!" and immediately attempting to climb over the fence, right in front of them. He fails.
** In another episode, Homer smuggles illegal booze in hollow bowling balls and gutters each one (so a contraption can carry them to Moe's bar). Bart sarcastically comments on how much Homer sucks, prompting him to reply "suck like a fox!" It is indeed one of the most elaborate and successful schemes he's carried out.

** [[BitchInSheepsClothing Lila Rossi]] is turned in the fox-themed supervillain Volpina, with her only power, inspired by the Fox Miraculous, being hyperrealistic illusions that dispel with touch. Thanks to her cunning, she's one of Hawk Moth's most successful minions, getting Ladybug to surrender ''twice'' thanks to judicious use of her powers and only failing due to unrelated events she had no way to anticipate exposing her illusions for what they were.

*** In ''The Donkey, the Fox, and the Lion'', a donkey and a fox are friends but they come across a lion. The fox promises to get the lion a meal, and tricks the donkey into hiding in a pit. The lion eats both of them.

*** In some fables the trope is subverted - the fox's attempts at trickery only get it into trouble, like in ''The Ass, the Fox and the Lion''.

*** The [[http://www.aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?sel&TheFoxandtheGrapes2 original]] to declare something [[SourGrapesTropes Sour Grapes]].
*** ''[[http://www.aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?2&TheFoxandtheCrane The Fox And The Crane]]''
*** ''[[http://www.aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?sel&TheAsstheFoxandtheLion The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion]]''
*** ''[[http://www.aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?sel&TheDogsandtheFox The Dogs and the Fox]]''
*** ''[[http://www.aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?sel&TheEagleandtheFox The Eagle and the Fox]]''
*** ''[[http://www.aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?sel&TheFoxWhoHadLostHisTail The Fox Who Had Lost His Tail]]''
*** ''[[http://www.aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?sel&TheFoxandtheGoat The Fox and the Goat]]''

* The Spanish word for "fox" is Franchise/{{Zorro}}. And while better known for his swordsmanship, Zorro is just as cunning.

* Reynard, the BigBad of ''Fanfic/BornToBeWilde'' is a cunning and manipulative villain who manages to near-singlehandedly take down every mob boss in his city and absorb their men and resources into his own crime empire. He evades numerous encounters with law enforcement, carries out mass construction plans in broad daylight and gets away with it, and manages to hold his own in combat as well thanks to his multi-tool SwordCane and wits. All of this is natural, given [[spoiler: [[WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}} who he's related to,]]]] and by the end its revealed that [[spoiler: nearly every single action he took throughout the story was in service of a singular master plan that ensured his son looked like a hero to the city.]] His [[spoiler: adoptive daughter]], however, averts this entirely, being incompetent at best and TheStarscream on the side.

* ''The Cunning Little Vixen'' (''Příhody lišky Bystroušky''), best known as an opera by Leoš Janáček, tells the story of a vixen who is orphaned as a cub, captured by a forester, but eventually escapes, tricks a badger into leaving his hole and taking it for her own, finds and marries a handsome fox, and raises a family of cunning children.

* Subverted in ''Literature/{{Stray}}''. Pufftail makes fun of this trope after narrowly escaping being killed by a fox. He considers foxes to be [[DogsAreDumb barely smarter than dogs]] and needlessly savage compared to cats.

* Fenneko from ''Anime/{{Aggretsuko}}'' is a fenneck fox. She used this trope to help Retsuko at times. She also keeps tabs on fellow worker Tsunoda.

* Reynard, the BigBad of ''Fanfic/BornToBeWilde'' is a cunning and manipulative villain who manages to near-singlehandedly take down every mob boss in his city and absorb their men and resources into his own crime empire. He evades numerous encounters with law enforcement, carries out mass construction plans in broad daylight and gets away with it, and manages to hold his own in combat as well thanks to his multi-tool SwordCane and wits. All of this is natural, given [[spoiler: [[WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}} who he's related to,]]]] and by the end its revealed that [[spoiler: nearly every single action he took throughout the story was in service of a singular master plan that ensured his son looked like a hero to the city.]] His [[spoiler: adoptive daughter]], however, averts this entirely.

* Reynard, the BigBad of ''Fanfic/BornToBeWilde'' is a cunning and manipulative villain who manages to near-singlehandedly take down every mob boss in his city and absorb their men and resources into his own crime empire. He evades numerous encounters with law enforcement, carries out mass construction plans in broad daylight and gets away with it, and manages to hold his own in combat as well thanks to his multi-tool SwordCane and wits. All of this is natural, given [[spoiler: [[WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}} who he's related to,]] and by the end its revealed that nearly every single action he took throughout the story was in service of a singular master plan that ensured his son looked like a hero to the city.]] His [[spoiler: adoptive daughter]], however, averts this entirely.

Foxes occupy a unique place among AnimalStereotypes. They can be good guys, [[FoulFox bad guys]], or completely neutral, but they're always [[GuileHero crafty, clever, and cunning]]. Their sly nature sometimes results in illegal activities, so it's not uncommon to see them portrayed as thieves or con-artists; in other words, they're a classic [[TheTrickster Trickster Archetype]]. Although it is not unknown for them to be ''too clever''; another term for TooCleverByHalf is "outfoxing yourself". Sometimes this trope invoked under the phrase [[CrazyEnoughToWork "crazy like a fox"]] for when the [[GambitRoulette brilliant plan]] seems [[SuccessThroughInsanity crazy to anyone who isn't quite as brilliant]]. They're sometimes your adventurous CanineCompanion.

Compare FantasticFoxes, which combine this archetype with a touch of the supernatural, and FoulFox, for when foxes are outright cruel or evil. Compare further ThoseWilyCoyotes, for another stereotypically clever wild canine, and RascallyRabbit, RascallyRaccoon, SneakySpider, and StealthyCephalopod for other trickster animals. It's not uncommon to pitch a RascallyRabbit against a cunning fox, with the two of them [[BattleOfWits trying to outsmart each other]]. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] [[UsefulNotes/ErwinRommel a certain Desert Fox]], even if he ''was'' quite a cunning one. Also not to be confused with a SilverFox.

* ''Manga/KamisamaKiss'': Tomoe is a LittleBitBeastly fox demon. While most of the time he is regular asshole, he is both intelligent and cunning.

* The "too clever" variant tend to happen to the fox-themed Lila Rossi in ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' fanfics:

** In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/7592320/chapters/17276710 The Grand Deception]]'' Lila, deciding that if Ladybug and Chat Noir couldn't take Hawk Moth down in a year is time that someone else gives it a try, puts together a masterful plan to do just that, and is being successful. But as she knows it could go wrong, she decides to get a back-up in case something happens and tells about it to someone she trusts and how she must not tell it to Ladybug or Chat Noir or it will fail, as the plan includes deceiving ''them''... Except her chosen back-up is [[spoiler:''Marinette'']], thus dooming the plan herself.

* In ''WebAnimation/ToBelong'', [[spoiler:Aurora's]] {{animorphism}} form is a red fox. She and her boyfriend Dimitri are thieves that trick people. [[spoiler:Aurora]] uses [[FoxyVixen her looks]] to attract men.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}'' has Nick Wilde, who's a fox con-artist. As it turns out, this plays into his backstory: [[spoiler:when he was a child, he wanted to be a Junior Ranger Scout but was bullied and muzzled by the other scouts for being a fox and considered untrustworthy.]] At that point, he decided that if others were going to consider him as sneaky and untrustworthy [[FantasticRacism just for being a fox]] [[ThenLetMeBeEvil then he might as well be just that]]. Finnick, his partner in crime is also a fox, specifically a fennec who exploits his small size and being a RidiculouslyCuteCritter in hustles by pretending to be a child. Averted with Gideon, however: Although he is also a fox, Gideon is poor at critical and lateral thinking, though he has a keen memory.

* ''Film/SongOfTheSouth'' features Br'er Fox, who is the main villain of the animated segments. He's clever enough to think up a Tar Baby (trapping Br'er Rabbit with his own temper), but isn't as clever as he thinks he is -- something Br'er Rabbit can use to his advantage and does.
* ''Film/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'': the fox is definitely pretty cunning. He manages to outsmart a couple of wolves by giving them the wrong direction.

** The fox's place in British folklore is as a trickster similar to other cultures. However it has a special emphasis because aristocrats began hunting them when the boar were played out. In Anglo-American culture, the term fox is often given to warriors renowned for cunning. Manfred Rommel, in the intro to one history, said he thought the lion would better fit his father UsefulNotes/ErwinRommel. But the British preferred the fox.

* ''[[Literature/ReynardTheFox Le Roman de Rénart]]'' is an anthology of tales about a cunning fox called Renart who outwits other animals (see the Folklore folder above). Those stories were satires of medieval society at the time it was written. They were loosely adapted in an animated series, ''WesternAnimation/MoiRenart''.

* The crafty female tribute "[[NoNameGiven Foxface]]" in ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' is described by Katniss as sly and elusive. Foxface demonstrated her cleverness by figuring out the path into the Careers' supply pyramid and reached the bulk of supplies, takes an unnoticeable amount of food, and then runs back to the safety of the woods.

* Smirre the fox in ''Literature/TheWonderfulAdventuresOfNils''. He only appears a few times in the book, but becomes a recurring antagonist in the anime, constantly stalking the geese.

* ''Literature/TheSandmanTheDreamHunters'': The kitsune is confident she can catch a baku to save her love, because foxes are crafty creatures. She succeeds and later [[spoiler:avenges him by elaborately seducing his enemy and causing his downfall.]]

* "Raven" ('Foxwoman') by Hedningarma is the song of a [[FemmeFatale wicked shapeshifting vixen who lures men to their deaths]].

* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', the basic [[StatusBuff ability-boosting spells]] are all named after animals. The spell which grants a bonus to Intelligence is called ''fox's cunning''.

** Pipefoxes are are a variation, in that they're clever and sneaky (the sneaky part being helped by the fact that they are very small creatures), but more scholarly than tricky.

* Referenced in ''Theatre/TheTamingOfTheShrew'' when Gremio refers to himself as "an old Italian fox". Ironically, Gremio is a rather foolish character (being based on the CommediaDellArte character of the "pantaloon"), and at that point in the play he's trying to talk down Tranio--a true [[TheTrickster trickster]] who's already thought circles around him.

** Zorua and it's evolution Zoroark from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' are based on Kitsune. The former is even called the Tricky Fox Pokemon.

* Four Osratouna TV song videos feature a fox named Tha'loob who tries to be this but fails to fool anyone. In two of them ("In the house of the female squirrel" Part 1 and 2) he tries to get the squirrel kids to let him in by pretending to be various people but they figure out it's him because of his voice. In another ("Kukoo the farmer's rooster") he tries to convince the titular rooster to take a break claiming he'll fill in for him in order to get to the chickens but Kukoo figures out his intentions as well. Averted in the fourth video (Tha'loob the thief) where he just tries to break into the bird's house by breaking the door, prying the wood or breaking the window.

* ''Webcomic/{{Housepets}}'': Karishad the fox is a trickster who is constantly pulling pranks and jokes which drive everyone around him nuts. After Keene falls for one of his tricks he decides to get Karishad to work for him and put him to good use. While the Great Kitsune is a divine being who acts as GM of the CosmicChessGame running in the background while being annoyingly helpful to the mortals caught up in it.

* Junjie, one of the antagonists from ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness'', is a devious trickster of a fox who resents Shifu for being chosen as master of the Jade Palace instead of him. He is ready to use deception and sneak attacks to exploit his opponents' weaknesses. He prefers not to get his paws dirty, but lets his snow leopard mooks do the rough stuff.

** In another episode, Homer smuggles illegal booze in hollow bowling balls, and gutters each one (so a contraption can carry them to Moe's bar). Bart sarcastically comments on how much Homer sucks, prompting him to reply "suck like a fox!" It is indeed one of the most elaborate and successful schemes he's carried out.

** Lila Rossi is turned in the fox-themed supervillain Volpina, with her only power, inspired by the Fox Miraculous, being hyperrealistic illusions that dispel with touch. Thanks to her cunning she's one of Hawk Moth's most successful minions, getting Ladybug to surrender ''twice'' thanks to a judicious use of her powers and only failing due to unrelated events she had no way to anticipate exposing her illusions for what they were.

* {{Invoked}} by Wheatley in ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}''. At least, halfway invoked. "Brain-damaged... ''like a fox''!"

* Subverted with Carmelita Fox from the ''VideoGame/SlyCooper'' series. She's a ByTheBookCop all the way through, which probably explains why she's always getting outsmarted by [[RascallyRaccoon Sly]] and his gang.

%%* Fox [=McCloud=], the leader of the titular ''VideoGame/StarFox'' team.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Foxy the Pirate Fox from ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' is a villainous example. Instead of sneaking around like the other animals, Foxy will wait at the right moment to rush to your room and attack when you aren't watching him on camera.

* Reginald Fox from the Creator/TexAvery short, [[WesternAnimation/TexAveryMGMCartoons "Out-Foxed"]] was not only clever but a StiffUpperLip mixed with a KarmicTrickster, with an added touch of SophisticatedAsHell.

Compare FantasticFoxes, which combine this archetype with a touch of the supernatural, and FoulFox, for when foxes are outright cruel or evil. Compare further ThoseWilyCoyotes, for another stereotypically clever wild canine, and RascallyRabbit, RascallyRaccoon, SneakySpider, and StealthyCephalopod for other trickster animals. It's not uncommon to pitch a RascallyRabbit against a cunning fox, with the two of them [[BattleOfWits trying to outsmart each other]]. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] [[UsefulNotes/ErwinRommel a certain Desert Fox]], even if he ''was'' quite a cunning one.

* [[GentlemanThief Kitsune]] from ''ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo''. She is a fox, but "Kitsune" is her artist name, not her real one.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys'', Governor Diane Foxington, a red fox, at first appears to be an [[AvertedTrope aversion]] of this; she's framed as a trusted, heroic and beloved politician in contrast to the Bad Guys. It's later revealed that [[spoiler:she was once the Crimson Paw, one of the greatest thieves of all time. During what was supposed to be the biggest heist in her career, she was [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone too ashamed to pull it off]] due to living up to the stereotypes of foxes being thieving tricksters, and left her criminal career behind.]].