Kitana

Kitana (/kɪˈtɑːnə/ ki-TAH-nə) is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat media franchise. She debuted in Mortal Kombat II (1993) as a player character and a royal from the fictional realm of Edenia. She uses steel fans as her primary weapon. Kitana is originally depicted as being the daughter of Shao Kahn, the ruler of Outworld, but is later revealed to be the true daughter of King Jerrod, the king of Edenia. In the series, Kitana is aligned with multiple characters, including Mileena, who originally served as her clone. Kitana, one the franchise's main characters, also serves as the love interest for the series' protagonist Liu Kang. In Mortal Kombat 11 (2019), Kitana becomes Kahn of Outworld after defeating Shao Kahn.

During the development of the original Mortal Kombat (1992), the franchise's co-creator John Tobias intended for a character known as "Kitsune" to be in the game. Although "Kitsune" was removed, that character later came into existence under the name "Kitana", which is derived from the two words "Kitsune" and "Katana". Throughout the Mortal Kombat series, Kitana 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. She 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.