View source for Kitana

{{Short description|Mortal Kombat character}}
{{Other uses}}
{{copy edit|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox character
| name       = Kitana
| image      = KitanaMK11.png
| image_size =
| caption    = Kitana in ''[[Mortal Kombat 1]]'' (2023)
| series     = [[Mortal Kombat]]
| firstgame  = ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' (1993)
| creator    = [[Ed Boon]]<br />[[John Tobias]]
| designer   = {{Collapsible list |title=Various |John Tobias (''MKII'', ''UMK3'')|Allen Ditzig (''MK:DA'', ''MK:A'')|Mark Lappin (''MK:SM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=46532&tab=credits |title=Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks - Credits|publisher=Allgame.com|date=2010-10-03|access-date=2013-11-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116021746/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=46532&tab=credits|archive-date=2014-11-16 }}</ref> |Cy Mandua (''MKvsDCU'') |Atomhawk Design (''MK2011'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atomhawk.com/characters.html|title=Characters|publisher=Atomhawk.com|access-date=2013-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103054125/http://www.atomhawk.com/characters.html|archive-date=2013-11-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
| lbl1       = Voiced by
| data1      = {{Collapsible list |title=Various |Peg Burr (''MKII'', ''UMK3'') |Rosalind Dugas (''MK4'') |Lita Lopez (''MK:SM'') |S.G. Willie (''MKvsDCU'') |[[Karen Strassman]] (2011–2015)<ref name=va>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Mortal-Kombat/Kitana/ |title=Characters - Voice Of Kitana |publisher=Behindthevoiceactors.com |access-date=2013-11-01 |archive-date=2013-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106084729/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Mortal-Kombat/Kitana/ |url-status=live }}</ref>|[[Kari Wahlgren]] (2019–present)|[[Cree Summer]] (animated series)|[[Grey DeLisle]] (animated films)}}
| lbl2       = Portrayed by
| data2      = {{Collapsible list |title=Various |[[Talisa Soto]] (1990s films) |[[Audie England]], Dara Tomanovich (television) |[[Samantha Win|Samantha Jo]] (web series) |[[Adeline Rudolph]] (2025 film)}}
| lbl3       = Motion capture
| data3      = {{Collapsible list |title=Various |Katalin Zamiar (''MKII'') |Becky Gable (''UMK3'') |Lorrisa Julianus (''MKvsDCU'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geodepress.com/continued-interview-with-lorrisa-julianus-aka-zenobia|title=Geode Press LLC - Continued Interview with Lorrisa Julianus AKA Zenobia|publisher=Geodepress.com|date=2013-01-08|access-date=2015-05-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094109/http://geodepress.com/continued-interview-with-lorrisa-julianus-aka-zenobia|archive-date=2015-04-02}}</ref> |Brenda Barrie (''MK2011'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BwpJE_UFFrP|title=MP Management Chicago|publisher=[[Instagram]]|access-date=2019-04-29}}</ref> |Emily Marso (''MK11'',''MK1'')<ref>{{Cite Instagram |author=Emily Marso |user=missmarso |postid=BwmexrQhhnZ |date=23 April 2019 |title=I get to talk about how I've spent the last year doing motion capture work as Kitana for Mortal Kombat 11!... |access-date=19 September 2023 |link=no }}</ref><ref>{{Cite Instagram |author=Emily Marso |user=missmarso |postid=CxYoDBfPtrv |date=19 September 2023 |title=Mortal Kombat 1 is out and so are my secrets! Hugely grateful to NetherRealm for having me back to do the motion capture for my best girl Kitana AND the MVP herself, Madam Bo!... |access-date=19 September 2023 |link=no }}</ref> |Kaprice Imperial (''MK11'', facial)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.Instagram.com/p/BwpJE_UFFrP|title=Instagram|publisher=@mpmanagementchicago|access-date=2019-04-29}}</ref> |Quynh Chi Nguyen (''MK1'', facial)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://instagram.com/p/CtefS-OA_2-/ | title=QUYNH CHI NGUYEN on Instagram: "Definitely the coolest thing I've ever done, being the face of Kitana and Mileena on @mortalkombat 1 releasing this September @wbpictures Come play me if you want to live 😁" }}</ref>}}
| species    = Edenian
| weapon     = [[Tessenjutsu|Steel fans]]
}}
'''Kitana''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ɪ|ˈ|t|ɑː|n|ə}} {{respell|ki|TAH|nə}}) is a fictional character in the ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'' media franchise originally by [[Midway Games]] and later by [[NetherRealm Studios]]. Debuting in ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' (1993) as a [[player character]] and as a royal from the fictional realm of Edenia. She is originally depicted as being the daughter of Shao Kahn, the ruler of Outworld, but it is later revealed that she is the true daughter of King Jerrod, the king of Edenia. She uses [[Tessenjutsu|steel fans]] as her primary weapon. In the series, Kitana is aligned with multiple characters, especially [[Mileena]] who originally served as her [[cloning|clone]]. Kitana also shares the relationship as the love interest for the series' [[protagonist]] [[Liu Kang]] and serves as one of the main characters of the franchise herself. In ''[[Mortal Kombat 11]]'' (2019), Kitana becomes Kahn of Outworld after defeating Shao Kahn.

During the development of the original ''[[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|Mortal Kombat]]'' (1992), a character known as "Kitsune" was intended by ''Mortal Kombat''{{'s}} co-creator [[John Tobias]] to be in the game but was removed, that character later came into existence under the name "Kitana", which is derived from two words "Kitsune" and "Katana". Throughout the ''Mortal Kombat'' series, she eventually becomes one of its mainstays. Kitana is depicted as a warm-blooded woman, fighting for the protection of her realm and its people. Kitana has been featured in various media outside of the games, such as films and comics. She is well received by critics for her appearance, personality, and character development and has become one of the most popular and iconic characters of the franchise, and is often considered the face or mascot of the Mortal Kombat female characters.

==History and development==
[[File:Kitana Tobias.jpg|thumb|left|[[John Tobias]]' sketch of unused character "Kitsune" from the original ''[[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|Mortal Kombat]]'', and his concept art for Kitana in ''[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3]]'']]

Early development of the original ''[[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|Mortal Kombat]]'' featured a character named "Kitsune", who was conceived by series co-creator and character designer [[John Tobias]] and inspired by the character of Princess Mariko from [[Jordan Mechner]]'s 1984 computer game ''[[Karateka (video game)|Karateka]]''.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=111287084081352704|user=jmechner|title=@therealsaibot Ha thanks, that's awesome! Kitsune/Kitana vs Mariko... not sure who I'd bet on!|date=September 6, 2011}}</ref> She was intended to be an unplayable [[herald]]-like character who wielded a single ornamental fan and was "[[Shang Tsung|Shang Lao]]'s princess daughter — the spoil of victory for winning the tournament" who would ultimately betray her father after she fell for the game's protagonist [[Liu Kang]]. Kitsune was ultimately omitted from the game but included in the sequel ''Mortal Kombat II'', with her storyline revised as her being the stepdaughter of the game's main antagonist Shao Kahn.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrozap.com/argcast-mini-14-making-mortal-kombat-with-john-tobias/|title=ARGcast Mini #14: Making Mortal Kombat with John Tobias|last=ARGpodcast|date=2018-06-26|website=RetroZap|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-24|archive-date=2019-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408214147/https://www.retrozap.com/argcast-mini-14-making-mortal-kombat-with-john-tobias/|url-status=live}}</ref> Tobias renamed the character "Kitana" as her original name was rejected for being Japanese and thus not compatible with "Shang and Shao who were both Chinese in origin" (before the games "ultimately became a hodgepodge of nonsensical [[List of Asian mythologies|Asian mythological]] hooha anyway"), with Kitana serving as "a combo of [[Kitsune]] & [[Katana]]" that sounded "generically Asian enough."<ref name="kitsune">{{cite tweet|number=1384911418164658176|user=therealsaibot|title=Kitana/Mileena were first conceived way back at the beginning of MK1's development as a character doodle named Kitsune. She was meant to be an unplayable character and the princess daughter of Shang Lao (later Tsung)...}}</ref> She was originally outfitted with a pair of [[Sai (weapon)|sai]] before [[Ed Boon]] suggested that the character could be [[Glossary of video game terms#P|palette-swapped]], which resulted in the creation of Kitana's twin [[Mileena]] and her being given the sai while Kitana instead brandished [[Japanese war fan|war fans]].<ref name="kitsune"/> In 2009, Boon included Kitana among the series' most recognizable characters alongside Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Liu Kang.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gary |last=Walk |title=Interview: Ed Boon on The Ups and Downs of the Mortal Kombat Franchise |date=2008-11-17 |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/interview-ed-boon-on-the-ups-and-downs-of-the-mortal-kombat-franchise/?biz=1&page=1 |publisher=GameDaily |access-date=2009-09-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505220824/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/interview-ed-boon-on-the-ups-and-downs-of-the-mortal-kombat-franchise/?biz=1&page=1 |archive-date=May 5, 2009}}</ref> [[Characters of the Mortal Kombat series#Skarlet|Skarlet]], a female ninja who debuted as a playable character in the 2011 ''Mortal Kombat'' reboot, originated in ''MKII'' by way of false player rumors of a glitch that would turn Kitana's outfit red.<ref name=den>{{cite web |author=Gavin Jasper |url=http://www.denofgeek.us/games/mortal-kombat/241361/mortal-kombat-the-definitive-guide-to-the-secret-characters |title=Mortal Kombat: The Definitive Guide to the Secret Characters |publisher=Denofgeek.us |access-date=2015-07-01 |archive-date=2015-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702080423/http://www.denofgeek.us/games/mortal-kombat/241361/mortal-kombat-the-definitive-guide-to-the-secret-characters |url-status=live }}</ref>

Martial artist Katalin Zamiar played Kitana and the game's other palette-swapped female ninjas in ''MKII'',<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat II]]|level=Closing credits|date=1993|developer=[[Midway Games]]|publisher=Midway Games}}</ref> with Kitana's steel fans used for filming constructed from a reflective paper material.<ref name=ppa>Benedykt Dziubałtowski, [http://www.ppa.pl/gry/interview-with-katalin-ogren-an-actress-played-a-character-of-kitana-mileena-and-jade-in-mortal-kombat-2.html Interview with Katalin Ogren - an actress played a character of Kitana, Mileena and Jade in ''Mortal Kombat 2''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225010323/http://www.ppa.pl/gry/interview-with-katalin-ogren-an-actress-played-a-character-of-kitana-mileena-and-jade-in-mortal-kombat-2.html |date=2014-12-25 }}, PPA.pl, 09.11.2012.</ref>  She was hired for the role after meeting Boon and Tobias, who were members of her fitness center at the time.<ref name="ppa" /> Zamiar did not return for ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'' due to legal issues with Midway Games, and was replaced by Becky Gable.<ref name="gamingliberty">{{cite web|url=http://www.thegamingliberty.com/2011/02/the-97-midway-court-case-shang-tsung-and-kitana-speak|title=The '97 Midway Court Case - Shang Tsung and Kitana Speak!|publisher=The Gaming Liberty|date=February 10, 2011|access-date=February 2, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203100400/http://www.thegamingliberty.com/2011/02/the-97-midway-court-case-shang-tsung-and-kitana-speak/|archive-date=February 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name="UMK3credits">{{cite video game|title=[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3]]|level=Closing credits|date=1995|developer=[[Midway Games]]|publisher=Midway Games}}</ref> Kitana was included in early versions of ''Mortal Kombat 4'' before being replaced by new character [[Characters of the Mortal Kombat series#Tanya|Tanya]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM6VeXxYtT4 Tanya's ''Deception'' Bio Card] - YouTube. Retrieved February 10, 2014.</ref> For the series' transition into 3-D beginning with ''Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance'', Kitana and the other ninja characters were given their own distinct redesigns.<ref name="beran">{{cite web|url=http://www.kamidogu.com/features/steve-beran-interview/|title=Steve Beran Interview|first1=Steve|last1=Beran|first2=Christopher|last2=Veljanovski|work=Kamidogu|date=March 28, 2006|access-date=March 7, 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810005813/http://www.kamidogu.com/features/steve-beran-interview/|archive-date=August 10, 2014}}</ref>

Most of Kitana's special moves are utilized for her fans either as a melee weapon, a projectile, or to lift her enemies airborne.{{#tag:ref|During early production runs of ''Mortal Kombat II'', Kitana's "Fan Lift" special move could be used to completely immobilize opponents in the corner of the screen and allow players to connect with a series of uncontested attacks, resulting in changes being made to eliminate this and balance out the game.<ref name="kk">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFu7OyFjc6M Kitana's Kombat Kard video] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913183520/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFu7OyFjc6M |date=2016-09-13 }} for ''Mortal Kombat: Deception''.</ref>|group="note"}} In ''Mortal Kombat X'' and onward, Kitana's play style is split into three fighting variations like those of the game's other characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lazygamer.net/general-news/get-konnected-with-kitana-in-mortal-kombat-x/|title=Get konnected with Kitana in Mortal Kombat X|last=Bonthuys|first=Darryn|date=February 25, 2015|publisher=LazyGamer.net|access-date=May 7, 2015|archive-date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518082121/http://www.lazygamer.net/general-news/get-konnected-with-kitana-in-mortal-kombat-x/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Boon, Kitana's "Kiss of Death" [[Fatality (Mortal Kombat)|Fatality]], first seen in ''MKII'', was inspired by the demise of villain Mr. Big (Dr. Kananga) in the 1973 [[James Bond]] film ''[[Live and Let Die (film)|Live and Let Die]]''.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Mortal Kombat: Armageddon Premium Edition |developer=Midway |publisher=Midway |date=October 11, 2006 |level="The History of Fatalities" commentary}}</ref> Kitana's other most commonly recurring finisher has her decapitate opponents with her fan, which has been featured in almost all of her game appearances and is expanded in ''Mortal Kombat 2011'' where she cuts off the defeated opponents' arms before beheading them.

=== Gameplay ===
Kitana was chosen as the best ''Mortal Kombat II'' fighter by the editors of ''[[Sega Power]]'' and ''[[Super Play]]'' for being "good all around" and due to her quick attacks and perceived similarities to [[Chun-Li]].<ref name=ap>"True Stories: Mortal Kombat 2". [http://amr.abime.net/issue_44 Amiga Power'' 44] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713165355/http://amr.abime.net/issue_44 |date=2011-07-13 }} (December 1994), pages 10-11.</ref> ''[[Amiga Power]]'' too called her "a really good character to pick"<ref name=ap/> and Cinema Blend stated Kitana "could absolutely dominate" the game.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.cinemablend.com/games/Top-10-Best-Fighting-Games-Of-All-Time-13864.html|title = Top 10 Best Fighting Games Of All Time|date = December 7, 2008|access-date = April 3, 2013|archive-date = July 26, 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130726100835/http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Top-10-Best-Fighting-Games-Of-All-Time-13864.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> However, ''[[GamePro]]'s'' strategy guide ranked Kitana as only the seventh best of the 12 fighters in ''MKII'' (citing her devastating [[Combo (video gaming)|combos]], powerful "Fan Throw" move, and good sweep and reach hindered by slow release of the fan-based special moves and limited attack patterns); it was her clone Mileena who landed on the top of their chart.<ref>"ProStrategy Guide: Mortal Kombat II". ''GamePro'' 59 (June 1994), pages 82-83.</ref> According to a retrospective by ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'', Kitana "had the most powerful projectile attack, and along with Mileena, the fastest throws and sweeps."<ref name=wong>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/10/best-mortal-kombat-finishing-moves-video-game-history/kitana |title=18. Exploding Kiss of Death—The Best "Mortal Kombat" Finishing Moves in Video Game History |magazine=Complex |date=2013-10-01 |access-date=2014-01-14 |archive-date=2014-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728100313/http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/10/best-mortal-kombat-finishing-moves-video-game-history/kitana |url-status=live }}</ref> "Kitana's big combos in the corner" were among Ed Boon's favourite things in the game: "When I saw people do Kitana's combos I knew there was something special, because people were taking the game to a new direction."<ref>''GamePro'' 59 (June 1994), page 120.</ref> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly|EGM]]'' described Kitana as "a force to be reckoned with" and predicted she would "make a big impact as her Fan Wave leaves foes open to combos."<ref>''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' issue 54 (January 1994), page 192.</ref> In the [[Game Gear]] version of ''MKII'', however, Kitana's fan lifts the opponent too low and too far away for an easy combo.<ref>Slasher Quan, ''GamePro'' issue 63 (October 1994), page 40.</ref>

Kitana's combo abilities were severely downgraded for ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'' (and, by extension, ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy''), for which she received no new special moves unlike most of the other characters. According to ''[[Nintendo Power]]'', "with such a small repertoire, Princess Kitana will be sorely challenged by experienced warriors," even as her fan toss is faster than many other projectile attacks.<ref>"Full Coverage: Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3". ''Nintendo Power'' 91 (December 1996), page 71.</ref> ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]'' opined that "Kitana's lack of enhancements doesn't make her as exciting to play as some of the other characters, though her excellent juggle combos still work - and they can do loads of damage,"<ref name=ossm>"Showcases: Mortal Kombat 3". ''Official Sega Saturn Magazine'' 6 (April 1996), page 47.</ref> According to ''Total 64'', "her moves are a little unfriendly and her combos are a touch difficult."<ref name=total>''Total 64'' 2/97, page 58.</ref> ''EGM Strategy Guide'' for ''UMK3'' stated: "She had deadly corner traps with damage in up to 90 percent [in ''MKII'']. Now, her fan-raise combos have been severely crippled to almost not being worth it." Nevertheless, ''[[X-One|X360]]'' called the [[CPU]] Kitana "the worst possible character to come up against" in the single-player Tower mode of ''UMK3'', as she is "fast, impossible to sweep, and capable of rendering any opponent incapable with a waft of her fan."<ref name=x360>{{cite web |url=http://www.x360magazine.com/general/an-alternative-top-ten-females-in-gaming/ |title=An Alternative Top Ten Females In Gaming |publisher=X360magazine.com |date=2009-08-24 |access-date=2014-01-17 |archive-date=2009-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831014422/http://www.x360magazine.com/general/an-alternative-top-ten-females-in-gaming/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''Dreamcast Magazine'', ''Mortal Kombat Gold'''s returning "old favourites like Sub-Zero, Kitana and Baraka" too had by then "dated moves and fatalities."<ref>Allex Warren, "Mortal Kombat Gold". ''Dreamcast Magazine'' issue 32, page 21.</ref> Her combos improved in the later games, and according to [[BradyGames]]' official guide for ''Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance'', "Kitana stays at the top of the heap as far as kombatants go. In any stance, she can pump out over 30% with relative ease, making her one of the deadliest in the hands of a beginner or a master."<ref>Ben Cureton, Paul Edwards, ''Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Official Strategy Guide'', BradyGames 2002 (p.17).</ref> Kitana was later found to be capable of infinite-loop corner combos in her "Mournful" variation in ''Mortal Kombat X''.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In ''Mortal Kombat:'' ''Shaolin Monks'', Kitana is fought as a [[Boss (video gaming)|boss character]] twice in the game's main story mode and is one of [[Unlockable (gaming)|unlockable]] player characters for the versus mode. [[Prima Games]]' guide to ''Shaolin Monks'' states she is "quick enough for moderate damage, and has some of the most potent special moves in the game," but her limitation is that she needs to be fighting at close range to make use of it.<ref>Eric Mylonas, ''Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (Prima Official Guide)'', Prima Games 2005 (p.111).</ref> Regarding ''Mortal Kombat: Armageddon'', however, Prima declared Kitana "a tough character to win with" and "like many of the other low-tier character types, she's lacking in almost every aspect" (even as she "is a little better on defense than she is on offense"). She was rated overall only 4/10 for this game.<ref>Bryan Dawson, ''Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (Prima Official Game Guide)'', Prima Games 2006 (p.198-201).</ref> Their official guide for ''Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe'', on the other hand, called her "one of the more dangerous characters in the game due to her speed and extremely effective move-set."<ref>Jason Wilson, ''Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe: Prima Official Game Guide'', Prima Games 2008 (p.102).</ref> Prima's official guide for 2011's ''Mortal Kombat'' deemed Kitana a capable fighter who once again "is at her deadliest in the corner" and is also especially good if played against [[Baraka (Mortal Kombat)|Baraka]] and [[Sub-Zero (Mortal Kombat)|Cyber Sub-Zero]].<ref>Jason Wilson, Adam Hernandez, ''Mortal Kombat: Prima Official Game Guide'', Prima Games 2011 (p.123).</ref> Prima observed Kitana in ''MK2011'' as her "cheapest" (unduly overpowered) incarnation so far, stating "Kitana is not only one of the most damaging characters in the game, but in addition to the Fan Lift and Square Wave Punch, she can combo her Air Fan almost any time an opponent is airborne."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.primagames.com/games/mortal-kombat-x/feature/cheapest-characters-mortal-kombat-history-part-2|title=Cheapest Characters in Mortal Kombat History: Part 2|work=Prima Games|date=16 September 2014|access-date=May 11, 2015|archive-date=20 March 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150320050145/http://www.primagames.com/games/mortal-kombat-x/feature/cheapest-characters-mortal-kombat-history-part-2|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Prima's guide to ''MKX'', "Kitana is one of the more unique characters in the game" due to her inheriting many of Jade's special moves, and she "is a zoning character at heart, but she can play offensively or defensively" depending on a variation chosen. The guide recommended the "Mournful" variant for former Jade players, and the "Assassin" variant, which "tries to take the generally defensive style Kitana has in ''MKX'' and add some offensive firepower to it," for veteran Kitana players.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.primagames.com/games/mortal-kombat-x/tips/mortal-kombat-x-how-play-kitana-combos-and-strategies |title=Mortal Kombat X - How to Play Kitana: Combos and Strategies &#124; Tips |publisher=Primagames.com |date=2015-04-14 |access-date=2015-05-18 |archive-date=2015-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519213616/http://www.primagames.com/games/mortal-kombat-x/tips/mortal-kombat-x-how-play-kitana-combos-and-strategies |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Appearances==
===''Mortal Kombat'' games===
Kitana debuts in ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' (1993) alongside her sister [[Mileena]] as Outworld emperor [[Shao Kahn]]'s personal assassins.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat II]] |developer=Midway Games |date=1993 |level=Kitana biography}}</ref> While she is ten thousand years old, she resembles a younger woman.<ref name="sindelending"/> In her ending, Kitana turns against Kahn after learning that her parents were once rulers of Outworld until they were forcefully overthrown by Kahn, while Mileena is an evil clone created by the sorcerer [[Shang Tsung]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat II]] |developer=Midway Games |date=1993 |level=Kitana ending}}</ref>

Kitana and the series' other ninja characters were excluded from ''[[Mortal Kombat 3]]'' (1995), but her backstory is expanded therein with the introduction of new character [[Sindel]]. Kitana is revealed as the daughter of Queen Sindel and King Jerrod, who ruled the Outworld realm of Edenia until it was invaded by Kahn and his forces, during which Kahn kills Jerrod and takes Kitana as his daughter.<ref name="sindelending">{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 3]] |developer=Midway Games |date=1995 |level=Sindel ending}}</ref> After Sindel commits suicide rather than serve as Kahn's [[Queen consort|consort]], she is resurrected and used by Kahn as a means to illegally invade Earthrealm.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 3]]|date=1995|developer=[[Midway Games]]|publisher=Midway Games|level=[[Attract mode]] screens}} ("Kahn's Shadow Priests, led by Shang Tsung, make it so Sindel's spirit would someday be reborn: not [in] Outworld but Earth itself. This unholy act gives Shao Kahn the power to step through the dimensional gates and reclaim his queen, thus enabling him to finally seize the Earthrealm.")</ref> Realizing her life had been a lie, Kitana turns against Kahn and allies with Earth's champions to defeat him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gamerant.com/mortal-kombat-series-summary-mortal-kombat-2-cj-79888/all/1/ |title=A History of Violence: A Look Back At The Mortal Kombat Series (Part 1) |author=C.J. Smillie |publisher=Game Rant |date=April 18, 2011 |access-date=2012-01-10 |archive-date=2011-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421043539/http://gamerant.com/mortal-kombat-series-summary-mortal-kombat-2-cj-79888/all/1/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ninjas returned as playable characters in the 1995 upgrade ''[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3]]'', in which Kitana is tried for treason after killing her evil twin Mileena, but before a verdict is reached, Kitana escapes and joins the Earth heroes to reach Sindel and warn her of her true past.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3]] |developer=Midway Games |date=1995 |level=Kitana biography}}</ref> Kitana and fellow Edenian [[Jade (Mortal Kombat)|Jade]] free Sindel from Shao Kahn's mind control, which enables reigning Mortal Kombat champion [[Liu Kang]] to defeat him and results in Edenia and Earth returning to their peaceful states.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3|developer=Midway Games |date=1995 |level=Kitana ending}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game|title=Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3|developer=Midway Games |date=1995 |level=Jade ending}}</ref>

During the events of ''[[Mortal Kombat Gold]]'' (1999; a [[Dreamcast]]-exclusive upgrade of ''[[Mortal Kombat 4]]''), fallen Elder God [[Shinnok]] and his cohort [[Quan Chi]] invade Edenia, aided by the traitorous Edenian [[Characters of the Mortal Kombat series#Tanya|Tanya]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 4]] |developer=Midway Games |date=1997 |level=Tanya biography}}</ref> When Quan Chi and his forces later leave the realm to focus on attacking thunder god [[Raiden (Mortal Kombat)|Raiden]] and the Earth heroes, Kitana escapes to aid her allies in defeating Shinnok.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat Gold]] |developer=Midway Games |date=1999 |level=Kitana biography}}</ref> With Edenia freed once again, Kitana offers Liu Kang the chance to rule Edenia by her side, which he reluctantly rejects due to his duty as Earth's champion.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 4]] |developer=Midway Games |date=1997 |level=Liu Kang ending}}</ref> In a special-edition ''MK4'' comic book released with the 1998 PC version of the game, Kitana  arranges peace between the warring [[Characters of the Mortal Kombat series#Goro|Shokan]] and [[Characters of the Mortal Kombat series#Motaro|Centaurian]] races.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Ted Adams (with John Tobias)|penciller=Ryan Benjamin|inker=Ryan Benjamin, John Tigue, Sean Parsons|story=''Mortal Kombat 4: Limited Edition''|title=Mortal Kombat|issue=|date=July 1998|publisher=}}</ref>

In ''[[Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance]]'' (2002), Kitana leads a preemptive strike against Shao Kahn's forces, but Kahn is killed by unknown assassins later revealed as the titular Deadly Alliance of Quan Chi and Shang Tsung, who formed alliances to kill Kahn and Liu Kang before attempting to revive the mysterious Dragon King. Despite her grief, she leads the Earth warriors into an assault on Shang Tsung's palace, where she faces Quan Chi but is outmatched and killed alongside her allies.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance]]|developer=Midway Games |date=2002 |level=Kitana biography}}</ref>

As a result of her death in the previous game, Kitana is unplayable in ''[[Mortal Kombat: Deception]]'' (2004),{{#tag:ref|Kitana is selectable in ''Mortal Kombat: Unchained'', the 2006 [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] port of the game.|group="note"}} in which she and her slain companions are resurrected and controlled by the game's final boss, the Dragon King [[Characters of the Mortal Kombat series#Onaga|Onaga]],<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Deception]]|developer=Midway Games |date=2004 |level=Kitana biography}}</ref> who additionally uses her to defeat and imprison Sindel and then install Mileena to pose as Kitana.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Deception]]|developer=Midway Games |date=2004 |level=Mileena biography}}</ref> However, Jade frees Sindel before imprisoning Kitana, and together they flee to Outworld to figure out how to free Kitana from Onaga's influence.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Deception]]|developer=Midway Games |date=2004 |level=Jade biography}}</ref> Meanwhile, Liu Kang's spirit is able to remain amongst the living after his murder, and he enlists the reformed ninja [[Ermac]] to help him free Kitana and his friends from Onaga's control, a mission in which they are successful.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Deception]]|developer=Midway Games |date=2004 |level=Ermac ending}}</ref>

In the spinoff game ''[[Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks]]'' (2005), after Kitana was found to be no longer loyal to Shao Kahn, she was placed into a spell-induced trance and forced to fight the Earth heroes, Mileena, and Jade before being freed by the [[Shaolin in popular culture|Shaolin warrior monks]] Liu Kang and [[Kung Lao]]. Eventually, Kitana slays Mileena.

Following this warning, Kitana returned in ''[[Mortal Kombat: Armageddon]]'' (2006), accompanied by Liu Kang's spirit in order to keep him whole until she found a way to reunite him with his body. They later meet with [[Nightwolf]], who offers to relieve Kitana of her burden by absorbing Liu Kang's soul, allowing her to fight against the coming evil.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Armageddon]] |developer=Midway Games |date=2006 |level=Training mode}}</ref> Kitana ultimately perishes alongside the rest of her allies during the battle.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Mortal Kombat: Armageddon|developer=Midway Games |date=2006 |level=Opening cinematic sequence}}</ref>

In the non-canonical crossover game ''[[Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe]]'' (2008), Kitana was transported to [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]], where she encountered [[Wonder Woman]]. As she was suffering from "kombat rage" at the time, Kitana hallucinated Wonder Woman as an assassin sent from Outworld and challenged her. After being defeated, Kitana fled to a different section of Metropolis, where she was found and defeated by [[Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)|Scorpion]] and brought to [[Raiden (Mortal Kombat)|Raiden]]'s temple, where she reveals she had a vision of [[Darkseid]] to become Dark Kahn. Following this, Kitana joined the rest of the combatants in traveling to the fused realms of Outworld and [[Apokolips]] and fighting the [[DC Universe]]'s heroes and villains while Raiden and [[Superman]] destroyed Dark Kahn.

In the rebooted timeline of [[Mortal Kombat (2011 video game)|''Mortal Kombat'']] (2011), which retells the events of the first three ''Mortal Kombat'' games,<ref>Randy Nelson, [http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/mortal-kombats-latest-kombatants-cyrax-and-kitana/ "Mortal Kombat's latest kombatants: Cyrax and Kitana"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821121111/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/mortal-kombats-latest-kombatants-cyrax-and-kitana/? |date=2010-08-21 }}, Joystiq, August 18th 2010.</ref> Shao Kahn sends her and Jade to participate in a Mortal Kombat tournament. Kitana tries to defeat Liu Kang, but ends up being defeated. Anticipating her death, she is shocked by his choice to let her live. In the second tournament, Raiden approaches Kitana and reveals that her belief that she is Shao Kahn's daughter is false. Riddled with uncertainty, she secretly entered Shang Tsung's flesh pits and came across the recently made Mileena. Prior to meeting Kahn, she blames Shang Tsung for replacing her, only to be surprised by the revelation that the Emperor was the one who created Mileena. Before carrying out the execution, he locks Kitana in the palace and demands for his real daughter to be brought to him. Liu Kang quickly helps Kitana to be liberated, and they, along with Jade, flee to Earth to team up with their new comrades in the fight against Outworld's army. They help in the fight for Earth, but are slain by Kitana's evil mother, Sindel, along with other warriors. Ultimately, it is revealed that she is among the fighters brought back to life as revenants by Quan Chi in the Netherrealm to fight against Raiden.

In ''[[Mortal Kombat 11]]'' (2019), Kitana's revenant aligned herself with the keeper of time, [[List of Mortal Kombat characters#Kronika|Kronika]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 11]] |developer=NetherRealm Studios |publisher= Warner Bros.|date=2019 |level=Chapter 1: Next of Kin (Cassie Cage)}}</ref> As a result of Kronika's actions however, a past version of Kitana and Liu Kang were brought to the present. While he traveled to Earthrealm to find out more about what happened, she stayed in Outworld to find Shao Kahn, who had also been brought to the present.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 11]] |developer=NetherRealm Studios |publisher= Warner Bros.|date=2019 |level=Chapter 2: Timequake (Kotal Kahn)}}</ref> To aid the new Outworld emperor [[List of Mortal Kombat characters#Kotal Kahn|Kotal Kahn]], Kitana forged alliances with Outworld's disparate factions before leading them into battle against Shao Kahn; personally defeating and maiming him herself. Kotal, who had been crippled during the fight, appointed Kitana as the new Kahn of Outworld in recognition of her skills in combat.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 11]] |developer=NetherRealm Studios |publisher= Warner Bros.|date=2019 |level=Chapter 5: Truths Revealed (Jade)}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 11]] |developer=NetherRealm Studios |publisher= Warner Bros.|date=2019 |level=Chapter 7: Coming of Age (Kitana)}}</ref> After Kronika kidnaps Liu Kang, Kitana and her Outworld army aided Earthrealm's allied forces against Kronika's army until Raiden merged himself with Liu Kang to become Fire God Liu Kang.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 11]] |developer=NetherRealm Studios |publisher= Warner Bros.|date=2019 |level=Chapter 11: Cutting the Strings (Raiden)}}</ref> As the rest of her allies fought off Kronika's forces, Kitana joined Liu Kang in breaching Kronika's keep. However, Kronika reverses time for everyone except Liu Kang, who faces her and his allies' revenants alone.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 11]] |developer=NetherRealm Studios |publisher= Warner Bros.|date=2019 |level=Chapter 12: End of an Era (Fire God Liu Kang)}}</ref> In one of the game's endings, Liu Kang defeats Kronika and is able to bring Kitana back to help him forge a new timeline. In the DLC story expansion ''[[Mortal Kombat 11#Aftermath|Aftermath]]'', Kitana was brought back to life by [[List of Mortal Kombat characters#Fujin|Fujin]] and Shang Tsung to join forces with Sindel in the battle against Kronika.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 11#Aftermath|Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath]] |developer=NetherRealm Studios |publisher= Warner Bros.|date=2019 |level=Chapter 14: Guardian for Life (Sheeva)}}</ref> Nevertheless, she was shocked to discover her mother's real character when she was unable to prevent her from betraying Earth and Outworld.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat 11#Aftermath|Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath]] |developer=NetherRealm Studios |publisher= Warner Bros.|date=2019 |level=Chapter 16: Visions of Empire (Sindel & Shao Kahn)}}</ref>

In ''[[Mortal Kombat 1]]''{{'}}s rebooted timeline, Mileena is biologically her older twin sister at birth and they have a steady relationship with each other as well as their mother, Sindel. Due to being slightly older, Mileena is set to inherit the throne, but her family fears her potential banishment from the throne due to her affliction with the Tarkat disease. They are initially deceived by Shang Tsung and General Shao into believing Earthrealm is plotting against them until Fire God Liu Kang and his allies expose their atrocities. Though they are reunited with their father, Jerrod, after he takes control of Ermac's body, Sindel is killed shortly afterwards by her evil counterpart from Titan Shang Tsung's timeline and passes the throne to Mileena. To defeat Titan Shang Tsung, Liu Kang brings over Kitana from an alternate timeline where she defeated Kronika and became a Titan, and they passionately embrace each other before recruiting more Titan allies to face off against the threat. After Titan Shang Tsung's defeat, Titan Kitana returns to her own timeline, and the Kitana from Liu Kang's timeline replaces Shao as the General of Outworld's army while continuing to advise her sister.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mortalkombat.com/en-us/faq | title=FAQ | access-date=2023-05-21 | archive-date=2023-05-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526141955/https://www.mortalkombat.com/en-us/faq | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Other media===
Kitana had a brief appearance in a Midway-published ''Mortal Kombat II'' comic book prequel that was written and illustrated by series co-creator John Tobias and served to introduce the game's new characters.<ref>{{cite book|title=Mortal Kombat II Kollector's Edition Comic Book |page=21|first=John|last=Tobias|author-link=John Tobias|publisher=[[Midway Games]]|date=1994}}</ref> She is a minor character in [[Malibu Comics]]' 1994-1995 ''Mortal Kombat'' comic book series, first appearing in the three-issue miniseries ''Goro: Prince of Pain'' (1994), joining other ''MKII'' characters in searching for [[Characters of the Mortal Kombat series#Goro|Goro]] in Outworld.<ref name="goro1">{{cite comic|writer=Charles Marshall|penciller=Roy Burdine|inker=Jack Snider|story=Mortal Kombat: Goro: Prince of Pain #1|title=Mortal Kombat|issue=|date=September 1994|publisher=Malibu Comics}}</ref> Kitana's role in the six-issue miniseries "Battlewave" (1995) has her attempting to rebel against Shao Kahn.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Mortal Kombat: Battlewave|writer=Charles Marshall|penciller=Patrick Rolo, Vinton Heuck|volume=|issue=1-6|date=January–August 1995|publisher=[[Malibu Comics]]}}</ref>  She was additionally the subject of the 1995 one-shot "Kitana and Mileena: Sister Act", in which her background from the games is intact, except she is already an adult when Shao Kahn kills Jerrod and seizes the realm and then bewitches her into believing she is Kahn's daughter.<ref name="K&M">{{cite comic|writer=Charles Marshall|penciller=Greg Horn|inker=Larry Welch|story=Mortal Kombat: Kitana & Mileena|title=Mortal Kombat|issue=1|date=August 1995|publisher=Malibu Comics}}</ref>

[[File:Movie Kitana.png|thumb|upright|[[Talisa Soto]] as Kitana in ''[[Mortal Kombat (1995 film)|Mortal Kombat]]'' (1995)]]
Kitana was a supporting character in the 1990s ''[[Mortal Kombat (film series)|Mortal Kombat]]'' feature films, unmasked throughout and portrayed by [[Talisa Soto]]. She is introduced as a companion of Shang Tsung and described only as his adversary due to her being the rightful heir of Outworld and thus a threat to his rule should she ally herself with the Earth fighters. Kitana eventually joins main protagonist Liu Kang and the Earthrealm heroes in defeating the sorcerer.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=[[Mortal Kombat (1995 film)|Mortal Kombat]]|publisher=[[New Line Cinema]] and [[Threshold Entertainment]]|date=1995|medium=Motion picture|people=[[Paul W. S. Anderson|Paul Anderson]] (director)}}</ref> The film's producer Lauri Apelian commented that the two main female characters (Kitana and [[Sonya Blade]], played by [[Bridgette Wilson]]) "needed to have a strength and an independence and an intellect that went well beyond their beauty and being sexy."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/mortal-kombat-movie-oral-history-815287|title='Mortal Kombat': Untold Story of the Movie That "Kicked the Hell" Out of Everyone|first=Aaron|last=Couch|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en|archive-date=2017-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130175918/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/mortal-kombat-movie-oral-history-815287|url-status=live}}</ref> Kitana has a lesser role in the 1997 sequel ''[[Mortal Kombat Annihilation]]'', in which she is mostly kept in Shao Kahn's captivity before being freed by Liu Kang. She joins the Earth heroes in their victorious final battle over Kahn's forces.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=[[Mortal Kombat Annihilation]]|publisher=[[New Line Cinema]] and [[Threshold Entertainment]]|date=1997|medium=Motion picture|people=[[John R. Leonetti]] (director)}}</ref> Soto underwent five weeks of martial arts training for the first film,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/858548594/|title=In Step with Talisa Soto|first=James|last=Brady|authorlink=James Brady (columnist)|work=[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=July 9, 1995|accessdate=September 17, 2024}}</ref> and additionally learned Brazilian [[stick fighting]] for her use of the character's steel fans in ''Annihilation''.<ref>Paseman, Lloyd. "'Kombat' Mortally Wounded" (December 12, 1997). ''[[The Register-Guard]]''.</ref> Kitana was not included in the 2021 feature film ''[[Mortal Kombat (2021 film)|Mortal Kombat]]'', but will appear in the [[Mortal Kombat 2 (film)|2025 sequel]] played by [[Adeline Rudolph]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thathashtagshow.com/2023/04/17/meet-the-new-characters-of-mortal-kombat-2-exclusive/|title=Meet the New Characters of 'Mortal Kombat 2'|website=That Hashtag Show|last=Bolding|first=Hunter|date=April 17, 2023|access-date=April 18, 2023|archive-date=April 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417232323/https://thathashtagshow.com/2023/04/17/meet-the-new-characters-of-mortal-kombat-2-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kitana is a main character in the 1996 animated television series ''[[Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm]]'', a loose adaptation of ''Mortal Kombat 3''. She was voiced by [[Cree Summer]].<ref>{{cite AV media|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm]] |date=1996|publisher=[[Threshold Entertainment]] and [[Film Roman]]|medium=Animated series}}</ref>

She appeared in three episodes of the 1998 syndicated live-action television series ''[[Mortal Kombat: Conquest]]'', with the role split by [[Audie England]] and Dara Tomanovich.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mortalkombat.com/film-conquestcredits.shtml|title=Full Cast and Crew for "Mortal Kombat: Conquest" (1998)|author=Manna Studio|date=2010-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220232155/http://mortalkombat.com/film-conquestcredits.shtml|archive-date=2010-12-20|access-date=2013-11-06}}</ref> She is fully aware of her Edenian past and the deaths of her parents at Kahn's hands but has no direct relation to Mileena.<ref name=mkc>{{cite web|url=http://www.mkcsite.com/warriors.php?id=mileena |title=Warriors:Mileena |publisher=Replay.waybackmachine.org |access-date=2013-11-15 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324021834/http://www.mkcsite.com/warriors.php?id=mileena |archive-date=March 24, 2009 }}</ref>

Kitana was featured in a two-part episode of the 2011 web series ''[[Mortal Kombat: Legacy]]'', which combined live action and animated sequences.<ref name="MKlegacy">{{cite AV media|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Legacy]]|date=2011|medium=Web series|number= 4-5|people=[[Kevin Tancharoen]] (director)|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]] (Episodes 4-5: "Kitana & Mileena")}}</ref> She was played by martial artist and stuntwoman [[Samantha Win|Samantha Jo]], in her acting debut.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shogungamer.com/news/find-out-whos-playing-princess-kitana-mortal-kombat-rebirth |title=Sam Tjhia Will Play Princess Kitana in Mortal Kombat: Rebirth|first=Ian|last=Fisher|work=Shogun Gamer|date=March 22, 2011|url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216181114/http://shogungamer.com/news/find-out-whos-playing-princess-kitana-mortal-kombat-rebirth |archivedate=December 16, 2011}}</ref> The episodes are another retelling of Kitana's past from the games but with changes such as Sindel fusing her soul with Kitana's in hopes to avoid Shao Kahn's corruption before she commits suicide. When Mileena kills a man who is actually their father King Jerrod, Kitana learns the truth after her past and decides to turn against Shao Kahn in the upcoming Mortal Kombat tournament. Jo reprised the role in one episode of the 2013 second season.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=[[Mortal Kombat: Legacy|Mortal Kombat Legacy II]]|date=2013|medium=Web series|number= 3-4|people=[[Kevin Tancharoen]] (director)|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]] (Episode 5: "Kitana & Mileena")}}</ref>

Kitana was voiced by [[Grey DeLisle]] in the animated film ''[[Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge]]'' (2020), featuring in a fight scene against Liu Kang in the Mortal Kombat tournament.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=[[Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge]]|date=2020|medium=Animated film|number= |people=[[Ethan Spaulding]] (director)|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]] and [[Studio Mir]]}}</ref> DeLisle reprised the role in the ''Legends'' sequel ''[[Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms|Battle of the Realms]]'' (2021), in which Kitana works alongside Kahn's forces in invading Earth before rebelling against him and allying with the Earth fighters.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=[[Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms]]|date=2021|medium=Animated film|number= |people=[[Ethan Spaulding]] (director)|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]] and [[Studio Mir]]}}</ref>

On March 29, 2025, Kitana was added as a purchasable skin in the online game ''[[Fortnite Battle Royale]]'' alongside two fellow ''Mortal Kombat'' fighters, [[Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)|Scorpion]] and [[Raiden (Mortal Kombat)|Raiden]].

===Merchandise===
[[Action figure]]s of Kitana were released in the UK by Toy Island in 1996,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.videogamemm.com/main/content/mortal-kombat-trilogy-series-2-kitana-figure |title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy Series 2 Kitana Figure |publisher=Videogamemm.com |access-date=2014-01-17 |archive-date=2014-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118053341/http://www.videogamemm.com/main/content/mortal-kombat-trilogy-series-2-kitana-figure |url-status=usurped }}</ref> [[Mezco Toyz]] in 2015,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mezcotoyz.com/mortal-kombat-x-series-2-kitana |title=Mortal Kombat X Series 2: KITANA – Mezco Toyz |publisher=Mezcotoyz.com |access-date=2015-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081258/http://www.mezcotoyz.com/mortal-kombat-x-series-2-kitana |archive-date=2015-05-18 }}</ref> and by [[Funko]], as both a Funko Pop! vinyl figurine in 2017 and a traditional figure the following year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nerdreactor.com/2017/09/13/mortal-kombat-funko-pop/|title=Mortal Kombat is getting Funko Pop! vinyl figures - Nerd Reactor|date=2017-09-13|work=Nerd Reactor|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524082456/http://nerdreactor.com/2017/09/13/mortal-kombat-funko-pop/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.funko.com/products/all/brands/action-figure/action-figures-mortal-kombat-kitana|website=www.funko.com|title=Action Figures: Mortal Kombat - Kitana|access-date=2018-12-25|archive-date=2018-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225225038/https://www.funko.com/products/all/brands/action-figure/action-figures-mortal-kombat-kitana|url-status=dead}}</ref> Syco Collectibles released a 1/6-scale limited-edition [[Artificial stone|polystone]] Kitana statue in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sycocollectibles.com/search?tid=All&title=kitana |title=Kitana Polystone Statue |publisher=Sycocollectibles.com |access-date=2014-01-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118192056/http://www.sycocollectibles.com/search?tid=All&title=kitana |archive-date=2014-01-18 }}</ref> while Pop Culture Shock Collectibles released a 1/4-scale character statuette in 2013 and a 1/3-scale version in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://toynewsi.com/news.php?itemid=19608|title=Pop Culture Shock Announces Mortal Kombat 9 Kitana 1:4 scale statue|website=toynewsi.com|language=en|access-date=2018-05-23|archive-date=2018-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524082825/https://toynewsi.com/news.php?itemid=19608|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popcultureshocktoys.com/en/kitana-13-statue-mortal-kombat-x-2|title=Kitana MKX 1:3|website=PCS Collectibles|access-date=2018-05-23|archive-date=2018-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524081914/https://www.popcultureshocktoys.com/en/kitana-13-statue-mortal-kombat-x-2|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Luke Plunkett, [http://kotaku.com/5970385/355-will-get-you-your-very-own-20-mortal-kombat-femme-fatale/gallery/1 $355 Will Get You Your Very Own Giant Mortal Kombat Femme Fatale] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127120804/http://kotaku.com/5970385/355-will-get-you-your-very-own-20-mortal-kombat-femme-fatale/gallery/1 |date=2013-01-27 }}, Kotaku, December 24, 2012.</ref> Other items included a character mousepad,<ref>[http://www.geekologie.com/2013/01/well-endowed-mortal-kombat-kitana-mousep.php Well Endowed Mortal Kombat Kitana Mousepad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514111409/http://www.geekologie.com/2013/01/well-endowed-mortal-kombat-kitana-mousep.php |date=2013-05-14 }}, Geekologie, January 30, 2013.</ref> a life-sized cardboard [[standee]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://advancedgraphics.com/product/kitana/|title=Kitana 70" cardboard cutout|work=Advanced Graphics|date=2011|access-date=March 7, 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225022806/http://advancedgraphics.com/product/kitana/|archive-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> and Halloween costumes.<ref>Charlie Jane Anders, [http://io9.com/5852860/this-years-sluttiest-and-weirdest-store+bought-halloween-costumes/gallery/1 This Year's Sluttiest and Weirdest Store-Bought Halloween Costumes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017235812/http://io9.com/5852860/this-years-sluttiest-and-weirdest-store+bought-halloween-costumes/gallery/1 |date=2012-10-17 }}, io9, October 24, 2011.</ref><ref>Justin Amirikhani, [http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/10/15-last-minute-video-game-game-costumes-that-actually-look-cool/mileena-kitana-and-sonya-blade 15 Last-Minute Video Game Game Costumes That Actually Look Cool] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027015810/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/10/15-last-minute-video-game-game-costumes-that-actually-look-cool/mileena-kitana-and-sonya-blade |date=2012-10-27 }}, Complex.com, October 23, 2012.</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical reception===
Critical reception of Kitana has varied, often with emphasis placed on her good looks and sometimes on her relatively complicated personality. Ben Kendrick of [[Game Rant]] noted that "apart from possessing one of the cooler weapons" in the series, she "lacks the entertaining/alluring oddity" of her counterpart Mileena.<ref>Ben Kendrick, [http://gamerant.com/top-10-mortal-kombat-characters-benk-78857/2/ "10 Most Awesome Mortal Kombat Characters"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811195604/http://gamerant.com/top-10-mortal-kombat-characters-benk-78857/2/ |date=2011-08-11 }}, Game Rant, April 18, 2011.</ref> ''GameFront'' opined the same year that Kitana has "not [been] a very compelling character."<ref name=br/> Though she and Mileena were included in ''GamePro''{{'}}s 2009 list of the seventeen best palette-swapped video game characters alongside the series' male ninjas,<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Aaron |last=Koehn |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/208570/17-best-palette-swapped-characters/ |title=Palette Swapping: 17 Games that Did it Right |magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[IDG]]|date=January 13, 2009 |accessdate= January 28, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208102954/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/208570/17-best-palette-swapped-characters/|archivedate=December 8, 2009}}</ref> Dan Ryckert of ''[[Game Informer]]'' wrote in 2010 that he did not want these characters, aside from [[Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)|Scorpion]] and [[Sub-Zero (Mortal Kombat)|Sub-Zero]], in future series installments.<ref>Dan Ryckert, [https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/06/21/who-we-want-and-dont-want-in-the-new-mortal-kombat.aspx?PostPageIndex=2&PageIndex=4 Who We Want (And Don't Want) In The New Mortal Kombat], ''Game Informer'', June 21, 2010.</ref> Kitana's "Kiss of Death" Fatality from ''Mortal Kombat II'' has met with critical praise.<ref name=br>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefront.com/mortal-kombats-10-best-fatalities|title=Mortal Kombat's 10 Best Fatalities|first=Ben|last=Richardson|publisher=GameFront|date=April 20, 2011|access-date=May 18, 2012|archive-date=August 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831063320/http://www.gamefront.com/mortal-kombats-10-best-fatalities/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techtudo.com.br/listas/noticia/2015/03/mortal-kombat-relembre-os-fatalities-classicos-da-serie-de-luta.html |title=Mortal Kombat: relembre os fatalities clássicos da série de luta &#124; Listas |date=March 2015 |publisher=TechTudo |language=es|access-date=2015-05-07 |archive-date=2024-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224003522/https://www.techtudo.com.br/noticias/2015/03/mortal-kombat-relembre-os-fatalities-classicos-da-serie-de-luta.ghtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.ugo.com/games/top-11-mortal-kombat-fatalities Top 11 Mortal Kombat Fatalities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401202148/http://www.ugo.com/games/top-11-mortal-kombat-fatalities |date=2013-04-01 }}, UGO.com, 2 January 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/30/igns-unofficial-top-10-list-of-the-best-mortal-kombat-fatalities|title=IGN's Unofficial Top 10 List of the Best Mortal Kombat Fatalities|first=Jack|last=DeVries|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=November 30, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401210218/http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/113/1137436p1.html |archivedate=2012-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.primagames.com/games/mortal-kombat/feature/top-50-mortal-kombat-fatalities-all-time-10-1 |title=The Top 50 Mortal Kombat Fatalities of All Time: 10-1|first=Robert|last=Workman|work=Prima Games|publisher=[[Gamurs]] |date=2011-04-19 |access-date=2014-05-13 |archive-date=2014-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515065604/http://www.primagames.com/games/mortal-kombat/feature/top-50-mortal-kombat-fatalities-all-time-10-1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gwaltney |first=Javy |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/mortal-kombat/the-15-most-memorable-fatalities-in-mortal-kombat/ |title=The 15 Most Memorable Fatalities in Mortal Kombat |work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|publisher=Paste Media Group|date=2015-05-06 |access-date=2020-06-09 |archive-date=2020-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609184120/https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/mortal-kombat/the-15-most-memorable-fatalities-in-mortal-kombat/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Response to Kitana's alternate-media incarnations have been variably received. Laura Evenson of ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' noted Talisa Soto's attractiveness in the 1995 ''Mortal Kombat'' film, but found her character otherwise uninteresting as compared to [[Robin Shou]]'s Liu Kang.<ref>{{cite news |author=Laura Evenson |url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Kombat-Just-for-Kicks-Game-s-fans-will-3026016.php |title='Kombat' - Just for Kicks / Game's fans will like campy film version |newspaper=SFGate |date=1995-08-19 |access-date=2013-12-20 |archive-date=2013-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216182103/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Kombat-Just-for-Kicks-Game-s-fans-will-3026016.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Ben Steelman of the ''[[Star-News]]'' described her as "basically [[Princess Leia]] in black leotards,"<ref>Ben Steelman, All 'Mortal Kombat' needs is a joystick at your seat, ''Star-News'', August 19, 1995.</ref> but [[James Stephanie Sterling]] of ''[[Destructoid]]'' noted Kitana's "more sensible makeover" therein in contrast to her in-game designs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/mortal-kombat-really-did-have-the-best-game-based-movie-199473.phtml|title=Mortal Kombat really did have the best game-based movie|first=Jim|last=Sterling|website=Destructoid|date=April 23, 2011|access-date=September 7, 2014|archive-date=September 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908065024/http://www.destructoid.com/mortal-kombat-really-did-have-the-best-game-based-movie-199473.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael Saunders of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' wrote in his 1997 review of ''Mortal Kombat Annihilation'' that Soto "never seems to do much more other than look exotic in the role."<ref>'Kombat' sequel is a bloodless 'Annihilation', ''The Tuscaloosa News'', November 26, 1997.</ref> The 2011 ''Mortal Kombat Legacy'' first-season episode "Kitana & Mileena" was nominated for a [[Writers Guild of America Award]] in the category of "Outstanding Achievement in Writing Derivative New Media".<ref>Steve Pond at TheWrap, [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS59054142720120111 "Mortal Kombat" Scores in Writers Guild's New Media and Videogame Nominations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008044819/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS59054142720120111 |date=2023-10-08 }}, Reuters, January 11, 2012.</ref>

===Sex appeal===
Kitana is considered a prominent [[sex symbol]] in the ''Mortal Kombat'' series, in a display of what one author described as manifestation of "pseudo-Japanese [[Orient]]alist [[Sexual fetishism|fetishes]]."<ref>Sheng-Mei Ma, ''The Deathly Embrace: Orientalism and Asian American Identity'', University of Minnesota Press, 2000 (p.72)</ref> According to Joey Esposito of [[MTV]], "it's obvious that ''Mortal Kombat II'' added in some more, let's say, [[Sexual suggestiveness|sexually suggestive]] characters in Mileena and Kitana,"<ref name="mtv">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2132456/mortal-kombat-fatalities/ |title=9 'Mortal Kombat' Fatalities That Warped Your Childhood |publisher=MTV.com |date=2015-04-13 |access-date=2015-07-01 |archive-date=2015-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626174234/http://www.mtv.com/news/2132456/mortal-kombat-fatalities/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Danny Gallagher of MTV's ''Guy Code'' ranked Kitana among the "best babes in video games" of 2011, but commented that she had "the deepest emotional core of any of the ''Mortal Kombat'' characters."<ref>Danny Gallagher, [http://guycodeblog.mtv.com/2011/12/06/best-video-game-babes-of-2011/ Best Babes In Video Games Of 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722034908/http://guycodeblog.mtv.com/2011/12/06/best-video-game-babes-of-2011/ |date=2012-07-22 }}, MTV Guy Code Blog, 12/6/11.</ref> ''[[Den of Geek]]'' commented that "Kitana became one of the breakout stars of the series" upon her ''MKII'' debut, "easily having more meat on her character than [[Sonya Blade|Sonya]] ever did."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denofgeek.us/games/mortal-kombat/243041/mortal-kombat-ranking-all-the-characters/page/0/4|title=Mortal Kombat: Ranking All the Characters|first=Gavin|last=Jasper|publisher=Den of Geek|date=January 30, 2015|access-date=February 3, 2015|archive-date=February 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204065403/http://www.denofgeek.us/games/mortal-kombat/243041/mortal-kombat-ranking-all-the-characters/page/0/4|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Gender criticism and Fatalities===

There have been controversies and mixed or negative critical reception of the character. In 1994, she was one of the fighting game characters cited by [[Guy Aoki]] of ''[[AsianWeek]]'' as allegedly perpetuating existing [[Stereotypes of East Asians in the United States|stereotypes of Asians]] as martial arts experts.<ref>Lam, May (September 23, 1994). "Do Fighting Video Games Prolong Stereotypes of Asian Americans?" ''[[AsianWeek]]''. Pan Asia Venture Capital Corporation.</ref> In the [[Video game controversies|video game violence controversy]] themed book ''Interacting With Video'', Patricia Marks Greenfield and Rodney R. Cocking used the "two Asian twin sisters, Kitana and Mileena" as an example of "highly eroticized [[Dragon Lady]]" stereotyping in video games.<ref>Patricia Marks Greenfield, Rodney R. Cocking, ''Interacting With Video'' (p.34).</ref> When [[Marsha Kinder]] accused ''Mortal Kombat II'' of [[misogyny]] in its handling of female characters, she alleged that "some of the most violent possibilities are against women," whose own "fatality moves are highly eroticised."<ref>"Women, of a sort, enter Mortal Kombat", ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', May 29, 1995.</ref> Patrick Sunnen's book ''Making Sense of Video Games'' judged their portrayal as "formidable female opponents" to be potentially progressive, yet arguably made just to increase "the [[Sexism|sexist]] potential of the individual fights", and described Kitana's Fatality of decapitation with a "deceptively feminine razor-sharp fan" to be [[castration]]-like.<ref>Patrick Sunnen, ''Making Sense of Video Games'', University of London (p.19).</ref> Chad Hunter of ''Complex'' chose Jade and Kitana to represent the "women who fight" stereotype in his 2012 list of the fifteen most stereotypical characters in video games, for being "half-naked skanks who can fight, hurl lasers and perform aerobatic attacks while wearing thongs, high-heeled boots and keeping their giant breasts under scarves," claiming that this has caused "female gamers [to] slide away from this series."<ref>Chad Hunter, [http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/05/the-15-most-stereotypical-characters-in-video-games/jade-kitana-mortal-kombat The 15 Most Stereotypical Characters In Video Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125170951/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/05/the-15-most-stereotypical-characters-in-video-games/jade-kitana-mortal-kombat |date=2013-11-25 }}, Complex.com, May 9, 2010.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Ninja in popular culture]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="note"}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Mortal Kombat characters|state=expanded}}

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