(alternatively written しらぬい まい) is a fictional character in the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series of fighting games by SNK. She has also appeared in other media of these franchises and in a number of other games since her debut in 1992's Fatal Fury 2 as the first female character in an SNK fighting game. She also appears in the games' various manga and anime adaptations and plays a leading role in the live-action film. In the series' canon lore, Mai is a modern-world young female ninja and the granddaughter of the ninjutsu master Hanzo Shiranui, with the ability to create and control fire. She is a founding member of the King of Fighters Tournament's Women Fighters Team and is madly in love with the American fighter Andy Bogard, who she self-proclaimed her fiancé, though he is not interested in a romantic relationship. Yet, she still pursues him endlessly. Largely due to her sex appeal, Mai has become one of the most popular, recognizable and celebrated female characters of the fighting game genre, especially in Japan, China, and some other East Asian countries, often being compared to Capcom's Chun-Li. She has also become SNK's primary sex symbol and mascot character featured in many merchandise products and representing the company in many crossover and spin-off titles, in addition to licensed appearances in numerous games by other companies, as well as becoming a trendy subject of cosplay and modeling. Character Characteristics and portrayal According to the SNK universe's early canon, Mai Shiranui was born on January 1, 1974, though the year was later omitted due to the sliding timescale of the games. She is a practitioner of her family's ancient Shiranui-ryū ninjutsu, the empty-handed art of koppo-ken and has also been taught additional close-combat techniques by her grandfather's friend judo master Jubei Yamada. Having been strictly disciplined by her grandfather from an early age, she has become a proud fighter who hates to lose. Usually relaxed, enthusiastic, uninhibited and cheerful, Mai has a charismatic, flamboyant and flirtatious personality, as well as exhibitionistic tendencies. She has been madly in love with Andy Bogard, an American who studied the arts Shiranui ninjutsu with her grandfather Hanzo, since her and Andy's early teens. She is a friend of Joe Higashi and Andy's older brother, Terry Bogard. Regarding her standard education, Mai is a bookkeeper and secretary by profession. She deeply cares for